The Finale
1356 Words
Sander — “I’ll take you home…”
Me — “We should take a taxi. You’re drunk. You can’t drive…”
Sander decided to leave his car at the bar for the meantime. Inside the taxi, neither of us spoke. I got out first and didn’t even look back or say goodbye to him.
Then the party finally came.
Our family was first on the list of invited guests.
Of course, this was also supposed to be the announcement of my pre-engagement with Sander.
But I didn’t think that would happen anymore because I had already decided that I didn’t want to marry Sander.
After the kiss last night, I realized that maybe it was “Maddy” that Sander liked — not me as myself.
I knew this would cause a huge scandal between our families, but I no longer wanted to marry Sander De Lambert.
I wore a long black fitted tube gown.
I curled my long hair and let it flow freely, pinning one side with a silver butterfly clip.
I paired the gown with a black purse and silver stilettos.
From where I stood, I could see Sander from afar.
Why was he still unbelievably handsome even from a distance???
And why could I still almost smell his perfume and his intoxicating breath???
Sander looked restless.
As if he was searching for someone.
Was he looking for me???
I mean… I was pretty sure he was looking for “Maddy.”
But no matter which version of me he was searching for, I didn’t want to face him anymore.
All I could remember was the kiss we shared.
I took a sip from the margarita in my hand.
I needed it to calm myself before the party started.
I was about to refill my glass when someone suddenly spoke behind me—
Sander — “Oh, there you are!”
Me — “Ay, frog!”
Sander — 😂😂😂 “Do I look like a frog?”
Me — “Oh, it’s you, Sir!!!!”
Sander — “Do you know where Shey is?? I’ve been looking everywhere, but she’s nowhere to be found.”
Of course you won’t find the person you’re looking for.
You i***t.
How are you supposed to find someone when she’s literally standing right in front of you talking to you???
Me — “Ahhhh… I think we need to talk about her, Sir…”
I really needed to tell him the truth.
Sander — “I really need to talk to her now, Maddy. There’s something she needs to know…”
Me — “Sir… she already knows. She already knows you don’t want to marry her. She already knows you’re disgusted by her. She already knows you hate every angle of her face. She already knows that even back then, she was ugly in your eyes…”
I didn’t know why my tears suddenly fell like they had minds of their own.
It hurt so much remembering all the insults Sander threw at me before.
Even if I changed…
Sander was still the same old Sander.
He still never stopped humiliating the way I looked.
Sander — “Maddy, wait!!!!!!!”
But I didn’t look back anymore.
Enough pretending.
This roleplaying game was over.
This time, at this party, I was finally going to be myself — the heiress of LaCarte.
The party officially started.
People raised their goblets filled with wine.
Cheers!!!!!
BonRio De Lambert — “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to my party. But this isn’t just my celebration alone. Please raise your glasses for my only son — Sander De Lambert!!!!!!”
Sander stepped in front of the crowd and began to speak…
Sander — “I never believed in arranged marriage…”
People immediately started whispering.
Especially the French guests.
It looked like Sander was about to ruin the entire night.
Sander — “I still want to marry because of LOVE, not because of family tradition. My parents wanted me to marry the daughter of a rich French family friend. But I wanted to marry someone who has already been a part of my life for years. I want to marry her because I love her…”
Ouch…
That hurt hearing it directly.
I turned around, ready to leave, unable to hear more painful words.
Sander — “Yes, I want to marry Maria Sheivanna Lacarte. I’ve loved her ever since high school. I love pestering her. I love teasing her. I love irritating her. I love everything about her. And yes, I’m marrying the same woman my parents chose for me. But I’m marrying her for love — not for tradition.”
I was about to leave when the spotlight suddenly landed directly on me.
Everyone stared.
Their eyes filled with amusement.
My knees trembled.
Sander said he loved me.
He still loved me.
But I think Sander was even more shocked than I was.
He clearly wasn’t prepared for this reveal.
My father took my hand and guided me toward Sander.
Papa — “Sander, take good care of our daughter, okay? We love her very much…”
Sander wore that same poker face again.
I didn’t know what to say anymore.
Honestly, I just wanted to laugh.
Me — “Yes, Sir??? Surprised??? Shookt??? Or in love??”
He leaned closer and whispered in my ear—
Sander — “Damn it, Shey…”
Me — “Don’t make a scene, Sander. We’re at your father’s party.”
Sander — “But I love making scenes with you, Maria Sheivanna.”
Then he pulled me closer and kissed me.
The kiss was slow… but meaningful.
Sander — “I didn’t like you as Maddy… because I already loved you ever since we were teenagers. The reason I told you Brandon would never like you was because I wanted you all to myself, Shey. I was jealous of Brandon back then. That’s why I insulted you so much — so you’d lose confidence facing him. I was selfish when it came to you, Shey…”
Me — “But I heard you talking to your dad about refusing to marry me…”
Sander — “Of course!!! Because I hated the idea of arranged marriage when I knew I could make you marry me out of love instead. I knew I could.”
Me — “Wow… sounds very confident.”
Sander — “But like I said… I don’t want to marry you in two years.”
Me — “Then I’ll go—”
I pushed him away and turned around, but he grabbed my arm and faced me again.
Sander — “I want to marry you tomorrow. I can’t wait years anymore. I don’t want to marry you because of an arrangement. I want to marry you because I love you.”
That completely caught me off guard.
Why does this man always ask life-changing questions on the spot???
I always end up speechless.
Sander — “Now I’m choosing to believe that silence means yes.”
Me — 😂😂😂 “Yes yes yes… yes, Sir!!!! I’ll marry you, Prince Sander De Lambert!!!!!!”
Sander — “Say you love me too first.”
Me — “I can’t breathe…”
Sander — “Damn it, that’s from She’s Dating The Gangster!!!! 😂😂”
Now it was my turn to get revenge.
Instead of answering with words, I answered him with a kiss.
A deep and sensual kiss.
The kind where I felt his grip tighten around my waist…
The kind where I could feel how affected he was by me 😂😂😂😂😂
Sander — “s**t, Sheivanna… you’re making me…”
Me — “Sssshhhh… I love you…”
Then I guided him toward the center of the event hall.
I grabbed the microphone and smiled.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be marrying Sander De Lambert very, very soon! Please enjoy the night everyone. Thank you!”
The crowd erupted into applause while both families cheered happily.
Meanwhile, me and Sander were still secretly kissing in the corner…
-The End-
- Writer
