My heart tore apart even more as I took my sister's wedding dress off the hanger. We'd just gotten it back from the fashion designer last night, and it was stunning. I was sure, without a doubt, that it would look beautiful on her. Every second of making the design for this dress was a torture like no other. It was a constant reminder that my feelings for Richard was meant to have ended a long time ago. That my unrequited love was soon to go down the drain. Luckily, Richard kept to his word, and didn't tell Sarah about that disgraceful night. Which meant he hadn't given much thought to it himself. I'd tried to keep my distance, believing I'd destroyed our friendship, but instead he kept calling, texting and stopping by my office to check up on me a lot more now. He seemed genuinely worried about me, which was ridiculous because he was the reason I was in so much pain.I exhaled as I brushed my fingers over the contours of the wedding dress, my chest hollow. I couldn't even see proper
I tightened my grip on my phone, running a hand through my hair as I tried to suppress the urge to shout. "What the fucking hell is this, Sarah? You know how Grandmother Willow feels about our weekend dinners. Everyone is waiting downstairs already. What do you mean you can't make it?"She exhaled. "Believe me, Richy, I tried. I tried to get away, but there's just so much to do here. We even got a new patient into the theatre a few minutes ago, and I'm supposed to be in there right now. I'm so sorry." She sounded apologetic, but something in my gut felt it wasn't genuine.Almost as though she was free but didn't want to come down here for dinner at all."This is the fourth consecutive time you're skipping dinner with this same excuse, Sarah. I'm tired of lying through my teeth for you." It was obvious and annoying that Grandmother Willow wasn't happy with Sarah lately, and she had every reason to be. She made it very clear during breakfast with the entire family earlier this week, and
"Richard, honey," Grandmother Willow called softly, forcing me to drag my gaze away from Brock and Elena. She was leaning forward, her face expressionless, much to my surprise. I expected her to be pissed at Sarah missing out on yet another dinner with us for the fourth consecutive time, but she wasn't. When she spoke, there was a tinge of concern in her voice. "I'm guessing that Sarah couldn't make it this time again?"I nodded, bracing myself to get lectured about the value of family and how sacred our weekend dinners were, but she simply nodded. "It's fine. Elena is here anyway. She'll do."I glanced back at Elena and nodded, weirdly pleased. She was more than sufficient. Over the last couple of years, ever since our families had gotten closer due to the merger and proposal between Sarah and me, she'd attended more family dinners and functions than Sarah ever did. Was that how she'd gotten so close with Brock? Was she here for him, and not for Talia?And why did that make me even m
“I'll inform the fashion designer to start getting your gold suit ready. He seemed to be in panic the last time I called due to how expensive the material for it would cost, but Grandmother Willow told him to go ahead and prepare it. It ought to be ready four days before the wedding so you can test it, and he'll see that the necessary fittings be corrected,” Gideon, my personal assistant said as he gave me an extensive run down of the upcoming wedding arrangements from my end, but I could hardly focus on him.Exhaling softly, I ran a hand through my hair, leaning back further in my seat as he prattles on about the groom's men and how awkward they'll look in black suits instead of gold which was the Delmonte color, and how many guests would be accommodated for the wedding after-party, as well as the proper way to break the news of my marriage to the public.I had always loved listening to these details, and chipping in my own input to ensure a hitch-free wedding for Sarah and I, but re
Emerson, Frod and Stacey stared me, surprise written boldly on their faces. I could care less about them. What bothered me most was the fact that my elder brother, Alexander sat opposite me in my living room. It was rare for everyone to be together like this, and the fact that he'd flown in overnight meant they were worried sick about me.I hated being the centre of attention. It was so uncomfortable.“Now, Richard. What's all this talk about you and Sarah breaking up a week before the wedding?” Alex asked at last. “This is a nightmare. All of us thought you were the luckiest among us, dickhead. You're the only one of us that actually gets to marry the person you love, and all of a sudden you pull the plug like this.”I ran a hand through my hair and looked up at the ceiling, feeling so out of place than I'd ever felt in my entire life. “This is not my doing, Alex. It's not like I wanted to do this. I'm as confused as you are. We had our issues as couples, and I know we're far from pe
“Hello, Elena.”“Hey, Mom,” I said, sitting up straight at once, alarm bells already ringing in my head. When I saw her name on my caller ID, I cleaned my eyes twice to make sure I wasn't seeing things. Mother never called me out of the blue like this unless something was terribly wrong, or if she needed me to run an errand for her. “How's father? Is everything fine at home? Do you need me to help you get anything?”“Calm down with the questions, my love,” she laughed, but I could detect a hint of nervousness in her tone. And did she just call me her love? What the hell was going on? “Your father's doing great, and everything is fine. I don't need you to get anything from me.”“Okay...” I said after a few minutes silence. “Then why — ”“I just wanted to know how you're faring. I know I don't normally call like this, but that's something that can be changed, right dear?”Who was she, and what had she done with my mother?“Mom you're scaring me,” I blurted out honestly. “There's no need
I rose up from my seat and walked toward the door, my thoughts all over the place, my heart breaking. I needed some time to process this, to speak with Sarah and Richard. I was doubly sure that it was a mere misunderstanding or fight that led to Grandmother Willow's radical decision-making. It had to be it. I could fix it. Make them see reasons why they shouldn't let go of each other at this point in time.“Elena,” Grandmother Willow's voice halted me in my tracks just as I wrapped my hand around the doorknob. “You can do whatever you want, but your efforts will be worthless at the end of the day. There's no backing away from this. Should you wish this merger to proceed, you'll have to do your part. You'll have to marry Richard, whether you like it or not. That's the only way. The ball is now in your court.”I glanced back at her, noting the fierce determination in her hardened eyes. I nodded politely and pulled the door open, letting myself out. Her words echoed in my mind countless
“Lord save me,” I whispered as I pulled up in front of Sarah's grande duplex apartment. I got out of the car in a heartbeat, and rushed straight in without even ringing the doorbell. I knew Sarah. I knew that whenever something huge happened, something bad, Sarah always hid away at home instead of confronting the situation head-on. I was right. She was lying haphazardly on the couch, sitting up the minute I came in, her eyes bloodshot red thanks to hours from crying.“Oh, Sarah,” I sighed as I took in the pink Hello Kitty pajamas she was wearing, and the melting bowl of ice-cream on the table. Of course she was watching A Walk To Remember. Part of me wholeheartedly understood and sympathized with her. The choice she made, at a sensitive time like this wasn't an easy one. It meant she was dead serious. She didn't just wake up to make such a huge decision like this. It took her months of mulling over it. It was heartbreaking of course, finally coming to terms with the fact that she coul