THE BRIDE HE RUINED ON HER WEDDING NIGHT

THE BRIDE HE RUINED ON HER WEDDING NIGHT CHAPTER 1: THE WRONG ROOM Elena's wedding was in seven days. Her white dress was already hanging in her bedroom in Yaba, covered with transparent nylon so dust would not touch it. Her mother had ironed the veil three times. Her fiance David had been with her since second year in Unilag. Everyone in their family, church and street said the same thing. Elena and David are perfect. Elena wanted to believe them. Her best friend Lisa said she would throw a small bachelorette party. Just girls, in a small hotel lounge in Ikeja. Elena did not really want to go. She was tired. "You are getting married only once. Come and enjoy your last night as single girl," Lisa said on phone. "I have prepared everything." The lounge was not small. It was loud. Music, flashing lights, girls from department drinking. Elena sat in corner with small chops. Lisa came with two glasses that looked like Chapman, red with ice. "For bride-to-be. No alcohol, I promise. It's just juice," Lisa said. Elena trusted Lisa. Lisa was childhood friend from primary school. Lisa introduced her to David. Lisa followed her to buy wedding dress. So Elena drank it. It was sweet first, then bitter. After five minutes head started spinning. Tongue heavy. Lisa smiled quickly. This was exactly what she wanted. Lisa had loved David for eight years, since SS2 when David came for inter-house sports. David did not look at Lisa. He looked at Elena. When Lisa introduced Elena to David, David fell for Elena in one week. For eight years Lisa pretended to be happy. She waited for breakup. They did introduction. Fixed wedding date. Lisa could not take it anymore. Her plan simple. If Elena did shameful thing, David would leave her. David always said, "If woman cheats on me, I never forgive." So Lisa bought small bottle of strong gin. Poured half inside Elena's juice. Enough to make her very drunk, lose sense of direction. She also collected two room keys earlier from receptionist when receptionist not looking. Room 908 for Elena, Room 906 opposite. Room 906 belonged to ADRIAN KNIGHT. Everyone in Lagos knew Adrian Knight. Twenty eight years old, billionaire, owner of Knight Towers. Most handsome and most heartless playboy. Never dated woman more than one night. Lisa gave Elena wrong key. The key to 906. "Lisa, I feel dizzy, I want to sleep, Room 908," Elena whispered, holding chair. "This is your key, go rest. I will check you later," Lisa said, giving key to 906. Elena took it with shaking hands and entered elevator. Ninth floor quiet. She swiped card. Green light. Pushed door and entered. Inside Room 906, Adrian Knight just came out of bathroom with white towel around waist. Hair still wet. Laptop on table not connecting for video call. Then his door opened. He turned frowning. No one had permission to enter. Girl in short red dress stumbled inside holding wall. Makeup smudged. "Who are you? How did you get my key?" he asked coldly. Elena looked at him double vision. "I... this is 908... I want to sleep... I'm getting married..." Adrian saw she was drunk. Very drunk. But not passed out. Eyes open trying to stand. "You are in wrong room. This is 906," he said and went to phone to call security. "No please... don't chase me... my head... my friend gave me drink... I feel like dying..." Elena slid down and sat on floor near door crying. Adrian stopped. He was used to women throwing themselves at him naked. Used to women pretending to cry. But this girl truly distressed. Hands cold. He brought bottle of water from mini fridge. "Drink this. Sit." Elena collected with both hands, drank little and spilled on dress. "Thank you." Adrian sat on edge of bed far from her. "What is your name?" "Elena Okafor." "Why drunk alone? Where friend?" "My best friend Lisa... she said not alcohol... I'm supposed to marry next Saturday..." She looked innocent, not like Lagos girls who come to hotel to seduce him. "Call your fiance," he said. "No! Don't call David! He will be angry I drank..." She shook head violently. "Can I stay ten minutes? Head spinning..." Adrian wanted to say no. But she could not stand. "Stay on chair. Don't touch bed." She tried to stand to chair but legs weak and fell. Adrian rushed and held her before head hit table. She was in his arms. Red dress shifted. Smelled sweet juice and perfume. Both froze. "You are Adrian Knight... playboy..." she whispered. "And you are bride who entered wrong room," he replied still holding her. Elena did not move away. Alcohol and pain hidden for months made her bold. "Do you ever love someone? Or you just play with girls?" No one ever asked him that. He let her go slowly. "You should sit." But Elena held his hand. "David... I don't think he loves me. We don't talk again. We don't laugh again... I'm forcing wedding because everyone expecting it..." Tears coming. Adrian who never comforted woman wiped her tears with thumb. "Don't cry." Elena looked at his lips then eyes. "You are beautiful even when cold." Adrian heart beat faster. "Elena, you drunk and getting married. You should go," he said voice no longer cold. "What if I don't want to go? What if I want to do one bad thing before I become wife?" Adrian held shoulders. "You need to be sure. I don't force women. If you stay, you stay because you want to. Are you sure?" Room quiet. Only breathing. Elena nodded slowly. "Yes. I want to stay. Just tonight." It was mistake. Big terrible mistake. But mistake they both chose. He asked, she said yes. Adrian carried her to bed. Lights off. Next morning sun came from big window. Elena woke felt heavy arm on waist. Opened eyes saw expensive hotel room never seen. Saw man's suit on chair. Saw herself naked under white duvet. Memories rushed like flood. Drink. Wrong room. Man. Sat up quickly holding sheet to chest. Adrian already awake standing near window wearing black trousers and white shirt buttoning. Face cold again. "You awake," he said without looking. "We... we did..." "Yes." "Oh my God... My wedding... David..." She started crying. Adrian went to wallet on table brought bundle of money dropped on bedside table. His habit. Paid women to leave. "Take this. For last night. Don't tell anyone you were here." Elena looked at money. Shame turned anger. Thought he called her prostitute. Stood wrapped sheet around herself walked to him and slapped him hard across face. PAK! Sound echoed. "Do you think you can buy me? You think I'm one of your useless girls?" she shouted tears all over. No one ever slapped Adrian Knight. He held cheek shocked, then small smile appeared. "Interesting." Elena wore red dress quickly carried bag and ran out leaving money. Ran to Room 908. Door open. Lisa inside lying on bed pretending asleep. "Lisa! Where were you? I slept in another room! Dizzy all night!" Elena cried. Lisa sat up hugged her pretending worried. "Elena! I looked for you! Went to 908 but you not there! Where did you go?" "I don't know! Entered another room! I..." Shame kept mouth shut. "I just slept. Want to go home." Lisa hid smile. "Sorry babe. You must have drunk too much." That morning Elena went back house locked bedroom cried two days. Told herself never tell anyone. Marry David forget Room 906. But could not. Third day called David to house eyes swollen. "David, I cannot marry you," she said. David confused. "Why? Bachelorette?" "I did something terrible. At party I got very drunk and slept with another man. I know unforgivable. But I cannot start marriage with lie. I'm sorry." Expected him to shout. David stared face hard. "You betrayed me, Elena. One week to wedding?" "Yes. I'm so sorry." "We are done," he said stood and left. Drove straight to Lisa's house. CHAPTER 2: THE BETRAYAL David broken and angry. Sat in Lisa's sitting room drinking beer she gave. "Elena said she slept with another man," he told Lisa voice shaking. Lisa covered mouth pretending shocked. "No! Elena? That quiet Elena?" "She said it herself. Wedding off. Everything ruined." Lisa moved closer hand on shoulder. "You deserve better, David. Someone who loves you truly who would never do that. Someone like me. I have loved you since secondary school. I never stopped." David looked at her hurt humiliated. "You love me?" "Yes. I introduced you to Elena because I thought she would make you happy but I was dying inside every day," Lisa cried. David vulnerable wanted revenge wanted to hurt Elena way Elena hurt him. That night he did not go home. Stayed in Lisa's house and slept with Lisa. Not because loved her, but because angry because Lisa was there willing. Next morning Lisa woke naked beside David smiled. Finally after eight years David in her bed. Thought she won. Same time Elena could not sleep felt guilty about hurting David needed to apologize to Lisa for leaving party abruptly. So went to Lisa's house that morning with small cake. Knocked no answer pushed door open. Saw David's shoes near door shoes she knew well. Heard laughter inside bedroom. Walked slowly pushed bedroom door. David and Lisa on bed together half naked. Time stopped. "Elena?" David shocked. Elena eyes from David to Lisa everything clicked like puzzle. "You?" she whispered looking at Lisa. "You... you and David? You gave me drink! Gave me wrong key on purpose!" Lisa quickly covered with wrapper. "Elena, it's not what you think..." "Shut up!" Elena shouted voice shaking. "You gave me that drink! You sent me to Room 906 on purpose!" Lisa face changed stood up no longer pretending. "Yes! I did! Because you took him from me! You take everything! Best grades! Attention! I introduced you to him! He supposed to be mine!" "You poisoned my drink! You are supposed to be best friend!" Elena crying. "I only put strong alcohol in your juice to make you drunk! I only wanted you to misbehave so David would leave you! I didn't tell you to open legs for another man! That's your cheap decision!" Lisa screamed. David looked down could not say anything shame covering face. Elena looked at both two people she trusted most. "Good," she said quietly. "Thank you for showing me who you both are before I married you. David, you said I betrayed you because I slept with another man once. But you slept with my best friend one day after I told truth. You didn't even wait. So who betrayed who? You never loved me. You loved ego." Dropped cake and left. Walked on street crying but feeling strangely free. Deleted numbers blocked them. One month later Elena missed period thought stress. Two months later fainted at work colleague took to small clinic in Yaba. Doctor did test and said, "Madam congratulations. You are eight weeks pregnant." Elena world stopped. Eight weeks. Room 906. Adrian Knight. Held stomach cried in clinic. Alone. Parents stopped talking since cancelled wedding. Small salary from bookstore job. But decided that night. "I will keep baby. Baby innocent." Continued working in bookstore hiding pregnancy with big clothes. Other side of Lagos strange happening. Adrian Knight could not forget slap. Slept with many women but no one ever slapped him. No one ever left money. No one looked at him with so much hate and innocence same time. Told assistant, "Find girl from Room 906. Red dress. Name might be Elena. Find her." Assistant searched two weeks hotel cameras guest list. Found her. Elena Okafor. Working small bookstore Yaba. Two months pregnant. Adrian drove himself to bookstore. No driver no bodyguard. Black suit. Entered small bell jingled. Elena arranging books belly still flat. When saw him froze. "You?" she whispered. Adrian closed door. "You are pregnant," he said not question eyes to stomach. "How did you find me? Leave my shop!" Elena panicking. "It is my child right? That night in 906." "It is not your business! My child! Go away!" Adrian brought chair sat tired. "My family does not allow child outside. My grandfather will says if I don't get married before 30 I lose Knight Holdings. I am 29. I need wife. You need protection and money for child. Let's help each other." "What you mean?" "Marry me. Contract marriage. One year. You live in my house I take care of you and child. After one year after lawyers confirm we divorce. You get 50 million naira and keep child. I get company. Or I can take child from you with lawyers. You know I can." Elena shaking anger. "You heartless! Think money everything! You ruined my wedding night!" "I know. And I will pay for it. One year, Elena. That is all I ask." Elena had no choice. No money for hospital bills no family support. If Adrian wanted could truly take baby with power. "One year. And you will never touch me," she said. "Deal. Don't fall in love with me. This is business," Adrian said coldly. "I will never fall in love with playboy like you," Elena replied. They did small court wedding next week. No white dress no celebration. Just signatures. Elena moved into Adrian mansion in Ikoyi. Huge cold quiet. Ten bedrooms but only maids and security. Adrian always at work came midnight never ate with her never asked about baby. But Elena noticed strange things. When morning sickness bad she would wake find fresh oranges ginger tea crackers on bedside table though never told anyone she liked oranges. When she complained AC too cold at night next day AC fixed and soft blanket placed. When she could not sleep because back pain head maid would come and say, "Madam Oga said I should massage your legs small." She asked maid, "Did Oga tell you?" Maid smiled, "Madam Oga does not talk much. But he calls me every afternoon to ask if you have eaten." Adrian still cold in front but actions warm. Elena belly growing four months five months. One day Adrian came early saw Elena sleeping on couch pregnancy book on chest big belly showing. Stood long just looking then gently covered with blanket and went away. Elena woke found blanket smiled without knowing why. She beginning to see boy behind playboy. CHAPTER 3: THE CHANGE When Elena seven months pregnant everything changed. Midnight raining heavily. Adrian in very important board meeting Victoria Island. Meeting would decide if Knight Holdings would get 10-billion-naira contract. All directors there. Elena alone in big mansion stood to go kitchen drink water and sharp pain cut stomach screamed. Looked down saw blood on dress. "Ah! My baby!" cried. Tried call maid but maid gone to buy things. Tried stand but fell floor blood spreading. With shaking hands called Adrian. Adrian phone rang middle board meeting saw Elena on screen normally never picked during board meeting. But picked. "Adrian... blood... baby... come..." Elena whispered before phone fell. Adrian stood instantly chair fell. "Meeting is over," he said. "Sir we are in middle voting for contract..." director said. "I said meeting is over! My wife is bleeding!" Adrian shouted something never done in life. Ran out without wearing shoes properly ran into rain entered car himself drove did not wait driver. Broke two traffic lights drove VI to Ikoyi ten minutes. Entered mansion saw Elena on floor kitchen unconscious pool blood face white. "ELENA!" he shouted like mad man. Carried her arms white shirt hands covered blood put her in car drove like crazy to Reddington Hospital. At hospital doctors rushed her emergency room. "Doctor please save them! Please save my wife and baby! Take my blood! Take everything!" Adrian crying suit soaked blood rain. Doctor said, "She has placental abruption. She and baby in danger. Need emergency surgery now." For two hours Adrian sat on floor outside operating theatre holding head prayed. Adrian Knight who never believed in God prayed. "God please don't take them. Take company take money but don't take them. I need them." After two hours doctor came out. "They stable. Mother and baby safe. But she needs complete bed rest remaining months. No stress." Adrian entered room Elena awake pale drips on hand held her hand and cried like child. "You almost died... you almost left me..." he said. Elena weak wiped tears. "You came..." "Of course I came. You are my life. You and Hope are my life." "You named her Hope?" "Yes. When I was in board meeting before you called I was looking at your picture. Decided if girl we call Hope. Because you gave me hope when I thought never love anyone." Elena cried too. "I thought you heartless." "I was. Until you slapped me. No woman ever slapped me because no woman ever cared enough to be angry at me. You did. And I could not forget you." Next two months Adrian did not go to work worked from home sat beside Elena every day put head on big belly talked to baby. "Hi Hope. It's daddy. Your mommy stubborn but strongest woman I know. Please stay inside small don't worry mommy again," he would say. Elena would laugh. "She can hear you." "I hope she hears that her daddy loves her mommy very much," he said looking at Elena. Elena heart beating fast falling in love with contract husband. On rainy night March Elena water broke. "Adrian! Baby!" she shouted. Adrian carried her again but this time not scared held hand inside delivery room. For six hours Elena pushed Adrian held hand wiped sweat told "You can do it Elena you are strong." At 3:12 AM cry filled room. Baby girl big eyes small fists. Adrian cried louder than baby. "She looks like you. Beautiful like you," he told Elena kissing forehead. Named her Hope Knight. After Hope born one-year contract almost over. One morning Elena packed small bag. "Where are you going?" Adrian asked holding Hope. "Our contract is over next week. You have company now. I have to go. Thank you for everything. Will raise Hope in small house." Adrian stood at door blocking way Hope sleeping in arms. "Where you think you going with my daughter and wife?" "Contract says one year..." "I tore that contract day you almost died. I don't want contract marriage. I want real marriage." He knelt on one knee holding Hope in one arm and with other brought small velvet box inside new diamond ring bigger shinier than contract ring. "Elena Okafor, first time I married you I forced you. I was heartless playboy. This time I am asking you. Will you marry me because you love me? Because I love you. Have loved you since morning you slapped me and walked out Room 906 like queen. I love you and Hope more than money more than company more than life. Will you stay and change me every day?" Elena crying holding bag. "Adrian... that one night ruined my wedding..." "That one night gave me family. Best mistake of my life," he said. Elena dropped bag and knelt too. "Yes. I will marry you. Not for contract. For love." Hugged with Hope between them. One year later they did real wedding white wedding in big church in Lagos. Elena wore new white dress she truly deserved. Hope was flower girl walking scattering flowers. Lisa and David not invited. After Elena story spread everyone knew what Lisa did. Lisa and David broke up after three months because David never truly loved Lisa. Lisa left Lagos. Elena who thought one night ruined life realized that one night gave beautiful daughter and gave heartless playboy a heart. And Adrian Knight playboy who never believed in love learned to love only two girls for rest of life - his wife and his daughter. THE END