Chapter 3— Aftermath: The damned abandoned bride
1282 Words
Sunlight filtered through the curtains, soft and cruel. It touched my face, stinging hard against my skin, adding to the ache inside of me. My eyelids fluttered open the sun rays scorching them but I didn't shut them.
I just faced the sun, letting it wash over the pain I felt.
“Val,”
I sat up instantly, the weight of the events crushing on me. Even though it had been 5 days, that didn't stop the wound in my chest from stinging hard.
He had ditched me, told them to bundle me out of his mansion.
He betrayed me.
My chest ached and the tears fell before I could stop them. He left me with no explanation. Maybe he hated me. Perhaps he really hated me.
“Val,” Selena was by my side. She ran a hand over my back, softly soothing me. “It's okay. Everything will be fine.”
“How is the media?” I asked and Selena sighed.
“That's not the focus right now —”
“Tell me,” I cut her short. “What are they saying about Valeria cross?”
“It's still bad,” Selena whispered and I grabbed the pillow instantly. Just as I almost dug my face in the pillow, my eyes caught sight of the laptop on the table.
“Selena?” My eyes widened as I watched the screen, “what day is it?”
“Monday, what—”
“The show!” I screamed instantly and sat up. My strength failed me and I almost staggered. “The fashion show. I should make my debut on the stage today. Jesus,” I grabbed Selena's phone on the table, “what's the time?”
“No, Val,” Selena interjected immediately, “you're not going.”
“I worked for it. I spent hours as the creative designer for that show, Selena. Of course I'm going,” I let my butts sink back into the bed when my vision blurred.
“You don't understand Val, the world…”
“I have never been the one to care about the world Selena. You know that.” If anything, I was determined. Years of intense training was how I was able to meet Harlan.
At the thought of his name, a tear dropped from my left eye. For five days straight, I cried in bed, hoping it was a dream. But it wasn't.
Harlan's ugly stare was etched in my memory, replaying over and over and hurting me.
“Val,” Selena pulled me to her and I ravished the feeling for a moment before I pulled away. “You don't have to go to the show.”
“I have to.”
“You don't understand,” Selena pulled away, “you're still vulnerable now. Every tabloid published the news. I had to get enough security to fight off the paparazzi as we came here, Valeria. The world is waiting for you to crash.”
“I will not,” I finalised and headed to the bathroom before Selena could say any more words. As I stood under the shower, I wondered if they were going to mock me. The stares… laughter? Questions?
Perhaps I should just stay back.
“You're going to have to face it whether you want or not,” my inner thoughts whispered and I sighed before letting the shower wash away all of my fear.
I have spent five days in hiding. It was now or never.
It didn't take long before I was dressed and Selena was also dressing up by my side. We had crashed to her house just after Harlan had his guard bundle me out.
And since then, she had been the one taking care of me.
She was exactly the most perfect best friend.
“Val I won't be there you know that. Can you handle…?”
“I will,” I cut her short, “and some roads are meant to be taken alone.”
She sighed and in no time we were outside. Selena gave me one of her car keys before she drove out with one of her cars. I got into another one of her cars and headed to the venue.
Along the way, I got a new phone and put in my SIM and at once calls blared in but I ignored them so I could focus on the road.
It didn't take long before I got to the venue. I inhaled a giant breath of air and stepped out. My teeth sank into each other as I finally put a call through one of the designers.
“Miss Valeria!” She screamed, “where have you been?’
“What floor are you on?” She gave directions before we ended the call. As soon as I got to the ground floor, I headed towards the elevator, my chest tightening with every step I took.
Almost making it to the elevator, I heard the voice, “yes, he probably thinks she's a gold digger.”
“She got a lot of opportunities with him.”
I turned and the lady's eyes met mine. They widened as soon as they saw me, “Miss Cross?” She screamed and heads turned.
I looked away instantly, hastening my footsteps. “Miss Cross?”
“Valeria? You're back? Why didn't the wedding take place?”
My steps faltered even though I was on block heels. I heard footsteps as I almost reached the elevator and at once I clicked on the floor and thankfully, I got in.
Two people joined and I looked away, struggling to not let my hands tremble. I never knew it was going to be that devastating. I've always had confidence… but at that moment, I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.
“Valeria cross?” One of the people in the elevator asked and I turned, “it's really you,” she rushed and wrapped her arms around me, “jesus, you're strong, how are you here?”
“I… I have work to do,” I forced and she exhaled as she looked at her partner. “He was terrible… he abandoned her at the altar,” she then turned to me, “that's how they are. The wealthy have no regard for commoners.”
Commoners. My jaw tightened. That word had followed me all my life. And maybe… maybe that's why Harlan abandoned me.
Maybe I wasn't good enough.
My tears fell and just in time we reached the floor. I wiped them and dashed outside instantly, heading to the direction the designer earlier gave.
As I reached the door and grabbed the door knob, the laughter came, “she was all high and mighty.”
A lump rose to my throat.
“She thought she was about to be a billionaire's wife. Heard she kept calling him on the altar. She really wanted the bag,” the people in the room broke into laughter alongside the person speaking.
“Oh, what's she feeling now? Humiliation?” I can't wait to ask questions. “The headlines!” Another screamed, “I'd like to show them to her and watch the colour leave her face.”
They all jested while my chest constricted, every ache deep inside of me. My tears fell but I blinked them back and just as I pushed the door open, it opened from the inside.
The designer that opened the door faked surprise and turned to the crew members, “guess who has been eavesdropping,” she opened the door wide and all eyes turned to me.
“The damned abandoned bride.”
- Writer
