NOELLE

Chapter 4

NOELLE

He blamed me.

He hated me for ruining his wedding.

The anger was still in his eyes and I wished I could turn back the hands of time.

But even then, I was sure the situation would have been worse. He would fall into a deep depression that no one could bring him out of.

I didn't expect him to proceed with the wedding. With all the whispers from the crowd and the apparent hatred he harbored for me, he did.

People had come from far and near to witness a wedding. He was going to give them that to save face.

After the wedding, I knew it was my only opportunity to talk to him. I could hope he would listen to me.

“Mal..” I called, just as he walked into the house. He turned to me in a fit of rage. At the ceremony, he was confused and hurt. Now he was just angry. Furious.

“Where is Emery?” He demanded. I swallowed thickly, stalking backward in case he launched at me in anger.

“I don't know. This morning we couldn't find her and…”

“You know what makes me so mad, Noelle,” he cut me short and I fisted my dress to keep myself in place no matter how terrified I was. “It's the fact you can look me in the face and lie to me…”

“I'm not lying!” I snapped, tears pouring down my cheeks. “Everything I did was for you!”

“For me? How is any of this for me?” He barked and I flinched. “I don't know what you did to Emery, but I intend to find out, and when I do, you will regret the day you met me!”

I watched speechlessly as he stormed away. My knees went weak. I knew from the start that this was a bad idea.

Now Malcolm hates me.

I forced my feet to move, wiping the tears furiously from my eyes. Sure I wanted to be with Malcolm, but it was never supposed to be at the cost of his own happiness

I wanted him to want me. To love me.

Now, it was never going to happen because he hated me.

“Noelle,” I heard my name just before I got to the stairs. I already had enough of my brother’s trouble and endless bickering that Kira had to take him away.

What was I supposed to tell my parents now?

“What is going on, Noelle?” My mother asked. “Why did you wed your brother?”

I sniffled, “It wasn't my intention. I woke up this morning thinking I was late for the wedding, but when I got to the dressing room, I saw the bridesmaids panicking. They said they couldn't find Emery anywhere,” I explained.

“What?” It was my father's gasp. “You mean she left?”

“Yes, with all her clothes. If you don't believe me, you can interrogate their friends. We tried every possible way to reach her but to no avail. I… I just wanted to spare him the humiliation. I couldn't let our reputation be dragged in the mud so I did the only thing I could think of,” I sobbed.

There was no point blaming Emery for this. I could have easily declined the offer but I chose to do it.

“Oh honey,” she pulled me into a hug. “It's all right. Everything will be fine,” she assured me.

“No, it won't, mother. He hates me. He thinks I did something to Emery. Why would I want to hurt him that way?” I hiccuped. The tears wouldn't stop, no matter how hard I tried to contain them.

“You don't have to worry, Noelle. We will talk to him. I am sure we will be able to convince him to see things from your perspective,” my father said.

I wish it was that easy. I knew how hot-headed Malcolm could be. He would never fathom the fact that Emery could leave him.

And I couldn't even blame him for that because none of us ever believed it was possible. With the love-dazed eyes, she looked at him with, one would think she loved him more than her life.

Or maybe it wasn't love.

My head was already pounding from the series of explanations I tried to come up with.

Just as promised, my father called Malcolm down to talk to him.

“Son, we understand how you feel. It must be terrible for you to wait so long to be with someone only to discover you tied the knot with someone else…” My father paused but Malcolm said nothing to that.

His ice-cold glare was fixated on me. It was like nothing my father said would change his hatred for me.

“We talked to Noelle here, and she told us that Emery ran away, and none of the bridesmaids could find her, so she had to take her place to save us from humiliation. I'm already speaking with the guards. I hope to get something soon, but for now, there’s no trace of her,” He continued.

“I don't believe her,” came a curt remark. “Emery was my mate. She loved me more than anything else so why would she run away on our wedding day?”

None of us had the answer to that because he was indeed right. She had no reason to run away.

“If she was trying to spare us the humiliation as she claimed, why didn't she ask any of the bridesmaids to do it? Why did she have to wed me?” He demanded and I bit my lip.

The whole situation was starting to make me look like the mastermind behind everything.

“Well, I don't know what else to say. It is your decision to make. You can divorce her if you want. No one will force you to stay married,” My father said.

I was relieved. Maybe then Malcolm would hate me less but before I could agree with it, Malcolm spoke.

“No.”

We exchanged shocked glances.

“No?” My mother asked.

“I intend to keep her with my wife. We are already married; there is no going back now,” he answered, surprisingly, us all.

“In that case, you two have a lot to talk about. We will excuse you now.”

I watched in horror as my parents left me behind. I could see the malicious look in his eyes.

“What about Mykel?” He asked. I totally forgot to tell them about Mykel’s cheating.

“We're not together. I rejected him” I blurted out.

“So you could marry me” He sneered as I waved him off.

“Mal-” I paused biting my lips hard.

There was no need for explanations.

One way or the other, I am going to suffer this.

He stood up and walked to my side of the couch. He sat down beside me and I tried to hide my trembling hands.

He leaned closer until his breath hit the sides of my face.

“Welcome to hell, little sis, or should I say, My wife.” His voice dripped with nothing but sarcasm.