Second Chance At Love

Chapter1

Chapter 1: Walking Down the Aisle

Jennifer's POV

Everyone in the church turns their eyes on me as I walk down the aisle. My steps were slow, and my heart was racing fast. The bouquet of tightly clutch pink and white roses tremble in my hands. The white gown swishes behind me.

The decoration and everything looks so perfect and beautiful just like how we had planned everything.

My eyes are now fixed ahead, on the man I'm going to marry today. He looks so handsome and breathtaking that I almost miss a step.

The more I take a step towards him, the more I see how beautiful he is. He was different today unlike the way I'm used to him. There was happiness and joy in his eyes. And the way he smiled at me was totally different today. For the first time that we have been together for the past 3 years, Daniel Brooks looked at me not with hatred and disgust.

This is a beautiful day for every woman who dreams of marrying the love of our life but for me it feels weird. I should be happy but the more I take a step towards him, the more my heart breaks into pieces, and I could hear every bit of it crashing loudly in my ear.

The windows of the church were big and large enough for air to penetrate in yet I feel suffocated. I feel terrible in this dress of mine. I have to pretend to be happy. I have to pretend that everything is alright even though my heart is shattering inside me. And the painful part is that I have to watch the man I truly love marry someone else.

And now my word is filled with nothing but darkness. My wishes and hope that I have carefully guided are now shattered.

I feel like shouting, crying and mourning my pains because I knew that the smile and happiness on his face wasn't aimed at me but at the woman behind me.

Her golden lace gown was different from ours. She walks majestically behind us. She's beautiful and nothing short of perfection. Lilian Andrew, my best friend and bride to be.

Finally I got to the altar and then moved to the right side just like we have practiced before now. Mary, Daniel's cousin, stood beside me, along with Annabelle, Lilian’s younger sister. My hand tightened more on the bouquet as my heart pounded in my chest.

I hate this day but not as the day Daniel went on his knee and proposed to Lilian during our high School graduation. I wanted to scream, to strangle him just like how I want to shout now, just like how I want the ground to open and swallow me so that the pain in my heart would ease.

I was drawn in my spiral when a gentle pat on my shoulder brought me back. It was Mary, she gave me an encouraging smile. It was what I needed now, something soothing and comforting. Our eyes met for a brief time before we then turned to the blushing bride in front of us.

Despite the pain and hatred in my heart there was no denying that Lilian is beautiful, kind and intelligent. But that's not entirely what makes her different, she is a total package of everything that a man would want from a woman. I want to eat her but I can't. Maybe that's why Daniel fell for her so easily.

Lilian and Annabelle are orphans, their mother died when she was fifteen years old and their father left when she was just seven years old. That is why her uncle, uncle Ronald is giving her away in marriage instead of their parents.

“Daniel,” Uncle Ronald's deep voice pulled me out of the fog that was already swallowing me. A kisses Lilian's cheek before placing her hand into Daniel’s own.

Daniel gently held her hand and then helped her on the stairs before making her stand beside him. He sneaks a glance at her. And the way he looks at her, smiling, kills me slowly.

Maybe I didn't try hard enough, maybe I didn't love him more and that's why he couldn't see me. I have loved him for as long as I could remember but maybe one day he will realize that I was meant for him and not Lilian.

Daniel didn't even look at me for once but anyway does it matter? He doesn't even care about me or sees the heartbreak in my eyes.

He began his vows, and instantly, my soul shattered in ruins. He wrote the verse himself, how beautiful it is but I wish it was meant for me and not someone else.

‘Get your s**t, together Jenny.’ The stupid voice in my head snapped at me. ‘You need to accept that he doesn't love you or care about you, so move on.’

But how can I move on so easily? How can I forget about the love of my life so easily? But it was the truth. I need to accept the reality that I wasn't even in the race to begin with.

“Do you Lillian Andrew except Daniel Brooks, as your lawfully wedded husband,” the priest began, “for good and for bad times, for Richer, for poorer, for better of a horse till death do you part?”

“Yes…I do.” Lilia says, her voice gentle and very assuring. She then slid the ring into Daniel's finger.

The priest then turned to Daniel who was all smiling. “Do you, Daniel Brooks, accept Lilian Andrew as your lovely wedded wife?”

Denial smiled at her before answering, “Yes I do.” and then he put the ring onto her finger.

And immediately, I felt the tears stung my eyes but I tried to fight it back, not to look weak in front of everyone. I managed to take the next breath, fighting to keep myself steady from crumbling.

“And now, with the power vested upon me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride.” The priest concluded the vows.

Daniel slowly raised the veil of her face, he was all smiling before placing his hands on her face and for a moment, his eyes met mine, almost like intentionally, before kissing her. The kiss was passionate and intentional.

Thank God for the deafening noise and music in the background as a little sob escaped my lips.

And now I could see the hatred he had for me. It was clearer now. The crowd were shouting and clapping an

d within that moment the last piece of my heart shattered.