Chapter # 3

“I pronounce you as the husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,”

And then came the unbearable declaration that immobilized my very soul, to contemplate the lowest my life had reached.

My body shivered at the announcement. My eyes went wide from heartache, jaw dropping with a throbbing headache.

A strong rush of pain traveled, turning me incapable of reacting.

“I was dying for this moment, you are finally all mine now, Mrs. Hudson,”

What the fuck did just happen in a moment? 

I… got married… to someone else?

No, I must be imagining. 

It had to be a nightmare, else, I won’t be myself anymore.

“Ah, my beautiful bride,”

I stood like a statue when he lifted my veil and without a warning pressed his lips upon mine to display his ownership over me.

I didn’t kiss back, it was cold, it was horrible.

I hated the way those lips moved upon mine, satisfying his carving following by a tear of defeat because-

My love lost. My feelings lost. I lost.

After the undesirable kiss, we pulled away. I wiped my lips which Kyle noticed but he was too exhilarated and decided to ignore it. 

Just like my consent to this unasked marriage.

“Please take care of my daughter,” Mother wept, hugging me while I stood dead inside.

“I know I took a wrong approach but I will try my best to redeem my mistake,” 

Kyle grinned, placing his hand over my shoulder to press me against his chest with a heartbreaking question.

“Aren’t you going to meet Denzel? In fact, where is he? He is close to you after all,” 

I replied immediately, “I don’t want to see him,” 

“Come on, don’t say this. He was there for you always. Bid him goodbye. I am waiting for you,” 

He smiled, patting my back to go and see the man who threw me in this abyss in the first place.

At that moment, a flame burned in my chest. 

I felt a sting, an unendurable one. A constriction I hadn’t experienced before that evoked nothing but… wrath.

“Hmph, meet him, huh?” 

When Kyle told me to meet him, I didn’t want to. I was afraid to see him at the last moment, seeing him would flare my soul.

I couldn’t do it, especially not after becoming another man’s wife.

But, if I won’t, that would evoke suspicion and double the rage in my hollow chest so unwillingly, I went and saw him all alone in the corridor. 

Leaning his back against the wall, staring coldly at his hands, enhancing his handsome features, immersed in thoughts.

So careless, so uncaring, so cold. 

“Denzel,” 

Calling him sternly, I gathered my dress and walked up to him as we stopped before each other as strangers.

“Eliana?” 

His piercing resonance came. Still no expression on his desirable face… and that brought a tear near my eyes.

‘Still no feelings?’ I thought with a wretched heart.

Everything that used to exist, what I imagined for us perished when I stood before him as a married woman.

My whole life was destroyed…

Hugging my sides, I lowered my gaze painfully, gritting my teeth to contain my emotions but failed, my soul was being torn apart as I hissed.

“Is this what you wanted huh?”

“I did what should be done, you and I were never a match.” He exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose.

To show that he was becoming tired of explaining the same thing to me. 

How easy it was for him to neglect me and my feelings.

With my smeared emotions, I came closer, grabbing his shirt. 

“Never a match huh?” 

Glaring dead into his eyes with heartbreak spreading widely as I told him the undeniable reality. 

“But, my heart is burning with your name, Denzel,”

“You are someone else’s wife now,”

“Exactly. That is why.”

His mouth gaped, placing his hand gradually over mine to stop me from chasing his path but I wouldn’t have if he hadn’t invited me. 

After pouring my everything, I gained nothing. 

“You are a liar, disloyal and the worst person ever,” 

A tear rolled down my cheek as my steps stumbled, leaning against the wall, it was serving as a support which I hopelessly required in this suffocating moment.

There was a little distance between us and this was augmenting my anguish.

“How could you do this to me, Denzel? Wasn’t I precious to you?” 

Sniffling to suppress my crying, I dug my nail on my arm to contain my emotions and not scatter. 

Again, received piercing silence as a reply. Closing my eyes, after being heartbroken, I took a deep breath. 

“How easy was it for you to make me marry Kyle despite knowing all my feelings are for you?” 

“I said it was a mistake-”

“No, it was not and you fucking know it!” I snapped, hitting his chest.

“You knew everything, you were well aware of my love and after being done with me, you threw me to Kyle, huh?” I growled, losing my composure.

“Look. It’s nothing like this.” He sighed. 

His insensible demeanor was testing my patience at this point.

“Stop your lies. Just to save your bond with your fucking girlfriend Gizelle, you threw me out of the way, you selfish bastard,” 

“Think whatever you want,”

How cruel…

Wiping my tears and regaining my posture, I was staring at him with mixed emotions of disbelief and betrayal… while he was unaffected.

As we were staring at each other, lost in our own perception, our different chains that ripped us apart, Kyle came, breaking the brief moment.

“Eliana? There you are. Are you guys done?” 

Causing me to come back to reality and realize that I was wearing the ring of ‘his’ name now.

‘There was no place for Denzel in my life… then why was I hurting too much for him?’

“Denzel, where were you during the ceremony? I didn’t see you,”

“Congratulations and I was there. You were just too focused on her,” Denzel replied in his dominant tone, giving Kyle a side hug.

“I guess so.” 

He chuckled before turning to me, “Come, baby, let’s go then,” 

Nodding, I was about to go but Denzel stopped Kyle, bewildering me.

“Kyle,”

“Hmm?”

“Take care of Eliana,” He spoke sincerely, inducing an intolerable pain in my chest. 

How could he possibly say this after shattering my heart?

“Of course, don’t worry.” He grinned, showing him a thumbs up but now I couldn’t bear it. 

Holding Kyle’s sleeves, I used a fake charming tone.

“Kyle, can you grab my bag? It's with mother, please? I will be there in a moment,”

“Sure. Be quick, I am waiting,”

“Okay,”

The second he left, I darted in his Denzel, confused when I made him Kyle. My throat felt like burning, my mind was submerged into despondency.

And when all of it failed to reach him- it burned me more. 

Like hell I would leave with anguish now.

“What is still left to talk about?” Denzel asked coldly.

Lighting up his cigarette before resting his hand in his pockets to forge the strong posture.

“I won’t forget what you have done to me. How you have betrayed my feelings and emotions, Denzel,” I growled.

Poking his chest with my index finger, not removing my disappointing gaze from his and cursing him sincerely.

“I pray you never get the one you love too,” 

“I hope you suffer for the one you love,”

“I wish your heart breaks terribly,” 

Leaving him astonished, with an immense feeling of being disheartened, my steps retreated.

Shaking my head accompanied by a tear as I gave him the final curse.

“Curse you and your life, Denzel Reynolds,”