Chapter 12

Everleigh's POV.

"Everleigh, this is what I have waited and hoped for. " Felix said to me as the pianist turned down the volume of the music. 

"Fifteen years ago, I planned our proposal. I was going to make you mine. But then I fucked up, I admit I did. 

And you left me for Clyde. You appeared happy so there was nothing I could do. I let you both be happy together."

"Please stand," I said with a whisper. 

I doubt he heard me because he remained there and continued speaking.

 "You don't know how much it means to me that you let me be in the picture again after many years. 

You also don't know how much it means to me that I am able to make that dream come true."

"What are you doing, Felix?" I finally said out loud, still stunned. 

Felix took my hand and continued to speak. "I know that you have no romantic feelings towards me and that's okay."

"If you know that I don't like you, why are you proposing that I marry you?"

"The marriage would be false."

"Please stand up, Felix." I was flushed with embarrassment. "This is yet another scheme to get back at Clyde, is it not?"

"It is. The cameras already captured the moment, so I'll stand." 

He stood immediately and dabbed his plain black trouser. He then stretched his knee slightly.

 "You are an amazing actress, Everleigh. I swear that you did a great job acting surprised."

"That is because I was genuinely surprised, you dummy."

Felix laughed. "Would you give me a hug?"

"No, I wouldn't."

"That's okay. The proposal seemed real, I bet the pictures were intense enough."

"Did the camera capture me saying yes?"

"No, Ever because you're yet to say yes. I am serious about my proposal. Would you marry me?"

"You psychopath! No, I wouldn't!"

"That does matter." He gave a soft laugh . "Because all I have to do is capture you with the ring on your finger."

"How the fuck do you plan on getting me to wear that ugly ring?" The ring was not ugly.

 It was a lot more beautiful than both my engagement and wedding ring, I couldn't deny. 

But it was just as false as the other ones I owned. 

"Sit down, Everleigh." He said, motioning on me. "Let me have a conversation with you."

Although I had my mind made up that his words would have no impact on my decision, I sat down to listen to him. 

"Everleigh, you used to be my best friend, my girlfriend and my wife-to-be. I loved you very much, it was obvious that I did."

"Get straight to the point!" 

"I never disrespected you, nor did I cheat on you. I'm not trying to claim that I was right for lying to you but it's been over fifteen years since I told that lie and you still haven't forgiven me?"

 He sounded genuinely remorseful. As remorseful as he did when I found out the truth years back.

"Who said I haven't forgiven you?"

"Have you?" Our eyes met and time paused as he gazed at me with passion. I felt his hand on my face. 

He stroked my jaw gently. "Exactly. You still bear that grudge in your heart."

"Why do you want to get back at Clyde so badly?" 

I asked him that question for the millionth time. "I swear it makes no sense to me.

 You and I broke up and I got together with him. Why is it so important to you that you get back at him?"

"Clyde isn't just a liar and a cheat, he is an evil friend and he is a betrayer. 

Long before you and he began to date, he betrayed me. Back then, you were all I had. 

After I lost my friendship with him and lost so much money, you became all that I had."

"I wasn't the reason you both stopped talking?"

"Not at all. Clyde was the reason. He had already fucked our relationship up before you and I had that fight."

"Wow! You let it go back then, didn't you?"

"I did. But then he went on to take you away from me. After he took everything else, he came for you. 

I doubt he ever truly loved you, all he wanted to do was rid me of every source of happiness."

I gasped at the thought of Felix's words. If Clyde never truly loved me, then my whole relationship with him was a lie. 

I hated lies so much. I had left Felix for one lie that I now realize was petty, to be with Clyde who built my entire love life with him on lies. 

I didn't realize when tears began to trickle down my face. "What do you mean he took everything else away from you? 

What did he do, how did he betray you?" I was starting to see why Felix was so bitter. 

"Everleigh, I cannot say any of that to you because it's not necessary. What matters most is that you now see things the way I do. 

I guess now, you understand why I'm hell-bent on making him feel how I felt back then." 

Felix reached out and began to dab my cheeks with his palm, wiping the tears off. "Let me ask the question again, Ever. Will you be my wife?"

I looked at the ring and I looked at him. I licked my lips and then I parted them. "This marriage is nothing but a plot to get back at Clyde, right?"

"Right."

"I will marry you." I said, subconsciously beaming with a smile.

He smiled back at me, slid the ring into my finger and then he beckoned on one of the photographers who I realized were present the whole time to capture the moment.

 "You're about to be Mrs Everleigh Felix," 

He said to me, pulling me close and embracing me warmly. Years back, this was a lifelong dream. Right now, it was a revenge scheme.

I returned the hug. There were many thoughts running through my mind. The irony of my words, especially. 

How I hated lies and how I was building what Felix and I had now, with lies. 

"We have a wedding to plan!" Felix said, interrupting my train of thoughts.