Master of Obsession (Masters Trilogy Book One)

Escape

We have no control over things that usually come and go. There will be circumstances that hinder our contentment in life. There are wounds that are profound, that one cannot truly fathom how to stop the bleed and heal it.

You must know now that there will be times when the damage has been said and done and there's no point in undoing the chaos.

I took a deep breath before entering the reception area. There's no turning back now.

I looked at everyone else in this room and I would find comfort. I greet those who will walk and have a conversation with me. Now forcing laughter and faking smiles, they would not seem to notice how unusual it is for me to be roaming around without my now husband.

My parents were in front of my side, and I hadn't noticed that. “Darling! I am so glad that I have witnessed the love between the two of you right from the start.” Lucia, my mother excitedly said. I gave her a fake smile and hugged her tightly.

My father congratulated me and gave me a warm hug. It made me teary-eyed. “I always wanted to give you this as a sign of a blessing. I know deep inside that time is wondrous within your pace.” he placed a pocket watch on the palm of my hand.

“This is our family heirloom, Stef. This is a hunter-case pocket watch. It's made from authentic and pure gold. It has a luminescent dial, which is fascinating.” my father added.

With deep adoration, I said my dearest thank you for the both of them. I glanced in the direction where Fraco was seated. He is waiting for me at our table. I quickly dismissed my parents and immediately walked towards him so as to avoid suspicion.

“My love, I am truly sorry for the pain that I have caused you. It's just that I was drunk and…” Fraco, with a hint of regret on his face, suddenly talked.

“Hush with all of your words! I simply do not take your apology as of the moment when the wrongdoings keep on repeating like a broken record in my head.” I declared with finality.

“I...I have gathered enough courage to tell the Emcee to not include an introduction to us newlyweds, I believe it's what you want too.” Fraco whispered.

I cannot believe him! If that is what he wants, then this day is already ruined, twice in fact!

I signaled the waiters to serve the meal already so as to not wait for any commands from others. The guests seemed confused because both of us were already at our table and not having a grand wedding entry, not walking to enter the venue nor dancing in the center stage.

A glass of white wine was immediately served. There was gossip spreading around that maybe I was constipated, and I did not mind about it at all, since my feelings towards this man beside me were far worse than having constipation.

Suddenly, a glass of white wine was raised. I glanced at the direction where it came from and its Range. I gave him a nod as a sign of approval and he immediately stood up.

“Good day, ladies and gents. A lot of you know me as a friend of Fraco, but, oh man, I hate to be the bearer of bad news,” he said while placing the wine glass at their table. Everyone was alarmed by what he said.

One of the waiters handed me a note. I hadn't opened it yet because my attention was caught by Range.

“Actually, there are times when a situation is really inevitable, right Amelia?” he looked at her grinning.

Amelia, sitting at the farthest table of the wedding reception, looked like her blood ran cold. It serves her right to be called out like that.

“It’s been a privilege to be their best man, I would say. Now, all of you, please lend me your attention. Let's watch the screen and we will unravel the bittersweet dishonesty between Fraco and Amelia.” Range encouraged everyone.

What the hell is this all about?

All of a sudden, a video footage was played on the screen behind me and Fraco. In the first scene, the person who is holding the camera happens to be walking in the hallway. I guess it was a bellboy as it stopped walking and rang the doorbell. Room 103. Our matrimonial room. It suddenly opened and was greeted by what appeared to be a person that was quite familiar.

Fraco gasped at what he saw. He suddenly whimpers. I just didn't care about what he feels right now because I was definitely focused on their obscenity.

The bellboy then walked inside the hotel room. I have seen undergarments, clothes and even shoes scattered around the floor. The audacity of these two!

“There’s no way in hell that the maid of honor and the groom have s*x with each other! That is pure madness!” a guest remarked. Everyone gasped at that thought. The thought of them having s*x triggers my temper. What a way to end a relationship!

While Fraco was walking inside guiding him where to put the items, the bellboy then placed the luggage, bags and things for the bridesmaids. And when Fraco turned his back around to get the items on the floor, the bellboy placed the camera on one of the luggage.

The date in the footage is October 12th, a day before our wedding ceremony! They had sensual intimacy for hours, as I can see from the time stamp on the lower right corner. The video lasted for 15 minutes, as the video operator accelerated it. How immoral they can be, as they took lust upon the heat of their bodies. This is shameful.

They really disgust me.

“This is absurd!” my enraged father stood up, defending me, and now I heard a loud slap! I turned my head around to see that my mother had slapped my sister.

I stood up even though my knees were weak. My parents’ public image has already been tarnished by this scandal. My mom, who was a supermodel, and my dad, who was a renowned golfer, had their careers painted with a bad reputation. It was all because of me.

There were tension, dismay and horrified looks from everyone in the room. Fraco’s parents were hysterical, ashamed of what their son did to anyone but me. Every person from this very room has recorded everything bit by bit.

“I hate to break it to you guys, but this day is officially over,” Range declared.

I ran for my dear life towards the door and I walked out. I went inside the elevator and pressed the ground floor button when, all of a sudden, a hand stopped the elevator from closing. It was the waiter who gave me the note. I cannot fully see his face because the tears streaming down my face blurred my eyesight. I thought the truth would never hurt me. I guess I pictured myself being that martyr.

“You need to open that note that I gave miss. Make haste as someone is waiting for you,” he said. I opened the note and I thanked the heavens for my salvation.

“We will run towards a new chapter. A new beginning for both of us. Go to the edge of the dock as my yacht is waiting. We will escape from all of this.”

I involuntarily nodded my head. The sound of the elevator indicated that we had reached the ground floor. The waiter held my hand and we ran towards the exit.

The colors of the sky changed within minutes. As the sun goes down, the ombre colors of pink, orange and yellow have painted the clouds. The golden disc has descended, seemingly in a hurry to let itself disappear. I seized the moment and I captured it in my mind. It was the only peaceful thing I have seen today.

I taught myself to be like the sun. To escape from all of this once and for all, but a part of me knew that one day I would rise knowing how to forgive and never forget beyond comparison.

The waiter immediately holds my hand as I try to lift my skirt while stepping inside the yacht. I said thank you to him. He nodded and started the engine. We sailed away. I try to look back to see that all of the guests, the bridesmaids, Range, and my parents are present on the shore, but I never see Amelia and Fraco. Perhaps it's for the best to leave behind what I treasure most.

I wiped my eyes and walked towards the cockpit. I glanced at the waiter‘s face just to see that the man I rarely knew from the past is now together here with me. I was surprised.

The waiter was none other than Valentino Palma.