The bride's heart pounded furiously in her chest as she stared at herself in the mirror. She took a step away almost falling over the side stool in the process.
She took a deep breath trying to forget what had just happened a few minutes ago but it was still too fresh in her memory.
"You look beautiful"
She smiled sadly as she stared at him through the mirror.
"Why did you want to see me?"
"I can't do it Derek, I can't marry you"
The transformation was instant. The handsome faced she had come to know and love over the years morphed into something completely different. He became a man she couldn't recognized.
A man she had been getting hints for the last four months to stay away from.
"You know?". But even though a question was imposed she knew it was a clear statement.
"All those people Derek, you took away their homes without blinking twice".
"It's just business Kayala", He stared at her urging to speak, she kept mute so he continued, "Don't look at me like that. You had no problem spending the money I made, money which came from the hotels I built. Hotels I built on the land of the shelters I bought and destroyed"
"You could have bought any other land, but you targeted only shelters", she practically screamed.
He smiled maliciously, "Maybe I just like it when people suffer. I love the look on their faces when they are being forced out"
"You're sick", she spat out making her way to leave.
He grabbed her hand tightening his grip, "You're going to fix that face of yours, you're going to walk down that aisle and you're going to marry me. After that you'll smile pretty and be my beautiful wife. Do not play with me Kayala".
She closed her eyes letting the tears fall freely.
He had left her stunned in silence afterwards.
A knock on the door snapped her back to reality.
"Kayala are you in there?"
She looked at her trembling hands willing them to stop but they seemed to have gotten a mind of their own.
"Kayala?", the person called again.
She heaved a sigh, "Yes I'm in here. I just need to minute"
"Hurry up, everyone is waiting for you"
With that the person retreated.
What had she done?
Quickly she adjusted her dress, fixed her make-up and put on a smile which she prayed was looked real enough.
The sounds of music filled the hallway as she made her way to the stairs. Ever so slowly she descended.
She gasp came to her throat when she entered the hall front. He had managed to get everything so perfect.
Source
The wedding room was so beautifully decorated. The walls draped with white fabric, the ceiling draped with delicate white fairy lights. The floor covered with a white carpet. At the front of the room, stood a large archway decorated with white and pink roses. On the side of the archway were two large tables holding white candles, sparkling crystal glasses and silver cutlery.
He remembered every single minute detail of how she wanted her wedding to be. How could someone like him be so awful.
She had gotten so cut up in money and materialistic things that she made him the perfect man I'm her head.
She created an illusion.
She couldn't do it. And she wasn't going to. It was as if he felt her resolve. Their eyes met, he gave her a silent warning. She didn't take heed to it.
She threw her bouquet and bolted. She ran and didn't stop until she woke up panting.
"Shhhh it's okay. It was only a nightmare".
Her voice trembling, "It felt so real. He came after me. I thought he would-"
"You're fine. He's never going to find you or little Mikayla".
"I wish you would have approached me instead of sending me notes Victor"
"Really, you'd have believed it if your ex who was still in love with you had told you that the man you were going to marry had mental issues and buying and tearing down to build hotels and restaurants was just the tip of the iceberg".
Kayala laughed,"You didn't have to put it like that"
"Mummy I can't sleep", came a little voice from the door.
Kayala opened her arms for her daughter to crawl in. She hugged her little girl tightly.
It's been five years since she ran away from him on her wedding day. As the wave crashed against the shore she made a resolution that he wouldn't ever find her and she'd do everything to give her daughter the best life with Victor by her side.