Cruel Tides

Chapter2

Chapter 2—-- Begining of a new plan

Natalie stared at her reflection in the mirror, her breath shallow, hands trembling slightly as she traced the edge of the emerald silk dress draped over her body. It felt wrong — like armor she wasn’t ready to wear. But weakness wasn’t an option.

She adjusted her earrings, taking in the woman looking back at her. Same dark hair, same full lips… but the eyes were different. Harder. Angrier.

This time she wasn't just in pain, she was filled with anger.

Her phone buzzed on the vanity.

Izzy: Can’t wait to see you! Just joking tho.

Natalie’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. She could almost hear Izzy’s breathless, sugary voice. As if nothing had happened. As if she hadn’t spent the last months or years or maybe even more sleeping with Liam behind her back.

She tossed the phone aside and exhaled shakily.

She couldn't believe after what Izzy did to her she still had the nevers to text her. At the same time, Izzy was the only family she had. What Liam did to Natalie had hurt her but it seemed Izzy's actions caused more pain.

Just as she turned she saw a picture frame of when she and Izzy were much younger, about 5 years of age. Them both holding each other on their arms with the biggest smile any one could have every seen alongside their gap teeth.

She took the frame and as she held it in her hand staring at it, a drop of water had touched the frame, it was Natalie's tears.

She felt so heartbroken as she remembered the event that took place the day they took that picture.

It was on Izzy's birthday the day before Natalie's birthday and both their parents planned a surprise party for the Izzy as Natalie.

Their friends from school and in the neighborhood all came around for them.

There were clowns, face painters, magicians all set up just to make them both happy.

The part they loved the most was the enormous size of their birthday cakes! It was lovely. Their names were each written on their cake and it felt like that was the best day ever in their little lives.

She even remembered how the picture was taken.

It was when they were about to join the kids watching the magicians perform their tricks, that was when both their mothers called out to them for the picture.

They really wanted to see the tricks so they hurriedly gave a pose with their smiles to wide. And that was how the picture was taken.

Another tear strolled down her eyes to the frame as she remembered after the accident her parents had on their way home from work, Izzy was the only one there for her. And now she did this?.

Natalie picked up her phone with the screen looking shattered. She texted Izzy but the text didn't seem to go. She tried calling her.

“Switched off”

Again! Just like Landon and Liam.

But she won't let this get to her. She wiped her years dry standing firmly in the mirror.

“ I am Natalie Hart! And I would not let anyone even if they are family, break me down!”

She said to herself confidently as she went back to pick up the invitation. She had a plan. She would attend the wedding.

She knew for sure that Liam and Izzy would not expect her to come. Their only motive for sending the invitation was to make her know things were really over between she and Liam. And she wasn't wrong.

The invitation had more. A rather shocking information. It was a one-month luxury cruise. The same idea she and Liam had planned to use for their own wedding.

They were seated on the couch having a conversation on how their future was going to be like. How they would have the perfect wedding. The idea of a luxury cruise was brought up by Natalie and Liam happily accepted the idea.

And now, now he was using her idea for a wedding with her best friend.

Just as she was about to place it on the table, paper fell from the envelope. It was a card.

“ Do well to bring a plus one!”

That was the information on the card. She wasn't so sure if this was personally made for her wanting to mess with her mind or if this card was put into every other person's envelope.

“But why? Why will my boyfriend and best friend betray me in such a way?? What on earth did I do to deserve this from them?” Natalie thought to herself in pain.

But she won't let that pain get to her, she will be stronger than ever and fight this battle!.

She had a better idea than theirs and she knew who would be the perfect person as her plus one date. Someone who she knew would make them regret what they did to her. Someone as

bold as ever.

Damien Hale.

She sat up straight and said to herself, “it's time to get wicked!”