CHAPTER 1: WEDDING IN SHAMBLES

"Is that blood?" Ria's eyes widened as she stared at her friend's cheek when she walked through the door.

"Don't worry. It's not mine." Jasmine walked past her friend and went over to the kitchen sink. She opened the faucet and splashed water on her face, washing off the red tint of the blood on her face.

Jasmine checked her phone, saw that she received the money alert for completing her job, and immediately transferred the money to the hospital responsible for her little brother's heart treatment.

Soon, the news stations would announce the news.

"Is that supposed to reassure me?!" Ria couldn't stop herself from freaking out.

She and Jasmine were best friends and roommates. Well, sort of.

It was Jasmine's place two years ago, but now they both share the payment of the rent. They were like sisters, and they understood everything about each other.

"Calm down. It was just a minor mistake that caused the mess on my face." Jasmine had a smile on her face. She always loved it when Ria acted like a mother to her.

"Oh my God, Jass. Your wedding is tomorrow. You shouldn't have gone for this job." By job, Ria meant Jasmine's position as an undercover assassin.

Jasmine had been an assassin for six years, even before she came to New York City looking for greener pastures, as she said.

Ria met her four years ago, and they had hit it off immediately, yet Jasmine only told Ria about her job last year. The poor girl was still getting used to it–late-night arrivals, bloodstains, dangerous weapons hidden behind the closet, and, worst of all, the guilt of knowing someone who murdered people for a living.

"Accepting one job wouldn't do anything to ruin my wedding, and why do I feel you are looking forward to it more than the bride herself?" Jasmine stared at her friend, who was pouting.

Ria had packed her curls to the back of her head, accentuating her chocolate-colored skin.

Jasmine jumped on the bed and stared at Ria, who was pacing around the room with her hands on her waist. Seeing this caused Jasmine to chuckle more.

"Oh, shush. I see the way you look at Tyler. The love in your eyes." Ria had forgotten about the bloody incident as she jumped on the bed, shifting closer to her friend.

"Get away, lady!" Jasmine pushed Ria away from her side, causing the poor girl to land on the floor. Ria wasn't wrong; she had never understood the meaning of love until she met Tyler.

She knew fairy tales didn't exist, but it was love at first sight with Tyler, and now, two years after they met, they were getting married.

Tyler was a leading actor in the Hollywood industry, famous, and wealthy. Jasmine often asked him why he chose her from all the other girls he had seen.

"You are beautiful." It was those three words he said that had set her heart ablaze. He had singled her among all the other girls who chased after him–The pretty actresses, the stunning fashion models, and all the other sexy girls who wanted him, and he came for her alone.

Jasmine never thought she was pretty.

Yes, Ria had often told her how her curly brunette hair complimented her rosy skin and how she had the prettiest hazelnut eyes. Still, she never thought she was that appealing for a famous actor to love her and even want to marry her, but he had said it himself.

*****

The D-Day arrived, and the girls were bustling excitedly.

The girls had moved Jasmine to her father's house early that morning to get well dressed, as the church was also closer. She didn't like that she had to hold the wedding reception at her father's place, but Tyler had encouraged her, and she agreed.

She liked her father, but could not find it in her heart to love him after what he had done to her mother. He did his best for her as it was his responsibility; he ensured she went to the best schools with her step-sister. Her family was not wealthy, but at least they were rich.

Her father had bought a house in New York; she couldn't call it a mansion, maybe a big house.

"Oh my God, Jasmine. I could cry my eyes out. You look like a Disney Princess." Ria dabbed her little tears with a tissue. She was happy for her best friend, and couldn't lie that she looked stunning in her wedding dress.

Jasmine didn't want the traditional dress; she had worn a red and white princess gown.

The red gown had a corset top lined with beautiful white pearls; it also had white roses pinned to the lower bottom of the dress.

She looked like royalty but aggressively, and it suited her style.

"I know, Baby. Thank you for everything. I'd miss you." Jasmine couldn't cry because of her make-up, but she would miss her best friend.

"I'll give you some space." Ria hugged Jasmine and ushered the other girls out of the room.

Jasmine let out a deep breath; she was finally getting married, and with that, she could quit her job and become a normal human being.

She wanted her peace back; killing people had been her way of escape. She could vent her anger and hurt after her mother died on her targets as she watched the life drain from their eyes.

She couldn't help but chuckle and glance at her hands; they were trembling. She tightened her fists to stop the trembling but couldn't. It was the guilt. The little voice told her that the people she had killed had families and loved ones who would cry because of their demise.

She took a deep breath through her mouth; it was her way of coping with her problems, and with that, she pushed all those thoughts to the back of her mind. Today was her wedding day, she had to be happy.

Her phone rang, startling her immediately.

Ria's name appeared on the screen on the phone, along with two love emojis, so she hastily picked it up.

"Hey Boo, what's wrong?" Jasmine tried to control her trembling voice, which had resulted from her thoughts a while ago.

"I just saw Tyler." Ria's voice held an excitement that even leaked onto Jasmine as she realized her heartbeat had picked up the pace.

"Are you serious?" Jasmine said with her eyes wide open. She inwardly hoped that her friend was telling her the truth.

Tyler was the person she needed to see right now. Holding him had always calmed her down.

"Yes. I am. Tyler looks so handsome, and he must have come for you. OMG. He couldn't wait to see his bride!!!"

Ria squealed, and Jasmine could hear her jumping in excitement.

She faced palmed herself, wondering where she had found such a lady.

"Calm down, Ria, where is he?! I don't want him to see me now. It could be ominous." Jasmine had brought out her silver heels while complaining about this development. She also wanted to meet him so she had to wear her shoes.

"Oh, would you stop being a killjoy? I can hear your heels. You want to see him, too. Awn cute couples! I think he's heading to your room, and I saw him going through the hallway. Tell me everything that happened."

"No." With that, Jasmine cut the call. She knew she would relay the event later to her friend, and even Ria knew that, too, as she chuckled on the other end of the phone.

Jasmine was her best friend, so she knew everything about her. Ria also knew Jasmine would be the one to invite her over so they could talk and gossip about many things, so all Ria had to do was wait for the wedding to be over before she had time with her best friend.

Jasmine looked at herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time.

"I look good." She smiled, trying to assure herself she couldn't understand why she felt nervous to see Tyler in this dress. These hormones had the wrong timing.

She rushed out of her room, and her heels clicked as she walked through the hallway, her heart wildly thumping as she felt she was getting closer to her fiance.

Then she stopped abruptly and moved back until she came to stand in front of her step-sister's door. She had heard something that made her heart tremble.

She could feel her heart in her throat as she brought her ears closer to the door.

"Calm down, Baby. Reduce your voice."

Jasmine closed her eyes. Maybe she was hallucinating, but why did Pearl's little fling sound like her Tyler? She must have misheard.

"~Tyler~" Jasmine gripped the door handle after hearing her step-sister's moans. It had to be a different person, please; it just had to be. Jasmine could feel her heart trying its best not to break apart.

She took a deep breath and walked into the room.

Everything she ever knew came crashing down. Her fingers trembled as she stared at her fiance, who had his fingers between her step-sister's legs while he kissed her.

"Tyler!" Jasmine screamed, her heart crashing down into the pit of her stomach.

Tyler immediately turned to see his fiancee standing before him with a hollow look in her eyes. For the first time since he had met her, he was afraid.

"Jasmine…" His voice dropped to a low tone, as he had not expected things to turn out this way.

He quickly tried to stand up, but Pearl immediately locked her legs around him, preventing him from going anywhere.

"Baby… I'm not done with you." Pearl said in a sultry voice as she came closer and nibbled his ears while her eyes moved over to Jasmine before she slowly grinned.

"T…Ty… Why?" Jasmine couldn't bring herself to form words as her voice shook. She was confused. Did she do anything wrong? Why did he have to do this to her?

Without waiting for his reply, she immediately walked out of the room, bumping into Ria, who had run upstairs after hearing her scream.

"Jass… " Ria couldn't say anything as she saw her friend running out of the house.

Ria knew she couldn't go after her friend now, so she went inside the room to find out what had happened, and she was astonished when she saw Tyler standing with Pearl, huddling close to his side.

"You!" Ria pointed a finger at Tyler. She came forward and slapped him. Tyler could only lower his head in shame, and he couldn't change what had already happened. He only needed to apologize.

"I told her you were good for her, but look at you." They disgusted her.

"You can't just slap my boyfriend like that. " Pearl blocked Tyler from Ria, but Ria replied with a resounding slap that made her fall to the bed.

She held her swollen cheek while she tasted the metallic characteristic of blood from her lips as she looked up at Ria.

"You shameless whore! Calling your sister's fiance your boyfriend! Karma is a bad bitch!" Ria couldn't even try to look at the two. She had to find her best friend.