CHAPTER 1
1582 Words
Liliana's POV
“I…I don't think I understand what you're trying to say.” I stammered weakly, feeling something tear, my heart shredding itself apart.
This was supposed to be our wedding night, the night I had dreamed of, planned for, lived for. Hearing him say this after saying ‘I do’ some hours ago, was shattering.
“What I’m trying to say, Liliana,” Chris said at last, each syllable cruel and deliberate, “is that this marriage ends tonight.”
A stunned silence fell. Gasps rippled through the room. My breath caught; I blinked rapidly, hoping I had misheard him.
“No…” My voice cracked into a sob. “Chris, no. I love you. We’re married now and You promised me forever at the altar.”
His eyes were flat, void of warmth. “I never wanted any of this. I never wanted you either. You were just too blind and naive to see it,” he pointed out.
My stomach dropped. “What do you mean?”
“This wedding was never about love,” he sneered. “It was a means to an end.”
“No,” I pleaded. “We love each other. Our marriage can work…”
“Stop it.” His voice cracked like a whip, his irritation burning. “This is me being nice, Liliana. Don’t push it.”
I searched his face, desperate to see the man I loved but he was unrecognizable. This wasn’t the man I had loved. This was a stranger.
“But our parents…”
“They’re gone now,” he cut me off coldly. “And Sandra agrees with me. I know my own mind now.”
Sandra? His vile cousin! She would love nothing more than to see us separated.
“You never listen to her, she despises me!”
But then he turned and reached for Bella’s hand. My cousin’s hand! With whom I have shared so much with.
“I’m sorry, Liliana,” he said, his fingers entwined with hers. “But Bella is the one for me.”
It was as if someone had carved me open. My cousin’s smug smile gleamed like a blade.
“So Liliana I can't go back to you even if I want to ‘cause my fiancée would be devastated by this kind of betrayal.”
My knees weakened. My vision blurred. “And what about me, your wife? Do you really want to turn me into a joke in front of everyone?”
Bella's laugh was venomous. “Come on, Liliana. You've always been a joke. This is nothing new. And now the world gets to see it.” She pressed herself against Chris, smug and covetous.
I collapsed to my knees, sobbing, clutching his trousers in desperation. “Please, Chris… not tonight. Not after everything. You love me don't you?”
“Love?” His laugh was hollow, cruel. “Don't you get it? I never loved you. The only emotions I experienced were rooted in our family connection, and let's be honest, in the financial comfort.” he explained.
Contemplating whether this might persuade him to stay in the marriage, “You can have the fortune, I assure you; once we remain married, I will ensure it is yours.”
But he leaned closer, his eyes burning with triumph. “What makes you think it isn’t already mine?”
“That's impossible! The will clearly states that once we're married, I alone have the right to access it and can give it to whoever I want,” I explained.
“Of course it does say so,” he agreed with a sinister smile.
“Why the smug smile?” I asked suspiciously.
“Well, I hate to break it to you, but you actually gave me that right at the registry, dear Liliana.” He said, feeling quite cocky.
“No, I didn't,” I replied hesitantly.
He produced a document from a file on the table and presented it to me. I recognized my signature on the paper.
“That is our marriage certificate,” I remarked.
“No, no, Liliana,” he said, producing another paper. “This is our marriage certificate, while this is the official transfer contract of Monroe's Fortune that you signed over to me.”
I stared at the two papers, with my signatures boldly written on them and realisation dawned on me.
I staggered back. My mind reeled. I was so excited after the wedding ceremony. That when the three papers were presented to me for my signature, I didn't bother to read them, but signed away.
Then he brought it out, the third paper, and placed it on the table. I went through it. Divorced! “What is this?” I asked.
Remembering that Auntie Caroline read it first before she passed it to me. I turned to her, saying, “Aunt Caroline, you…”
She averted her gaze. So did everyone.
What is going on? What's really happening?
The sting of betrayal slashed through my heart with an intensity I had never experienced before.
How have I failed to see this plot? What else in my life is a lie?
“Why?” I turned to Chris. My voice was raw and torn. "Why are you doing this to me? Your family is wealthy, and as the first son, you're certain to inherit everything.”
His face twisted with rage. He slammed his fist against the table, making me flinch. and said, "I should, of course, but the crafty old man, right before he passed away, transferred everything to a stepbrother I didn't know even existed. Now, I find myself with so little.”
His eyes gleamed with greed “So yes, Liliana. I used you. I devoured your fortune. And now I am free of you.”
The walls closed in. My breath faltered. I was drowning in air.
The man I loved had gutted me. My family had conspired in silence. My fortune—gone. My heart—obliterated, I couldn't bear it and I ran.
Tears blinded me as I stumbled toward the stairs, nearly falling as I fled to my room. My sobs echoed through the hall.
People can really let you down in unexpected ways. Believing I had everything sorted out only to find that I'm left with nothing.
—------------
Bleh!…. The blaring horn of a flashy car abruptly pulled me from my reverie. My disinterest in the ongoing conversation had transported me down memory lane to my night of ruin.
I was still standing, outside the dimly lit bar, the noise from inside spilling over into the cool night air. I was listening to the old man next to me, his face lined with years and his breath heavy with alcohol, confess his undying love for me.
Well, I’m not actually listening because he is boring me to death, but I don't want to come across as rude. He looks old enough to be my dad. Yuck! Right?
“Could you two lovebirds get out of the way? I need to get to the parking lot,” barked a masculine voice.
I turned and beheld one of the most attractive men I had ever seen. Gosh, he had me completely mesmerized. Like wow!
His dark brown hair was impeccably groomed, complementing his sharply tailored suit and broad shoulders. Standing quite tall, he seems to be in his early forties and still looks incredibly attractive.
Turns out he's the driver of the flashy car, and he was glaring daggers at us.
The old man sneered. “And you probably own the bar too, eh? Take your shiny toy elsewhere.”
“Look mister…” The man was saying, when the old man stumbled and he realized he was drunk. His gaze shifted to me, piercing through me like fire.
“Shouldn’t you be at home, girly?,” he said. His voice was cold, commanding. “Little girls shouldn’t hang around with drunks.”
Something hot flared in me at his words, I looked him straight in the eyes. "Who are you calling a little girl? I certainly am not. Daddy!" I retorted.
His eyes widened, then narrowed, before he said, "Just not too old like your lover.”
“He is not my…”
"Go home, little girl," he snapped, cutting me off.
"You have no power over me; I am an adult and can do what I want," I shot back, turning on my heel and walking back into the bar.
"Hey, get back here!" the guy called, and I raised my middle finger at him.
What a snob!
Inside, the warmth wrapped around me, a stark contrast to the confrontation outside.
The bar was dimly lit, filled with the low hum of laughter and faint music playing from the jukebox in the corner.
I quickly made my way to the counter where my friend Sandra stood, behind the counter.
"What's going on? You look furious," Sandra asked, sliding me a drink, her eyes glancing towards the door.
"Nothing," I said, waving my hand dismissively. “Just some jerk outside.”
She eyed me carefully, her brows rising in skepticism. “Really? You looked like you were in a heated debate. Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine!" I managed a smile, trying to brush it off. "I just need a drink to cool off.”
Suddenly, the door swung open
And the stranger walked in.
- Writer
