Devil’s Dinner

Yes I Do

Xander noticed a fast movement at the corner of his eyes but he was not sure who it might be cause all he saw was a white dress.

After few seconds,realization hits him that it might be Ashley that just left but he continued with Dara anyway.

Michael stood at the far end of the corridor watching everything right from the start,from when Dara entered Xander’s room up to Ashley’s arrival.

He went after Ashley to stop her from doing anything stupid and he happened to see Xander and Dara through the little space amidst the half opened door.Feeling so disgusted about how Dara has always been,he remembered that was her flaw.

Michael left unnoticed and ran after Ashley who was heading towards the reception already.

She planned on running away in someone’s car but then she remembered her sister is still inside the hotel and could not leave her alone.

Ashley cried out broken-hearted as she entered a small room beside the reception,to make the matter worse,she saw the wedding poster been torn into pieces especially her part of the picture.

She was almost going crazy trying to make a reason on why everything happened this way.

“I’m sure the random girl that was in Xander’s room did this,she was the one that came to drop the letter too but who is she?”she thought inwardly to herself with more questions popping up in her head.

She itches her hair and her makeup became so messed up with her tears,she buried her face into her dress and cried her heart out.

Michael twisted the door knob and slipped into the small room.

Ashley flinched and look up only to see Michael staring down at her with pity.

She stood up gently looking so jilted like she was by her one sided feelings for Xander.

Unable to voice out anything,Michael scan her from head to toe and saw how messed up she is looking.

Her white dress is stained with lipstick and powder with her hair looking so rough and her pale eye bags.

He pulled her in for a hug to console her but she was too tired to make any move.

Ashley succumbs to the hug helplessly because she needs it anyway even if it is coming from Michael.

“I told you the other day that you might need me,I meant it when I said i will protect you” Michael said.

Ashley pulled away slowly from his embrace and pointing to the torn pieces of the poster.

“You knew about this too right?”she voiced out in a thin distant whisper.

Michael glance at the poster then returned his gaze back on Ashley with nothing coming out of his mouth.

“Who was that girl in the room?”she questioned further but Michael said nothing still.

Ashley’s pale face turned into a chuckle and she breathed out.

“You are his close buddy after all,you have always tried your best looking out for him”

“Ash I think it will be good if you ask him these questions and not me” he replied.

“Now you are not even addressing me formally anymore... are you interested in me?should we just have an affair instead?” She voiced out laughing like crazy with tears steaming down her face.

It sure sounds tempting to a desperate frenemy like Michael but he decided to take it slow. “We should get you a new dress,the wedding vows is in a bit” he said.

“The wedding vow?do you know the importance? You and your friend will be sinning greatly for taking it lightly and I pray heaven punish you both for that”she cursed out.

“Mrs.Grimes shouldn’t find out about this and you know,think about your sister if not for yourself” he conceded.

“What is my own with that?you guys should be wary of her and not me,you guys brought in a girl on my wedding day and I was even threatened by her” she said beating her hand on her chest in pain.

“I was also invited to watch them making out,such cruelty” she trailed off her tone crying again.

Michael stretches his hand forward to console her but she yanked his hand away.

She sniffs in and wiped her tears “Get me another wedding dress,we should get married right? Of course we will” she said with a smile.

Michael stared at her amazed.

“Oh and about keeping this from Mrs.Grimes?don’t worry your secret is safe with me” she said tapping Michael’s chest gently.

On her way,she saw Kayla coming with her friends,she was really disappointed to make her sister see her like this but she could not run.

On seeing her sister looking so messed up and coming from the same room that the poster was kept,Kayla ran up to her teary eyed.

“You saw it? I kept it away so you won’t see it though “ she burst into tears.

Ashley realized she was talking about the poster and not the girl in Xander’s room so she heaved a sigh of relief.

“My baby sis is always watching out for me”she said as she tries to hold back her tears.

Kayla hug her so tight and Michael could not risk being found here by any other people so he advised they move to the dressing room first.

“We will just head to the hall first” Rachel said to Kayla.

Kayla nods in approval and Rachel left for the hall with Jeremy.

Fortunately,they found another wedding dress for Ashley since the Grimes were having issue with the design to have on the dress before.

Ashley wanted the dress with feathers and brim stones but Mrs.Grimes chose a plain wedding dress with lace designs.

Now she was left with her choice and Kayla helped her with it.

Kayla tightened the straps on her dress and at the same time,Ashley tightened her emotional self from exploding.

She refused to get another makeup done because it’s going to take a lot of time so she decided to go out there with a pale face looking like a ghost.

“There won’t be reporters anyway” she grinned.

“But there will be well wishers to take pictures of you and Xander,it is quite risky going out like this” Michael warned.

“It is my wedding and not yours nor theirs “ she snapped.

She forced a smile to Kayla and she was escorted to the entrance of the hall waiting for Mr.Grimes to come walk her to the aisle any minute and Michael left with Kayla.

XANDER’s ROOM

Dara could be seen sulking at the other side of bed due to Xander’s behavior to her.

He turned her down when she was trying to have him sleep with her and that annoyed Dara making her doubtful and scared.

“Dara you need to understand,we can’t do this I must not arrive late for the wedding “ he explained.

The icy prince is acting so soft in front of his lover,first impression last longer they say! Since Xander cherished Dara because of how they met that night when they were still young.

“I knew it, you don’t love me! In the end you are choosing that girl over me” she sobbed.

Just then Michael swipes the lock with his key card and it clicked open.

He knew what was coming to his sight so he decided to act all innocent.

“Buddy it’s time for the wedding,your bride is....” he paused his statement on sighting Dara on the bed and Xander standing by the glassy window.

“I will explain things to you later and hopefully you could catch up with her” Xander said and head out of the room.

Immediately Xander left,Dara wipes her tears then went to the bathroom to wash her face before coming back to Michael.

“Wow,nobody deserves the witches award more than you do” Michael said with a smirk.

“Thanks for the help,now what are we doing next?” She inquired with no hint of guilt on her face.

“I was stupid to think you really came back for me,in the end I was always your other option” he said.

“I thought convincing Xander is going to be a hard task but it went easier than expected, so I won’t give you any troubles anymore” she said as she sat on the bed with her legs crossed.

Indeed she is such a beauty and popular among her peers for her pretty long legs.

“We both know you can’t do anything about this,you can’t even tell Xander my true motive cause we are both greedy and after something. You wanted me so much and I willingly gave my body to you,I wanted Xander and his wealth and I succeeded so what’s up with your emotional face?”

Michael breathed out and closed the door tight.

“You caused all these,you asked to keep our relationship a secret back then in high school just so you could stand a chance with Xander,you even lied about being the young girl he met that night at the royal ball just because he shared his experience with us. Everything about you is full of lies and deceit” Michael cussed out.

“Is it my fault that you don’t have a parent?you didn’t even have a family name not enough money to be a proper boyfriend and you expect me to stay? Sorry to disappoint you I was never after you but Xander” she said glaring at him with distaste.

Michael held back his tears and he sniffles in as he turn his face away.

“Are you crying? See what I’m talking about... you are just weak in everything except for the general down there” Dara snickered.

“I wanted to say go to hell but I forgot it’s filled with your ancestors already,b***h!” He glowered.

“Well as the family dog you are,Xander Grimes asks you to take care of me until after the wedding so do your work right” Dara ordered.

Michael raised his hand to hit Dara but he halted his action and punched the air instead.

“Stay right here,I will be back” he said and exit the room.

The hall is greatly decorated with royal look and expensive fine silks.

They could not arrange for a traditional wedding cause Xander is not the crown prince yet and so they settled for a normal wedding by inviting a priest.

Xander could be seen waiting for his bride with people cheering and taking pictures immediately the brides door was opened.

Mr.Grimes appeared with Ashley with her hand tucked into the space he made with his arm.

He walked Ashley with a smile on his face and towards the groom.

At a point,he halted and stepped aside from Ashley so as to continue her journey alone.

Ashley was almost brought to tears as this was supposed to be so emotional for her if only her father was alive.

She looked around and felt herself being surrounded with wicked people showing fake sincerity towards her,amidst her search she noticed Princess Vivian’s indifference face.

They maintained eye contact for a while before she was smacked back to reality when the priest announced for her to proceed to face her groom.

Due to the bright light of the hall,no one noticed her pale face with no makeup unless staring at her up close.

She arrived at the front and faced Xander without lifting her face up.

Xander noticed her emptiness and he wondered if she really saw him with Dara.

He continued staring at her while Ashley buried her face down.

Mrs.Grimes saw the confused look on people’s face and she sent one of the palace maid to whisper a warning into Ashley’s ear.

The maid is dressed up nicely like a bridesmaid and she approach her with a smile before relaying the message.

“Accept the vow with a smile”

With this,she lift up her face and stared at Xander piercingly.

She read out the vows in her book and Xander did the same.

Then the priest reads out thus “Do you Xander Grimes take Ashley white as your lawfully wedded wife? Through bad days and good days,for better and for the worse”

“Yes I do” he replied with no hint of guilt.

Ashley stared in disbelief and feeling of great regret engulfed her with the fact that she came down from New York and agreed to carry on with the wedding.

The priest reached her turn and waited patiently for her answer but she was shattered already and any words out of her mouth might be accompanied with tears.