A One Night Mistake Now He Wants Revenge

I opened my eyes slowly. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of breathing beside me. I turned my head and looked at Richard. He was still asleep. His face was peaceful and calm. Dark hair fell across his forehead. His chest rose and fell with each breath. He looked beautiful. My heart squeezed tight in my chest. It hurt to look at him. It hurt to know what I had to do today. I reached for my phone on the nightstand. The screen lit up and my stomach dropped. Fifteen missed calls. All from her father. Three voicemails. A dozen text messages. My hands shook as she scrolled through them. Where are you? Why aren’t you answering? Did you forget about tomorrow? But how could I? Tomorrow was my wedding day. The day I would marry a man I barely knew. A man who would write a check big enough to save my family's company. A man who was not Richard. I put the phone on silent and set it face down. I didn't want to see any more messages. I didn't want to think about tomorrow now. Richard stirred beside me. His eyes opened slowly. When he saw me, his whole face changed. He smiled, it was warm and full of love. "Good morning beautiful," he murmured. His voice was rough with sleep. "Good morning." I tried to smile back but my lips felt stiff. He reached for my hand and pulled me closer. I allowed him, resting my head on his chest. I wanted to remember the feeling, because today would be the last time I speak to him. "I could wake up like this every day," Richard said softly. He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then my lips. I closed my eyes, and kissed him back. Richard pulled back and looked at me, his smile fading a little. "You okay?" he asked. "I'm fine." The lie tasted bitter on my tongue. "You don't look fine." He brushed my hair behind my ear. "You look sad." I forced myself to meet his eyes. "I'm just tired." He didn't look convinced but he didn't push. Instead he held her tighter. Finally Richard broke the silence. "Karina, we need to talk." My heart started beating faster. "About what?" "About us." He sat up and pulled me up with him. "About why you haven't been coming to see me. Why you stopped answering my calls. Why every time I try to make plans with you, you have an excuse." I looked down at our joined hands. I couldn't meet his eyes. "I've been busy. My family needs me." "I know your family is important," came Richard’s response. "But I'm important too. Aren't I?" "Of course you are." My voice came out as a whisper. "Then why does it feel like you're pulling away from me?" He lifted my chin so I had to look at him. Tears burned behind my eyes, but I blinked them back. I should tell him the truth now, but somehow my lips didn’t want to move. "I love you, Karina." The words were simple but they hit me like a punch to the chest. "I love you and I don't want to hide anymore. I don't want to be your secret boyfriend who only sees you when you can sneak away." "Richard-” "Let me finish." He took a deep breath. "I know your parents will think I'm not good enough. I know they want someone rich and successful for you. But I can work hard. I can provide for you. I'll get a better job. I'll work two jobs if I have to. I'll prove to them that I'm worthy of you." He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. My breath caught in my throat. "I've been carrying this around for weeks," Richard said. His hands were shaking. "Waiting for the right moment. I think this is it." He opened the box. Inside was a simple silver ring. It wasn't expensive, but it was beautiful. "Marry me," Richard whispered, a smile on his face. "Run away with me. We'll go somewhere your parents can't control you. We'll build our own life. Just you and me." I stared at the ring. My hand moved without thinking and I took the box from him, admiring the tear drop jewel on the ring. It truly was beautiful. I wanted to say yes, but I couldn’t. Not when my family needed me. I straightened my shoulder to tell him the truth. But before I could start, Richard’s door burst open. My father stood in the doorway flanked by two guards. His face was red with anger. "Get away from my daughter!" he shouted. I jumped up in shock. "Dad, what are you doing here?" "I put a tracker on your phone last night," my father barked as he walked towards us. "You were acting strange during dinner. I knew you were up to something." He looked at Richard with disgust. Richard was still kneeling on the floor, frozen in shock. "So this is him," Dad sneered. "This is the nobody you've been sneaking around with." "Don't talk about him like that," I snapped, but my voice sounded weak. Dad turned to Richard. "How much do you make? Thirty thousand a year? Forty? Do you really think you can support my daughter? Give her the life she deserves?" "I love her," Richard shot back and stood up. His hands were clenched into fists. "That's what matters." "Love?" Dad laughed mockingly. "Love doesn't pay bills. You’re a nobody who doesn’t deserve my daughter. He turned back to me. "Get dressed. We're leaving. You have a wedding to prepare for." The words dropped like a bomb. Richard's face went white. "What?" "That's right," Dad chuckled, looking pleased with himself. "My daughter is getting married tomorrow. To a man who can actually provide for her. "Karina?" Richard's voice broke. "Tell him he's wrong. Tell him you're not marrying anyone else." I opened my mouth, but no words came out. "Defend yourself," Richard yelled, tears were starting to fall down his face. "Tell him you love me. Tell him how you really feel. Say something!" But I said nothing. I couldn't, my throat was too tight. Dad grabbed my arm. "Let’s go.” "Karina, please!" Richard reached for me. But Dad pulled me toward the door, throwing his jacket over me since I was just in Richard’s oversized t shirt. I didn’t fight as Dad pulled me away, I didn’t even argue, but I looked back… just once. And the last thing I saw was Richard dropping to his knees, his face looking completely broken. The wedding day arrived too quickly. I sat in front of the vanity mirror while three makeup artists worked on my face. Mom stood behind them, her hands clasped together as she watched with satisfaction in her eyes. "Oh, my beautiful daughter," Dad said from the doorway. He walked closer and kissed the top of my head. "You look perfect." "She really does," one of the makeup artists agreed. She stepped back to admire her work. "You're so lucky, you know. Marrying a billionaire like Peter King. Most girls only dream of this." The other artists nodded and murmured their agreement. They talked about the mansion I would live in. The cars I would drive. A heiress marrying a billionaire, we would make the perfect couple. But I said nothing. I felt sick to my stomach. My parents looked happier than I had seen them in months. My father's business was saved. My mother would have bragging rights at every social event. Everything was working out perfectly for them. But I felt like I was drowning. "Everyone out," Mom suddenly announced. She clapped her hands. "Give us a moment." The makeup artists gathered their supplies and left. Dad squeezed my shoulder once before following them out. Mom’s smile disappeared. "I know that look," she said sharply. "Don't you dare ruin today." I stared at my reflection. "I don't want to do this." "We’ve spoken about this a hundred times already, Karina," Mom held my hand. "You have to marry Peter King, if you don’t then you father will lose his company and we‘ll become paupers. You don’t want that, do you?” I didn’t know what to say, mom always had a way with words that made it hard to turn her her down. "You really are beautiful today." I looked up to see the softness in her expression and my throat tightened. I know I was doing the right thing for my family, but is this truly the only way? Mom moved closer again, lowering her voice. "Tonight is important. Men like Peter expect certain things from their wives. You need to make him happy. Wear something nice to bed. Be sweet. Let him lead. Do you understand what I'm saying?" Disgust rolled through my stomach when I understood what she meant, but I nodded. "Good girl." Mom patted my cheek. "This is your life now. Make the best of it." She left the room. I sat alone in the silence, then looked down at my hands. On her right hand, hidden underneath my glove, I still wore Richard's ring. I had moved it from my left hand this morning because I couldn't bear to take it off completely. I touched it gently with my thumb. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm so sorry." The wedding was enormous. Hundreds of guests filled the cathedral. White flowers covered every surface. Everything was expensive and beautiful. I had only met Peter King once. My father had brought him home for dinner two weeks ago. We had talked for maybe an hour. Peter had been polite. He asked me a few questions about my interests, he complimented my appearance.