A VOW FOR VENGEANCE

Chapter Three: Hanna’s Engagement

Hanna’s POV

I stood still in the parking lot for a few seconds in total shock. The car in which the driver brought to the hospital was the exact car I was in during the accident, and if my memory was right, the car should have been crushed into pieces.

I went around the car looking for maybe a tiny scratch, anything that could indicate I was not going insane but it was spotless and perfect to a tee.

My driver, Moses, stood holding out the keys, the way he always did. He knew I preferred to drive myself, but the thought of the accident kept replaying in my head.

“No Moses, you are driving today.” I said quietly pulling the door of the backseat.

Moses widened his eyes in surprise. “Miss Lawson?”

“Stop at Flordèl first.” I added as he entered the car.

Flordèl was a flower shop close to the cemetery where my mother was buried. I bought a bunch of white roses, her favorite and headed to the cemetery.

Leila Lawson. Forever in our hearts.

“Hi Mom.” I started facing her headstone and dropping the roses. My voice came out small and shaky but I did not care. I just sat there for a moment, unsure of what to say next. I had not rehearsed any speech.

“I have been quite foolish these days,” the words slipped out. “I did not see people for who they truly were, I trusted them.” My throat tightened. “They are planning to take everything, every single thing you and dad worked so hard to build.”

A tear dropped as I pressed my palm hard against the cold stone as I tried remembering the vague memories I had of my mother who passed when I was five due to liver cancer.

The sharp vibration of my phone cut through the silence.

Lucas.

I declined it without blinking. It buzzed again almost immediately.

Isla.

I hesitated for a while before picking up the call.

“Hanna, where on earth are you?” Her sharp voice came through the phone. “It is a few hours to the ceremony and the bride is not here yet.”

“I am on my way,” I answered flatly, hanging up.

“It seems life has given me a second chance to rewrite my fate,” I said to my mother as I stood up prepared to leave. “I will make things right this time, I promise.”

I exhaled deeply, walked back to the car and spent the drive becoming someone I didn’t fully recognize yet.

…

Lawson mansion, an 8,000 square foot building located in Manhattan, one of the most coveted areas in New York, looked exactly the same as on the day of my “past-life” engagement. It felt like I was experiencing a déjà vu. The decorations, staff, the exact mixture of fresh flowers. Everything was the same, in the same spot, except for me. I could remember barely eating out of the excitement of finally getting married, but now everything felt like a play I had already seen performed by people I could no longer pretend to believe.

I straightened up and walked the entrance.

“Finally,” Isla’s voice came from the top of the staircase. She looked immaculate as always, with her light brown hair styled into a perfect bun, wearing the exact fitted lilac dress from what I remember.

I walked in her direction and met her halfway along the stairs. She pulled me in a tight embrace. I could not help but feel irritated.

“I heard from Mia that you fainted during your fittings,” she scanned through my entire body. “Hope you are fine my darling?” Giving me a worried look.

“Yes I am.” I replied, giving a dangerous smile.

“Your assistant, Victoria, and the stylist are upstairs, they will help you get ready.” Her narrow eyes finally shifted away from my body. “Forty minutes, nothing more.”

“Okay.” Just one word and I left. I could feel her cold gaze fixed at me behind my back, but I could not care less. I hoped she enjoyed it because the view was about to change permanently.

The grand hall of Lawson mansion had been transformed.

After about an hour, I walked out in my cream-colored dress, made by one of the best designers in New York and found a place to sit and observe.

Chandeliers ran the full length of the ceiling, giving the hall a bright warm color and round tables dressed in crisp white linen and gold centerpieces filled the entire hall in carefully arranged tiers from VIPs to normal guests, just as I had wanted. I remembered handpicking some of the colors to be used personally. But here I was this time around, feeling like a guest in my own proposal where I was only present for the food and drinks.

Over a hundred guests but everywhere still felt empty. My father’s absence. It was around this time his condition worsened that he could no longer attend meetings and functions and even his daughter’s engagement. He had left all his responsibilities to Isla and the world had slowly moved on without him and here I was getting married in the midst of it all.

“You look beautiful.” Lucas whispered into my ears from behind while giving me a glass of champagne.

“Thanks.” I replied, taking the glass from him.

His smile paused for a second, then returned. “Nervous?”

“Not even a little.”

Then he took a fork out of the cutlery set that laid on the table and repeatedly hit it slightly on the champagne glass, getting everyone’s attention. I knew exactly what was coming next. His long fake speech about how he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

Everyone’s gaze was fixed on us, he stretched out his hand towards me. I did not flinch, did not react, did not give him my hand, just sat there hoping for him to finish whatever lies he was about to say.

“My wife-to-be is not feeling too well,” he said jokingly to the crowd and laughed embarrassingly.

The crowd laughed. He then used his hands gently, raising me up to my feet. The crowd went wild for a moment, then silent. I was sure in their heads they saw Lucas as a fine, gentle and romantic man. I almost felt sorry for them.

Mia suddenly appeared by my side, in a pale-looking dress, collecting the empty wine glass from me. Then the long boring speech started:

Dear Hanna Lawson, about three years ago, I became the luckiest man on earth because that is how many years we have been together. Ever since our first meeting in high school, I knew you were the one for me. The past years have been nothing short of amazing. You make my life better in every single way. Every day I am in awe of the woman you are. It has been my biggest blessing to share life with you. I love you more than life itself and I cannot imagine life without you by my side.

Kneeling down on one knee, he took out the small box from his pocket, revealing the ring.

“Will you marry me?” He smiled.

Yes, three years of completely deceiving me and lying to me. I thought to myself. I chose that ring, the marquise diamond ring. I remembered telling Lucas it was my dream to get one for our engagement and I also remembered wearing it every single day till the accident happened.

For a second I stared at him, then noticed something. I followed the direction of his eyes, and they were fixed tightly on Mia, who stood just behind me. Her expression was composed, but her eyes were also locked to his.

It felt like I was interfering with two lovebirds that needed privacy. Unknowingly, I took a step backwards.

“Hanna.” Mia instantly gripped me, pulling me forward with a tight smile.

I looked at her hand wrapped around my arm. “I am fine Mia, let go of me.”

Her grip loosened.

Meanwhile, Lucas did not wait for an answer. He just grabbed my hands gently and slid the ring into my finger.

The hall erupted in applause. Everyone kept smiling and smiling. It increased when Lucas finally stood up and pecked me on the cheek.

However, something inside me snapped. I was done pretending. I could not let my new life turn out the way they wanted. I looked at the ring on my finger for a while, then slid it off. Then the sound of the crowd immediately shifted into strangled gasps. I could hear murmurs in the crowd.

“Hanna, what are you doing?” Lucas, who had been observing, finally spoke in a low, embarrassing tone, adjusting his tie.

I glanced at him, smirked, looked at the ring again, then tossed it.

It spun through the air and landed with a sharp little sound on the ground directly at Isla’s feet. The hall became dead quiet.

“No, I will not marry you!”