Long Lost Love

Chapter 3

In life there are people capable of feeling only two emotions when faced with hurtful obstacles. They either cry or they lash out leaving everyone speechless with a hint of fear…

“So Lola how’s law?” Joshua asked and I responded, “Good but I’m planning to take a break so that I focus more on my fashion line, Red Rose.”

Mr and Mrs. Henstridge nodded while Cecelia looked at me while frowning.

“You’re planning to take a break?” Jayden questioned looking surprised and I nodded while eating some of the spaghetti bolognaise that was in my plate.

“Why would you take a break from law and why didn’t you tell me?” He continued to question and I sighed before answering, “I’m taking a break because it’s complicated working there and I didn’t tell you because you haven’t exactly created an environment where you and I can talk.”

Everyone nodded and Cecelia continued frowning while glaring at me. “Is there anything wrong Cecelia?” I questioned and she played around with her fork before saying, “It’s kind of funny how a slut like you can come into this family and think she can fit in. You may come from a family of millionaires but we’re billionaires so you can’t compare Lola,” she stated with a bitchy expression while I tried not to laugh at how pathetic and desperate she sounded.

I decided not to interrupt her but let her continue with her rant, “Lola let me be frank with you. Being here with you fake smiling at you makes me sick and I can tell it makes Jayden feel sick too, trust me I can tell. I don’t like you, I loathe you and I just needed to tell you that so that you wouldn’t make any mistake of thinking we’re family because whatever happens I’ll never be family with the daughter of a w***e. Also don’t forget to watch your back around here; you never know who’s on your side and who isn’t.”

I gulped and excused myself so that I’d go anywhere that wasn’t that room. It was one of those moments where i wanted to just lose control and be angry but i couldn't. Cecelia was a b***h but I didn’t think her bitchiness was that much. I wasn’t hurt or broken but all I wanted to do was shut my eyes and disappear but I couldn’t. Her words hadn’t gotten to me but her intentions had. These people were willing to do everything in their power to get rid of me and I had a feeling they were going to go a bit too far to get what they wanted. I had heard stories about the Henstridges over the years and I suddenly shuddered at the thought that they could be an element of truth to the rumors. Something told me I wasn’t safe here and I would never be. I decided to head back, when I heard my name being mentioned I stopped just outside the door.

Sylvia was talking to Cecelia and Joshua sounded like he was agreeing. “Come on Cecelia we both know hate that slut Lola and her b***h of a mother but we need to be nice to her until after the wedding because that girl is not very bright she might end up destroying the contract then what?” Sylvia’s voice stated and her words were like sharp daggers in my heart. I didn’t like her but I had given her the benefit of the doubt. Cecelia’s words then rang in my head; I had to watch my back.

“I know that but I can’t help but want to yell when I look at her disgusting face and pretend to smile because I feel like murdering her every time I see her. She’s an exact replica of that devil Barbara,” Cecelia replied and Joshua agreed while Jayden just listened silently not bothering to defend me. Barbara was my mother’s name and I couldn’t believe that they were calling her a devil, something she was far from. As much as we didn’t get along she wasn’t a devil. She was just a b***h when she wanted to.

Texting Chris and Brenda to come pick me up they came in a few minutes and that’s when I decided to ditch the party.

“What did they do to you?” Brenda demanded angrily and I broke while narrating the whole ordeal.

“See why I ran away, those people in that house are monsters and all they do is hurt people,” growled Brenda and I nodded as we arrived at the mansion.

“Will you be okay?” Chris asked and I nodded as I walked into the mansion.

The day after tomorrow would be the day I would get married to Jayden. The day after tomorrow would be the day I would be stuck with the Henstridge clan and I wasn’t very keen on it. It would be the day my life would end and not begin because from how I saw things, all the Henstridges did was destroy and not build and I had a feeling my life was next on the destruction list.

***

The next day was spent getting ready for the wedding. My bridesmaids who were a couple of super models I didn’t know had their dresses which I had chosen. The bridesmaids’ hair was tied in a not very high pony tail and was braided to the side in curls and their dresses were a light pink with a cleavage and a couple of pleats. I did the best I could to avoid Jayden and his family and that was not very easy considering they were planning the wedding with help from my family which I was also avoiding. When I went to sleep I was exhausted with everything and I hoped I would sleep through my wedding day.

My mother woke me up and helped me get ready. The people who were supposed to do my hair and makeup were there so it was done early. My hair was left to fall down in curls and was clipped to the side with a pearly hairpin. My makeup was light so that I wouldn’t scare the priest away and it looked pretty good. I was helped by my mom to wear the wedding dress and after that everything else looked good. My dress was a stunning neckline gown with lace appliqués and 3D flowers and beading. The train was long and that made me love it a lot more even what I felt for the man I was going to marry was far from love. It was a strong feeling which I wasn’t planning on letting go anytime soon. That hate i felt for him would keep me going.

“I don’t want to do this mom,” I cried momentarily forgetting I was mad at her as i suddenly felt nervous.

“You have to,” she snapped and all the anger came rushing back with extra pressure.

***

I looked at my brother and he nodded with a smile. Today was the day I would give myself to Jayden Henstridge, my enemy who I would be forced to be bonded with for the rest of my life. Taking a deep breath, I smiled at him but frowned when he gave my hand to my dad before we walked down the aisle to here comes the bride. I looked at Jayden who was faking a smile for the press but hey at least he was smiling. It would actually make this more believable making my sacrifice worth it.

“Protect her,” my dad whispered as he gave my hand to Jayden who nodded at my dad’s comment. Who knew the adulterous man knew his daughter needed protection?

I smiled at Jayden nervously and he gave me a reassuring smile which I knew was fake.

The priest started speaking and we looked at him as he said, “We are all gathered here to witness and celebrate the joining of Lola Grace Calvano and Jayden Daniel Henstridge in marriage.”

I looked at the smug expressions my parents had but I ignored it them and focused on the bible reading the priest had. After the readings the priest then asked us to recite our vows which we were forced to write ourselves to make it a romantic story for the press.

“Lola Grace Calvano, the day I saw you was the day I stated believing in love at first sight and fate. I remember the day I crashed your car five years ago and you were very nice about the whole ordeal despite our families being rivals. Something about you made me attracted to you on that day and until now that same thing still attracts me. When we met at your mom’s charity auction two years later I got to talk to you and I realized apart from your beauty you have the brains as well. From then on we had a good friendship in hiding because of our families but that friendship has turned into a relationship which I want to hold on to even if it means I get hurt in the process. I want to protect you Lola, now and always. I want to be your rock, I want to be the one you run to when everything is a mess and I want to be the one who makes sure you laugh and smile always. I love you Lola and I always want to do right by you. All this I promise I’ll do because my love for you is never ending.” I looked at Jayden and at our hands which were linked.

Deciding to think about my daughter’s death I started crying soft tears as I was told to do by my mother and mother in law so that it would be a better story for the public.

I smiled at him and started on my vows, “When you crashed my car I was mad as hell and I decided not to make a big deal of it all because of our families. I tried to hate you but there was something that attracted me to you. When we met two years later I believed it was fate that brought us together again. I got to know you better and I fell for you hard, harder than I wanted to. Yes we had our ups and downs but we managed to overcome them together and that made me fall for you even more. Jayden Daniel Henstridge, I love you with all my heart and I promise to be the best mother I can to our children and the best wife to you. I promise to be there for you in sickness and health and all the storms that may attack us. I promise to be the one at your side till death do us part and to love you with all my heart.”

He grinned while squeezing my hand and I smiled back trying to stop the tears that were now annoying me, I had makeup on!

“May I have the rings?” the priest asked and Brenda and Chris walked up with them. The priest then blessed the rings before handing mine to Jayden and asking him to repeat after him.

“Lola, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the father, the son and the holy spirit,” said Jayden before slipping the ring onto my finger.

The priest then handed me Jayden’s ring and asked me to repeat after him.

“Jayden, take this ring as a sign of my love and fidelity, in the name of the father, the son and the Holy Spirit,” I stated as I slid the ring onto his finger.

“Jayden Henstridge, do you take Lola Calvano as your wedded wife and promise to cherish her in the good and the bad, till death do you apart?” the priest asked and Jayden nodded before answering I do.

“Lola Calvano, do you take Jayden Henstridge as you wedded husband and promise to cherish him in the good and the bad, till death do you apart?” the priest asked and I answered I do.

“What God has joined today let no one break apart. By the power invested in me by the church, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

Jayden leaned in and I did the same and the next thing his lips were on mine. I kissed him back and pulled away after a few minutes. Everyone started cheering and I smiled while Jayden held my hand and led us to the after party. When we got there we headed to the dance floor for our first dance as Mr and Mrs. Henstridge. Perfect by Ed Sheraan was playing and we started dancing slowly maintaining eye contact. To the rest of the world, they were loving gazes but we both knew this was the beginning of something horrific and ghastly, also known as the beginning of our marriage.

As the dance neared the end Jayden leaned in my ear slowly whispered, “Whatever happened today didn’t mean anything to me and will never mean a thing to me. I still hate you and you disgust me, that little act was for the media to get off our backs. Don’t ever forget that I hate you and standing with you right now makes me wish I never existed.”

"I was worried about you believing all that. After all, you aren't very bright like me right?"

I smiled as if everything was okay as he led us away from the dance floor but i didn't miss the glare that he shot me from the corner of his eyes. This round I had won and I would be damned if i let him say things to bring him down without a comeback.