Chapter 3

SELENA'S POV

"Are you okay?" Jake turned to me the moment Rose was gone, and I nodded slightly.

How could I be okay? With all that's been going on since today?

"Your cheek?" He continued, and I nodded again, feeling too upset to talk to him even though my cheek slightly hurt from the intensity of Rose's slap.

How could he get me entangled in such a mess? Now Rose would never understand, and neither would she forgive me.

I was momentarily touched when he took my side and yelled at Rose for slapping me, knowing fully well it's all for show. But the more I think of it now, the more upset I got.

"Men are scum," I blurted out making sure not to make eye contact with Jake but indirectly speaking to him.

He sneered before turning to walk away, wanting to ignore me but I won't let him have that.

And so I continued. " Why call off your engagement with your fiancé and then fake a relationship...do you think it’s fun to play with people's heart?” The words easily rolled off my tongue.

But he scoffed, suddenly coming closer to hold my hands and pulling me close to himself. “Says the girl who stole a gold necklace," well, that fact hurts, "should I call you a thief or? Don’t you dare forget your place ever. Don’t you dare interfere in my life or issues. Go fix yourself first.” He shot at me, glaring intensely into my eyes.

I could swear my heart skipped a beat or two and worst of all, it was not because of how harsh his tone sounded but because of our proximity at the moment. Damn those honeycomb eyes!

But I'm never going to let him see me this way. I have always had my ways of turning the tables.

"Why are you suddenly staring so intensely at me? Don’t be so sorry when you fall in love. But unfortunately, I’m not cut out for accidental feelings and not with a man like you...ever.” I said while I tried to stifle a chuckle.

The expression on his face could make anyone laugh out loud because why would a full-grown man pout like a three-year-old kid?

"Is this your way of trying to tell me you're already falling for me?" He said in a husky tone, a teasing smirk curved on his lips as he stared intensely at me.

W-what no? I was temporarily flustered by his words. There was a caught already and I can't let that happen.

And so I smirked with raised chin and retorted, "you wish," to him. Before he could say anything to me, someone suddenly said.

"I'm so excited…”

Wait, that's Mrs. Cecelia's voice...

Hearing her voice, Jake suddenly pushed me the other direction. And I was grateful I didn't fall down as a result. I awkwardly cleared my throat before turning around to greet her.

"Mother,"

“I didn’t see anything, you guys should continue with your intense and passionate moment... you know, the kiss at the wedding might not just be enough.” Mrs. Cecelia Marino said, gesturing with hands, and Jake coughed awkwardly, interrupting her speech.

"But I really didn’t see anything,” Mrs. Marino defended, blinking her eyes and pretending to portray an innocent look.

“Nobody asked,” Jake made it clear, making his mother bat her eyelids twice in a row. Jake sneered and walked off faster, making sure to keep his distance away from me.

"How do you cope with him? Isn’t he so bothersome? Starve him if he dares give you any troubles darling. I’d always be in support of you.” Mrs. Marino said smilingly at me while her son just rolled his eyes before saying, “would I ever understand women?”

“You spoilt child! Don’t you dare interrupt a mother to daughter talk.” Mrs. Marino yelled, smacking Jake with her handy purse. Jake groaned out, and I chuckled. When he saw that I was laughing at his predicament, he stopped and instead eyed me severally before he rolled his eyes away sulkily.

Had he always been such a baby? I couldn't help but wonder. The thought of that amused me more, and I couldn't help but laugh again.

"I just saw Rose walking out of the hall; if she ever bothers you, come to me.” Mrs. Marino said with that giggle that always made her appear like a smily kid. That’s what you get when your mother-in-law's a retired model... Well, that explains why Jake portrays an animated look. However, the mention of Rose made my mood turn sour, but I hid it with a small nod and smile at her.

---

The wedding was over now with everyone cheering Jake and me as newly married couples, and wishing us a happy married life.

"Happy honeymoon! Have a steamy night." Mrs. Marino said before doing that her laugh thing again, making me fake a smile. Steamy night? Yikes! I'm pretty sure Jake would rather chew toothpaste than even touch me. And neither did I think I would ever be willing to let such a man touch me.

I looked unbothered outwardly, but on the inside, I really wanted to scream. But instead, I just lowered my seat in the car for a more comfortable position.

"No need to feel all comfortable, Ms. Dacasto." Oh, here we go finally. He's back to his horrible self now that it's just us. "I’m dropping you off on the bridge; you will have to take a taxi if you have a home to go to." Jake said sneeringly, but I just rolled my eyes away from him, even though I wasn’t comfortable with the idea of taking a taxi in all that stuffy wedding dress. But what could I say or do? It's all my fault I was in this mess in the first place.

A few minutes later, I was actually standing and awaiting a taxi after Jake had rudely dropped me off. How cruel of him. I still couldn’t believe how he was ever the perfect boyfriend to Rose.

I dilated my eyes when the sudden blinding lights from a fast-approaching black Mercedes flashed right into my eyes. I tried to ignore the fact that the Mercedes just pulled up in front of me, and the driver was winding down the window.

I immediately increased my pace as fear gripped my heart, while cursing Jake mentally for leaving me here alone. I noticed the car trailing behind me also, and then I began running as fast as I could, wishing I was wearing flats instead of heels at this moment.

My heart beat skyrocketed incredibly with fear gnawing at me when from my peripheral vision, I saw the Mercedes maneuvered in high speed and halted right in front of me. It happened so suddenly and so freaking fast. No escape... I gasped as a masked man came out of the Mercedes and walked towards me. Then I turned in the opposite direction only to come face to face with another masked man.

And easily, he grabbed me by my arm tightly, pulling me with him towards the car while I screamed and called for help.

"Let go of me! Is there anybody out there?! Help!” As I screamed, I fought back for my dear life, kicking and struggling. But my efforts were futile as the masked men snatched me into the Mercedes.

Clearly, my strength was nothing to match or be compared with either of that of the three men in the car. Within seconds, I felt the piercing sharp pain of a needle in my arm, and that was all I knew before my body collapsed into the darkness that suddenly enveloped me.