Chapter 4
1419 Words
Daphne’s POV
I could feel my body trembling as I stared at him. His reaction mirrored mine—his lips parted like he wanted to say something, but before he could, Miles interrupted.
"Buddy! You finally came," Miles said, rushing over to Reynold and greeting him with a friendly hug. But Reynold’s gaze never left me. "I was expecting you a lot sooner for my wedding," Miles added as he pulled away.
"I... I’m sorry," Reynold stuttered awkwardly, forcing himself to look at Miles instead of me. "My flight got delayed, but I’m here now." He managed a faint smile before his eyes flickered back to mine.
I quickly looked away, my heart hammering in my chest. What is happening right now? Why is he here? And why is Miles so fond of him?
"I guess I should introduce you to my wife," Miles said in a calm tone.
Reynold’s brows furrowed. "Where is she?" he asked, sounding confused.
"There she is."
I felt Miles pointing at me before I saw it.
Silence.
Then Reynold’s voice, sharp and unsteady. "You’re joking, right, Miles? Bianca is your wife. You married Bianca, not... this woman over there."
My breath hitched.
"What’s the matter, buddy? Why are you sounding like that?" Miles asked, concern etching into his features. "I’ll explain why I didn’t marry Bianca, but—"
I barely heard the rest of his words. The walls of this big house suddenly felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me.
"This can’t be happening," Reynold muttered under his breath before suddenly shouting, "This CAN’T happen!"
His outburst made me flinch, and Miles, too.
"You can’t be married to her! You can’t be married to her!" Reynold repeated, his voice shaking with raw emotion. "You’re my best friend! You can’t do this to me!"
Miles was getting frustrated now. "What the hell is wrong with you? Tell me!"
Reynold’s face twisted with pain and fury.
"The person you just called your wife is my f*****g girlfriend!" he yelled, his voice thick with rage. "The one person I told you about. The reason I exist. The reason I look forward to tomorrow! That’s who you married."
My head spun.
Did he just say I’m the reason for his existence?
And yet… he still broke up with me?
Miles turned to me sharply, his expression shifting from confusion to disgust.
"You had a boyfriend, and you still agreed to marry me?" His voice dripped with disbelief and anger.
My chest tightened. This was my cue.
It was time to finally speak.
"I don’t have a boyfriend," I said coldly. "I was dumped. Abandoned."
Reynold flinched.
"Don’t act like we’re still together," I continued, my tone sharp and unyielding. "You broke up with me, remember?"
"No… no… no, Daphne," he stammered, shaking his head violently. "It was just a prank—a stupid, stupid prank. I only did it because I wanted to surprise you! I could never break up with you!"
He stepped closer.
I took a step back.
Reynold froze, his eyes widening in disbelief. "You don’t even want to be near me…"
I forced myself to stay composed, masking the storm inside me.
"I have nothing to say to you, Reynold."
"You have a lot to say to me, Daphne!" His voice turned desperate as he grabbed my arms, squeezing them tightly. "I left for the States, and now I come back to find you married to my best friend?"
"You’re hurting me," I hissed, trying to wrench my arms free.
"Reynold, calm down," Miles warned, stepping between us. He pried Reynold’s hands off me.
Reynold’s face twisted in regret. "I’m so sorry, Daphne. I didn’t mean—"
I cradled my arms, rubbing away the pain.
"I had no idea who she was," Miles interjected. "I just needed to marry someone because of my grandfather."
Reynold turned to him, his expression darkening. "What about Bianca? She was your girlfriend. Why didn’t you marry her?"
Miles let out a frustrated sigh. "My grandfather hates Bianca. He would never allow it. That’s why I had to find someone else—"
"My own girlfriend?" Reynold cut him off, his voice sharp with accusation.
I rolled my eyes. "I’m not your girlfriend."
Reynold’s jaw clenched.
"You don’t get to break my heart and expect everything to be fine again," I snapped.
"It wasn’t a real breakup," he insisted. "I love you, Daphne!"
I inhaled deeply, then met his gaze with unwavering resolve.
"Okay, fine," I said. "That wasn’t a real breakup. But this is."
Reynold’s breath hitched. His whole body went rigid.
"It’s over between us—for good."
His eyes widened in shock.
"I’m a married woman now," I said firmly, my tone like ice. "And I don’t need you around me anymore."
Reynold ran a hand through his hair, looking lost—desperate. "I know you’re angry, Daphne, and I get it—I messed up. Big time. But Thea told me this would be a great surprise for you, and I was stupid enough to believe her." His voice cracked. "But I can fix this. I can make it right. Just tell me this marriage isn’t real."
His pleading eyes searched mine.
"This wedding isn’t real," Miles said, his voice emotionless. "This marriage is just a façade for my grandfather. I’m not in a real relationship with your girlfriend."
I clenched my fists.
Your girlfriend.
Even now, Miles couldn’t acknowledge me as his wife—not even as a temporary one. Couldn’t he just pretend for a second? Just enough to make Reynold feel even a fraction of the pain he had caused me? Instead, with those careless words, Miles had just given Reynold hope.
Hope I would never grant him.
"Then end whatever is going on right now," Reynold demanded, his tone sharp, commanding—like he had a right to dictate my life.
Anger surged through me.
"Just a year," Miles replied coolly. "And you can have her after that. She’s only here to fulfill my grandfather’s last wish."
Reynold's expression hardened. "Then I’ll wait," he vowed. "I’ll wait a thousand years if I have to—but I’ll make sure she is mine."
My breath hitched. My hands trembled as I gripped the fabric of my dress.
Is that all I am to them?
A prize? A waiting game? A contract?
"Is that… all… I am to you two?" My voice cracked, my chest tightening with raw emotion. My vision blurred with tears.
"I am not a tool for either of you!" I screamed. "I am not something you can toss around, use for convenience, and then pass along when you’re done!"
"Daphne, that’s not what this is," Miles said firmly.
"No?" I let out a bitter laugh, my tears streaming. "Because that’s exactly what it feels like."
Miles exhaled sharply. "We had a deal," he reminded me. "And now that I know you were in a relationship with my best friend, you’ll have to go back to him eventually." His voice was cold.
Go back?
Go back?
I let out a shaky breath, my heart breaking all over again.
"I don’t like how this turned out," Reynold admitted, stepping forward. "But I know I hurt you, and I’m being punished for my mistakes. I swear I’ll make it up to you. Daphne, please… forgive me."
I took a step back.
"I don’t want to be here anymore," I whispered.
Then I ran.
I sprinted up the stairs, my vision blurred with tears. Reynold called after me, but I ignored him, slamming my bedroom door shut and locking it before he could reach me.
Leaning against the door, I slid to the floor, my body trembling with sobs.
Why is this happening?
"Please open the door," Reynold’s voice broke from the other side. "Please, Daphne, just talk to me okay, let me explain”.
I clenched my hands into fists, my nails digging into my palms.
"Please," he whispered. "I know I messed up, but I love you. I never stopped loving you."
A choked sob escaped my lips. The weight of his words crushed me, because I had loved him too.
But love wasn’t enough.
"Reynold, please leave me alone!" I screamed, my voice hoarse with emotion. "Let me be!"
Silence.
Then, finally, his footsteps retreated.
I buried my face in my hands, sobbing uncontrollably.
I need to end this no matter what.
I need to make sure Reynold never comes near me again.
- Writer
