My Forbidden Lover

CHAPTER 14 – The Marriage

The evening was grand-two powerful families gathered for a dinner that sparkled with laughter, wine, and shallow congratulations. At the center of the long table sat their heirs, Zackarya Fuentes and Margo Tan, soon to be wed in just one week.

For the elders, it was a night of unity.

For Zackarya, it was a cage closing in.

He sat quietly, picking at his food while the parents exchanged jokes about the upcoming wedding. Margo, beside him, forced a laugh now and then, rolling her eyes each time their mothers glanced their way.

When the evening finally ended, Zackarya excused himself with a polite smile and walked straight into the city night-toward the neon lights of a high-end bar.

He didn't care who saw him there.

He just wanted to forget.

Glass after glass, the world blurred.

And before long, a familiar voice followed him inside.

"Seriously?" Margo slid onto the bar stool beside him, crossing her legs with a sigh. "You're getting drunk again? If you miss him that much, why not sneak out of the country and go to him instead?"

Zackarya turned sharply, his words slurring but full of heat.

"You're one to talk. Why even agree to marry me if you know I'm in love with a man?"

Margo laughed, tossing her hair.

"Because, you i***t, I don't have a choice either. And please-don't you dare imagine anything happening between us. Just thinking about your-ugh-weapon, going near my perfectly sealed padlock? Disgusting!"

She gagged dramatically, making a face.

"Yuck! No thank you!"

Zackarya burst out laughing, then poured himself another shot.

"You're insane," he muttered. "But fine. One week before the wedding-we'll just do what our parents want."

"Still haven't talked to him, huh?" she asked softly this time.

He shook his head. "He's moved on."

"So I'm just your second option?" she teased, raising an eyebrow. "You're such a mess, Zack. But fine-try talking to him again, dummy."

Zackarya chuckled bitterly. "What difference would it make? Even if he came back, I'd still have to marry you."

"Then..." Margo smirked, leaning closer. "Let's do it like before-our usual way."

"What do you mean?"

"We'll marry for show," she said, lowering her voice. "We'll fool everyone, pretend it's real, then I'll 'catch' you cheating, file for divorce, and poof-everyone's happy."

Zackarya groaned, running his hand through his hair. "You're crazy! You want me to ruin my own reputation just to play along?"

"You're crazier for still crying over someone who left you," she shot back. "I'm helping you, moron."

Their argument ended with Margo storming out of the bar. Zackarya stayed behind, drinking alone-until a stranger tried to sit beside him.

"Don't," he barked. "I don't want company. Leave."

The woman backed away, startled.

From behind him, a group whispered just loud enough for him to hear.

"No wonder his ex left him-such a temper."

"I heard the guy went abroad."

"Yeah, they say they haven't talked in years. He's marrying some girl now."

The glass slipped from his hand.

His knuckles tightened.

A second later, the crash of a broken bottle silenced the room.

Zackarya stood, his eyes cold and red.

"What the hell do you all know, huh?!" he shouted. "You think you understand anything?!"

Security rushed in and dragged him outside.

He didn't fight them.

He just walked out into the cold air, shaking, his heart heavier than the hangover waiting for him.

Inside his car, he unlocked his phone.

On the screen-a photo of Juen, smiling softly while holding a cat.

Years had passed, but Juen's absence never faded.

"How are you now?" he whispered. "Do you ever think of me?"

His lips trembled. "I miss you so much, Juen. You left me here... and now I'm marrying someone else."

Tears fell, heavy and unrestrained.

"Damn it, Juen... please, just come back."

He cried until the city lights blurred into nothing.

A Week Later - The Wedding Day

Kaoro: [What's up, man! Congrats!] 8:30 AM

Zackarya: [F*** you.] 8:50 AM

Kaoro: [HAHAHA.] 9:00 AM

Margo Calling...

"Hello, my handsome future husband!" Margo chirped. "I'm so excited for the wedding-and the honeymoon! Aren't you excited too?"

Zackarya rolled his eyes. "Excited for what, you psycho?" Click.

At the church, guests filled the pews. Zackarya stood at the altar, his jaw tight, his heart elsewhere. Kaoro, sitting nearby, kept glancing at him with worry.

Kaoro: [Where are you?]

Jiang: [On the way.]

Kaoro: [You're too slow. Move faster, b*tch.]

Jiang: [Excuse me?! Say that again and I'll bury you alive.]

Kaoro: [My love~ I was just kidding.]

Jiang: [Die.]

As everyone chatted, Zackarya just stared at the doors. His hands trembled. His chest ached.

"Are you okay?" Kaoro whispered.

"Would you be okay," Zackarya muttered, "if the person you loved most came back too late?"

Then-the music started.

The doors opened.

And down the aisle walked Margo.

Her gown shimmered under the soft light. For a fleeting second, Zackarya's heart stopped-because for that moment, he saw Juen walking toward him.

He smiled, believing the dream.

But when she reached the altar, reality hit. It was Margo.

Not him.

If only he could stay in that illusion forever.

"Mr. Fuentes," the priest's voice called, "do you take this woman to be your wife?"

Silence.

"Mr. Fuentes?"

Ten seconds. Thirty. A minute.

Finally, Zackarya forced a weak, "Yes, Father."

Across the aisle, in the crowd's last row, someone quietly stood-hidden behind tinted glasses. Tears streamed down Juen's face. He had returned home secretly, unable to resist seeing Zack one last time.

But now, seeing him say "I do," he understood.

Some love stories end without closure.

The priest turned to Margo.

"And do you, Miss Tan, take this man to be your husband?"

"I do, Father," she answered.

"Is there anyone who objects to this union?"

Silence filled the church.

"Then, you may kiss the bride."

Margo elbowed Zackarya playfully. "What? You gonna kiss me now? Careful-those lips probably touched a hotdog before."

"Are you insane?" he hissed.

"You could've objected earlier, genius," she whispered back. "Now deal with it."

The priest coughed politely. "Mr. Fuentes?"

Margo raised her hand. "Uh-Father? Can we skip the kiss? He said he didn't brush his teeth today."

Laughter rippled across the pews. Margo winked at the crowd.

Meanwhile, behind them, Kaoro's phone buzzed.

Jiang: [Don't freak out-but Juen's here. He's with me. Please don't tell anyone.]

Kaoro froze, his hand trembling.

"Mabuhay ang bagong kasal!" the guests cheered, throwing petals in the air.

Margo smiled half-heartedly. Zackarya didn't smile at all.

That Night - Hotel Suite

Zackarya sat silently on the couch, staring out the window. Margo lay on the bed, scrolling her phone.

"So, honey..." she said teasingly. "What's my wedding gift?"

No reply.

"Honeyyyyyy~ Hey, honey!"

"Shut up."

"Fine! You're boring." She pouted. "By the way, I got you something. Wanna see?"

Zackarya didn't answer.

"It's a picture," she said casually. "Someone sent it to me. You might wanna see it."

She handed him her phone. On the screen-Juen's photo.

"He's back," she whispered. "And I heard... he was at the wedding."

Zackarya froze. His pulse quickened.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing." She smiled smugly.

He stood abruptly and walked out of the room.

Later that Night

Kaoro: "I've got good news and bad news."

Zackarya: "Spit it out."

Kaoro: "Good news: Jiang said Juen's here. Bad news: he was at your wedding. He saw everything."

Zackarya: "WHAT?! Why the hell didn't you tell me sooner?!"

Kaoro: "I... forgot?"

Zackarya ended the call, furious.

He texted Kaoro again:

Zackarya: [I'm coming to your condo. I need to know where Juen is.]

Kaoro groaned, pacing in panic. "Crap, crap, crap! What if I don't open the door? No-he knows the passcode! I'm dead!"

When he turned around-Zackarya was already standing behind him.

"Jesus-how did you-?!" Kaoro yelped.

"Where is he?" Zackarya demanded, voice low, eyes fierce.

Kaoro sighed, defeated.

"Fine. I'll send you the address."

A moment later, Zack's phone buzzed.

Kaoro: [Sent.]

Zackarya: [Thanks.]

He turned to leave, his heart racing faster than ever.

Margo (text): 🖕🏻 [Go enjoy your honeymoon, honey bestie.]

Zackarya smiled faintly for the first time that day.

This time, he was going to see Juen again-

even if it was for the last time