CHAPTER TWO: THE REJECTION
684 Words
The happy feeling in the garden disappeared in a flash.
A while ago people were laughing and talking to each other in the garden. Now the garden has gone quiet which is really strange.
Guests looked at each other confused as Adrian's mother walked towards the center of the garden. She just kept walking, not saying a word to anybody.
You could hear the sound of her heels hitting the ground as she moved through the crowd. Her expression looked serious and clearly unhappy.
Adrian slowly got up from where he had been kneeling. The small ring box was still in his hand.
"Mom, what are you doing here?" Adrian asked, surprised.
He thought to himself "But I never told my mom about this. So how did she get to know?"
But Mrs. Cole didn't look at him. Her attention was fixed on Sophia.
"This has gone far, " she said in a sharp voice.
Sophia suddenly felt nervous. She already knew what was about to happen.
A few minutes ago everything had felt good, even overwhelming in a beautiful way. Now it felt like all the attention in the garden had turned toward her.
Some of the guests began whispering to each other. The situation was becoming more uncomfortable. No one had expected this.
Adrian quickly walked up to his mother. "Mom please stop. Not now " he said, trying to stay calm.
Mrs. Cole shook her head. "You are about to make the mistake of your life, " she said.
"Settling down with this kind of girl? I'm not going to stand and pretend everything is fine."
She turned back to Sophia. "Have you suddenly forgotten what I told you today?.
Did you think I was joking?"
Sophia felt her mood drop instantly. Her eyes soaked with tears.
Mrs. Cole's voice grew louder. "Didn't I warn you to stay away from my son? You cheap gold digger."
Adrian's jaw clenched in anger as he stepped forward. "Mom, that's enough, " he said. "She is not a gold digger. Don't call her that."
"I will call her whatever I like, " Mrs. Cole replied coldly.
"Mom leave Sophia out of this " Adrian said, his voice breaking slightly. "She has nothing to do with this."
He pressed his lips together refusing to cry. "Have I not done everything to make you proud?" he continued. "Why are you doing this? What did I do to deserve this?"
His voice. He had to pause before speaking again. ". Now when I finally want something for myself you're trying to ruin it."
The guests looked at each other shocked by what was happening. At that moment it felt like she was losing control.
She couldn't take it anymore. "What have I done to deserve this?" she said quietly to herself.
Adrian walked closer to Sophia holding the ring box in his hand. "Sophia " he called softly.
She didn't look at him. He opened the box again. Stepped closer still trying to hold onto hope.
"Sophia " he began to propose.
"Don't please, " she said, her voice breaking.
She slowly lifted her eyes. Looked at Adrian then at the ring.
The guests watched closely waiting for her answer. Everyone was silent.
Sophia took a breath. Then she said, "I... I can't marry you."
For a moment Adrian didn't move. "What do you mean?" he asked, frozen.
"Am I not good enough for you?" he asked.
"Just stop, Adrian, " she said quietly. " Of course you are, " she added, her voice trembling. ". I just can't marry you. I love you.
Your family doesn't love me either."
The garden went completely silent. Adrian stood there in shock, the ring still in his hand—waiting, hoping that she would change her mind.
"Did you mean what you just said?" he asked softly.
"Sophia I just can't do this " she replied, avoiding his eyes.
She didn't look at him anymore. Slowly she. Walked away with her friends and her mother, Mrs. Blake.
Behind her the evening that had started with love ended in heartbreak.
- Writer
