THE OTHER WOMAN

Chapter 7

Loud gasps from the congregation brought me back to planet earth. I hadn't realized that I had been daydreaming at my wedding. Jack let go off my hand that he had been holding tightly. He stared down at me, as if he wanted to say something, but he was out of words. I looked back it him, eyes wide, hoping for an explanation. I met the priests eyes and he was eyeing me pitifully. I turned to look at the congregation when my mother screamed .

I turned around and faced the entrance where everyone was looking at and my eyes almost fell out of their sockets. A bride was making her way to the altar, clutching a dozen of red roses, flanked by six elegant bridesmaids. Her wedding gown was identical to mine and a satin while veil covered her face. She walked slowly, gracefully down the aisle. The congregation hushed for a moment then everyone started talking at once.

I looked at Jack in confusion but he was staring at the new entrant, his anger almost visible. Deep veins popped on his temple and his Adam apple bobbed up and down, something that happened when he was really mad.

He turned and looked down at me, and I could sense the panic and shock. He tried to take my arm but I flinched and moved away from him. I looked at my grandma and she was weeping silently. My mama was clutching my dads arm for support and my father stood there, looking at Jack and shaking his head in anger. I was totally confused. I wasn't thinking at all. It was like my mind had stopped functioning.

I turned around and I almost collided with her. She was standing right beside me. She had pushed the veil off her face and her perfectly made face was pretty as ever. Recognition hit me like a thunderbolt and I reeled backwards in shock.

Isabella.

What the hell was she doing here?

The smug smile that she always wore whenever she tried to intimidate me sat on her face. I wanted to slap it off of her. She looked at me with contempt, daring me to speak.

"I tried to explain this to you yesterday but you felt too mighty and too special. You threw me out of your bedroom but now you have to beg me for the information I was gonna give out free of charge last night." She sneered at me but my head was practically spinning and I couldn't make out what she was saying

Then she took a step towards me and extended her hand.

"We are going to be cowives. We should at least be friends."

What??

My mouth was dry.

"Isabella, are you really doing this?" Jack asked her from somewhere behind me.

"Of course I am. Did you think I was a fool? That I would sit back and watch while you got married to her?" Her tone was accusatory and I still didn't know what was happening.

"Oh sweetheart, you're still lost, aren't you? " She looked at me with a fake smile and offered an explanation. The whole congregation hushed to listen to her. "Jack and I have been having a nice time together. We had a few shags and before we knew it, we were in love."

"You liar. I slept with you once! One time! We are not lovers! I only love my wife!" Jack shouted at her.

I turned to face him disbelievingly.

"You cheated on me with her and you have the guts to admit it publicly?"

"Honey, I'm really sorry. I was going to tell you after the wedding. It's a complicated mess. It meant nothing."

"Nothing?" Isabella chipped in. "It was something. I have the evidence right here."

She turned slightly, pulling her wedding gown around her and my eyes caught the slight curve of her belly. She was definitely pregnant.

"He fired me after I told him about the baby," she said and smiled wickedly. I looked at Jack, he stood there motionless.

"Isabella, I won't allow you to spoil our wedding day. You should not be here." Jack said quietly, tears choking his voice.

"I don't like her. I never liked her. She seduced my boyfriend back in university. You thought I would let her get away with it? No, darling. I'm not that kind of a person. Vengeance is mine, and today, you're going to marry either both of us or none of us. Choice is yours."

The entire congregation went wild. I turned to Isabella and landed a hot slap across her face. My palm stung from the impact but I didn't care. Jack stood on, looking at me, not sure what to say. I wanted to slap him too, but I couldn't bring myself to. The tears clogging my throat made my hands tremble.

A strange feeling engulfed me as I looked around the church one last time, smiled weakly at my friends and family then gave Jack a long stare. I kicked off my high heeled bridal shoes, gathered my long wedding gown in my hands and fled from the church. I heard noises and commotion behind me but I couldn't look back.

I wouldn't look back.