Three

Jasmine's POV

We arrived at the reception, where I overheard one of the gossip ladies whisper that it would go on until midnight. It was going well until Mr. Blackwood started to suspect me. He asked me questions I didn't want to answer without Jake or Gwen nearby. His sudden interest made me feel uncertain about my plan.

He was hanging around me to keep me at arm's length. At first, I was sure it wouldn't be so hard to lure him, but judging by how he acted, I was beginning to doubt him.

"You didn't tell me how you got an invite?" he asked, pulling me out of my trance as I watched Jake and Gwen dance while praying one of them fall. 

His question was unexpected, and it took me off script.

There was no way I was going to tell him Gwen had sent an invite to my burial ground, where she had mocked me for being six feet under while she was using Jake to climb the ladder and how much she was using out of my company's stock or a wedding that she had stolen... at least not now.

"Tell me why you haven't let me go yet. Those ladies on the other table wouldn't kill to grab your attention, just like they are already attempting to do me."

"And I'm certain a couple of other men would rather do something else with me than ask me questions that are such a bore!" 

"You are diverting, Ms...?"

"You haven't earned my name," I answered subtly with a smirk.

"I do like a great challenge, and I highly doubt that I would be leaving your side as you are my date by force, and I'm trying to keep my son at arms bay." As he said that, I turned to look at Jake, who had his eyes on me. 

Could he recognize me?

Contrary to what anyone might think, I didn't want him anymore; instead, all I wanted was to make him feel that way before dropping him with full force—that'd after taking everything away from him while making him sweat.

"He has had his eyes on you since the wedding, and I'm certain that if I let you go... Gwen will kill both you and him," he whispered softly, causing me to chuckle as I caught Gwen's gaze.

"It's not my fault I'm making her husband's head turn!"

What made her think that after stealing everything that was mine, she would smile.

"You… look so familiar; who did you say you are again, or perhaps who are you to either?"

"You look like Jake's ex, maybe one I haven't met, or perhaps Gwen's friend?" Mr. Blackwood asked, staring at me in the eye, almost like he wanted me to let down my guard.

I was Cheryl's sister and your son's ex-finance.

A year was enough to set my defenses right!

"Let's dance, Mr. Blackwood," I offered. I needed us to be close together. He stared at me in a way that had me swimming.

"You have no idea what you are playing with," he whispered, holding up my gaze.

"Nothing I can't handle, Mr. Blackwood.

This game was one I was prepared for. They deserved my wrath. His hand traced down my waist, causing me to shiver in delight. With that smirk on his face, he pulled me closer to his warmth and started twirling me around.

I was breathless.

Mr. Blackwood wrapped his hands around me, and his breath fanned my neck; this wasn't the plan. I was falling into his arms, not the other way around; he held my eyes just before dipping me.

The music faded, and it was just him and me until a sudden tap on his shoulder pulled us back to the present. There was no music playing, and we were the only ones standing on the floor. 

While we walked back, the hall called subtly while I caught Dad's eyes. For a moment, there was a spark of recognition before he looked away.

"Gather around; we are going to play a game now!" I smirked and glanced at Mr. Blackwood, whose eyes hadn't left mine.

This was just what I had been waiting for.

Just as I sat amongst them, a random girl threw at me. "Well, seeing as you aren't known around here, we will start with you."

My eyes moved to the bride, my step-sister, who had a smile on her face, and for some reason, Jake was absent. "It's not a problem, honest. What game are we playing here?"

I was expecting something that would make me spill who I was, and judging from the smirk on Gwen's face, I knew what her friend was going to ask.

"Two truths and one lie"

As though they had all been waiting, with a smirk on my face, I said, "I am fat; I am the groom's ex and Gwen's step-sister."

The whole became still silent, and I savored it.

Gwen and Mom's panicked faces, Jake, who had just come out of the bathroom with a bridesmaid shocked face, and Mr. Blackwood's smirk. 

He knew?

"You can't be Jasmine!"

"I knew this would surprise you, Mother, but believe me, I spent these three years away from you very well," I snarled and watched a gasp escape her lips as she leaned my dad's arm, who pulled her slowly into his warmth with a frown.

I seized to care what he thought about me; from the moment he chased me out, he seized being my father.

"You? It can't be… you died and died FAT!" Gwen screeched just like I wanted; that loss of control was a plus on my side.

I heard gasps from a"Yes, I mean, I did die, but it wasn't like anyone cared to find out maybe what happened to me, so it's all good."

"I don't remember inviting you then, so how did you…" Gwen stuttered before her friend interrupted, "How are you so slim!".

"You could perhaps be an imposter claiming to be Jasmine. Don't you have any respect for the dead?" My stepmom threw me behind Gwen.

"I am Jasmine!"

"Jasmine…." Dad began walking towards me.

I felt my heart boil in anger.

"Yes, dear Dad..."

"You can't be! I buried my daughter a year ago… and she looked nothing like you!" Dad finally said, and I laughed.

I was a ghost daughter, yet he stood watching from the window after he threw me out into the streets on my wedding day and didn't care less about me until I turned up dead.

"It's alright; I forgive you for not caring or mourning, seeing as your engagement was announced that week. I hold no grudge, Gwen!"

With a smirk, I added, "As for the invite, YOU and your husband had sent it to me on my supposed grave after mocking me for being 6ft underneath while you married him; I forgive!".

"I'm not hurt that you are marrying my husband, sister." I felt an arm pull me in, and I took in his scent.

Mr. Blackwood?

I stared at everyone, and that was when the whispers started hitting me from all around.

"Wasn't she dumped at the alter?"

I heard Mr. Blackwood whisper in my eyes, "You don't have to listen to this!"

"Was it all a ploy to act this petty?"

"I don't believe you are Jasmine!" I heard Dad say quietly that I showed him my mother's necklace. "Is this enough proof? Even if you can't recognize your daughter, then I doubt you are my father at all!"

"In case you need more proof, here... My phone...you can go through".

Jake and Gwen were the most shocked.

They couldn't take their eyes off the picture.

"How did you survive the fall? I mean, it was everywhere?" I scoffed at Jake's first sentence to me but gave him no reply.

One of Gwen's friends then asked, "If at all you claimed not to have gone under the knife, then how were you able to go from being fat and ugly to being this slim and beautiful?"

Gwen interrupted and said, "It was definitely surgery; she probably did surgery on her body."

"True. She must have had surgery to prove a point!"

"Oh, Gwen, you know I'm probably too scared of needles to go under the knife; once you dedicate the past three years to something, then losing weight is nothing!"

"Jake has moved on, but it seems like the dumped bitch hasn't?" I didn't know what I was expecting, but THIS wasn't what I was expecting.

"And so what if you are Jasmine? You came back for my husband?" Gwen mocked, finally gaining control of her emotions.

“I don’t think you need to ask any questions. Jasmine is obsessed with me, and even though I rejected her then, she had to work on herself to get me back.”

"Yes, he didn't want to marry you then, neither would he want that now! So why the hell would he now?"

"I didn't come back for you and your cheating husband. I came back home, but it seems like I am not even wanted here, even by my DAD!" this was just the beginning... to make it more interesting, I burst into tears.

"I know you weren't planning to apologize, so please carry on with your party; I just wanted to attend my little sister's wedding... what exactly is this ruckus you are causing about?".

The night breeze enveloped me as I walked to the balcony with Mr. Blackwood, "Jasmine, Are you okay?".

I raised my eyes to meet his and burst into tears once again.