Chapter 8

Carla

I stood with the bouquet in my hand. I was nervous. I could potentially be ruining someone’s life but for some reason but, that thought didn’t bother me much today. I was anxious because I was getting married. It was not a part of my life but, here I was all dolled up to get married.

I always thought I’ll get married in the future but that was far and not at 25. I did imagine myself getting married to Jack but that asshole screwed my life over and was enjoying his life while I was still hung upon him. It isn’t easy to forget the boyfriend you were head over heels with, is it now?

I wanted my life with him. Everything I ever did was with him in my life. For three years, I compromised; Sacrificed; but what did he do? He cheated on me. And I would have accepted it if not for the person whom he cheated with. Stella. She was like the sister I never had. She knew me really well. In fact, she was the only person I ever opened up to. I didn’t even speak to Kiara because I had Stella. I haven’t seen or spoken to her for months now. There was a time where I couldn’t go speaking to her for a single minute.

“Carla, be ready,” Jane said with a smile. I’ve always liked Jane. She was the sweetest. I just nodded at her in response and saw her walk away. I sat down on the chair and inhaled deeply.

“No this is wrong!” I heard a female voice. It was loud yet so distant. I could hear two people arguing about something. I got up and walk to the window to see if there was someone. I couldn’t identify the two people who were standing behind the trees and arguing but I could make out that only two of them were there.

The female voice which was now reduced to whisper sounded distressed. I know it is wrong to eavesdrop but it felt like she needed help. I bent down and gathered my dress in my hands and opened the door and walked out. I was careful enough to not make much noise as I didn’t want to alert them. I stood behind a tree while I took in the faces of the two people in front of me.

Sarah and Cliff.

“He needs to know,” she gritted and looked around to see if anyone was listening to them.

“Yes but,” he said and ran his hand through his hair and looked around almost like he was confused.

“He needs to know. Pearl will do everything in her power to hide it; she’ll never let him find out out about it. In fact, we wouldn't have found out if not for you receiving her letter.” She said as tears pooled her eyes.

What are they talking about? This felt wrong to listen to. I was barging in their private conversation. I turned around to leave but what was left of Sarah’s mouth next, made me freeze.

“She’s pregnant with his child! He needs to know the truth!” She cried out.

Whatever she or Cliff next, I didn’t hear it as I walked out of the place. I walked back to my room and closed the door and slumped down against it. I closed my eyes realizing what I’d be doing. No. I can’t marry him. Not now. I needed to do something.

Getting up on my feet, I looked around. My eyes landed on the bag. My bag. I walked to my bag and unzipped it. I pulled out my washed-out denim and a simple blue T-shirt. I cannot do this. I’ll not separate a child from its father. Why didn’t Pearl tell him? I tried to unzip my dress but It difficult as the zipper was somewhere in between and I couldn’t reach it.

I heard the door open and assuming it to be, Jane, I asked for her help. “Jane if you could help me undo the zipper of this dress, I’m unable to reach it,” I said still twisting, turning, and struggling.

“What are you doing?” A shaky voice hit my ears and I paused. I gulped and turned around afraid to look at the person behind me.

I turned to meet a similar blue eye. You can’t be serious now!

“What were you trying to do Carla?” The voice boomed and I flinched involuntarily.

“Mrs. Beckett, let me explain please,” I said slowly.

“Shut up!” She spoke loudly.

“You were trying to run away weren’t you?” And I shook my head vigorously in denial.

“It’s not what you think,” saying that, I walked closer to her.

“Don’t lie,” sadness was pretty evident in her tone.

“Just tell me the truth,” her voice cracked. I just looked at her and looked down. I will not be able to look into her eyes and I will for sure not marry Aeden. I nodded unable to speak. Everything grew silent after that. I didn’t know what happened as she didn’t react.

I looked up only to see her walking back to the mirror. “If I can’t see my son get married to you, then I don’t need to live,” she said as she picked up the scissors.

“No!” I yelled loudly as I ran towards her to snatch the thing from her. Her hold on the scissors was tight as I struggled to get it out of her hold. I was panicking.

“Please give it back to me,” I said as tears spilled out of my eyes. But before she could do anything more, someone pushed me back. I stumbled and crashed on the coffee table. I heard the scissors crash the floor and I looked at it. When I looked in front of me, I saw Nina standing with tears flooding her eyes.

In front of her stood a seething and heavily breathing Aeden. He turned his head back and looked at me and I couldn’t help but wish I'd just disappear. He looked like he was here to kill me. He was shaking in rage. My throat parched up and my lips were dry as a desert.

I looked towards the door to see Sarah and Cliff standing as horrified as I probably was. Aeden took a step back from his mother and turned completely towards me. I couldn’t avert my gaze from him and just stood staring at him.

What will he do to me?

He pulled his white suit jacket and straightened. He was dressed in complete white. He marched towards me and curled his palm around my forearm and jerked me up to my feet. I winched when his nails dug into my skin. He held me up in a death grip and looked at me with blood raining down his eyes.

I have never seen someone this angry!

“We are getting married right now!” He declared and began pulling me out before I could let his words sink in.

He walked to the door and Sarah and Cliff moved away letting us out. The bouquet I was supposed to be holding, was kept out and he took and shoved it in my other hand and walked towards the altar without giving me a glance. As soon as we reached the doors to the exit of the resort that leads to the setup for the ceremony, he stopped and glanced at me and took a step back, and walked with me next to him. He didn’t let go of my hand and only released it when we reached in front of the minister.

I moved to the side and tried to face him. He had masked up his rage with a calm look, while I was still uncertain as to what happened. I turned to the door we just entered to see Sarah, Cliff, and Nina walk to the front and sit down in their respective seats.

Tears brimmed my eyes when I looked at Nina, who was now looking at me indifferently. Swallowing my tears I looked at Aeden and pleaded with him with my eyes to stop it as it will hurt him and his child. He glanced at me briefly and looked at the minister, ignoring me. I felt helpless.

The ceremony went on and I couldn’t concentrate on anything as my mind was busy wandering around the fact that I was ruining people’s lives and most of all a child’s life. It wasn’t his or her mistake and he or she didn’t deserve it.

The minister asked me what I was dreading to hear. I looked at Nina and then at Aeden. I didn’t know what to do. I’ll be ruining three lives today, Pearl, Aeden, and their child. But if I don’t, Nina will harm herself.

“Do you take Aeden Beckett as your lawfully wedded husband?” The minister repeated again and I looked at him and blinked through my tears. He probably asked it after seeing my hesitation. I could hear the crowd murmur.

“I... I-I do,” I whispered hesitantly. He nodded and asked Aeden.

“I do,” he said without looking at me and that broke my heart. He couldn’t even look at me! The tears I was holding back for so long, flooded down my cheeks.

The rings were bought and he slipped my ring on my left ring finger. It was loose. It wasn’t my size. Well, obviously, it wasn’t mine. I took his ring and wore it on his finger.

“I may now pronounce you husband and wife; you may kiss the bride,” the minister said and I looked up at Aeden to see him move closer to me. Was he really going to kiss me?

He snaked his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. My body flushed against his. I looked at him. He wasn’t wearing his glasses and he looked devilishly handsome. His citrus cologne could drive any woman nuts. His body plastered against mine letting me feel his body heat, that was radiating through him.

He bent his head to my level and looked right into my eyes. Cupping my face with his other hand, he placed his thumb on my lips and pressed his lips against his thumb immediately, so no one could notice it. I could hear cheers and claps from the small crowd behind us.

Everything became hazy for me when the corner of our lips touched. I closed my eyes feeling his soft lips against my corner. I heard a throaty growl from him. But all of that vanished soon and my eyes snapped open when I felt him removing his thumb from between our lips. My eyes widen in horror realizing there was no barrier between our lips anymore and he pulled my lips between his own. My fingers which were partially grazing his biceps, instantly dropped to my sides when I realized he was actually kissing me. His lips felt so good but the only thought that ran through my head was that I was destroying someone’s life. Fresh tears rushed down my cheeks as he deepened the kiss. He kissed me deeply, pressing my body with his while I stood numb with my hands hanging to my side and my body limp.

When he tasted my salty tears through our kiss, is when he stopped and pushed me away. It was so subtle, that no one could have noticed the push. Running his hand through his hair and disheveling it, he walked away without sparing me a single glance and leaving me all alone.

I wasted no time and ran from there and into my room. I didn’t care what people thought of me anymore. The only thing that could calm these emotions down was alcohol and I wasted no time in finding myself some.

“Carla,” she heard someone call her name.

She saw a figure running towards her but couldn’t figure out who it was, through her blurred vision. With her partially opened eyes, she saw someone with brown hair running closer to her and crouching down next to her. Her breathing was shaky and low.

“Call the ambulance,” she heard the person growl.

“Carla?” A large and rough hand patted her cheek. She whimpered but couldn’t speak out.

She was lifted up and the man pulled her close to himself by placing her on his thigh and pressing her against his chest firmly. Warmth was what she felt and the corner of her lip curled up.

“Carla, can you hear me?” His gruff voice asked her. She couldn’t respond as her eyes were drooping back again.

“You are so cold!” she heard the man say.

Laying there out on the snow with no jacket on, her body had turned blue due to the immense cold. Her lips quivering and very dark purple. She was shivering but didn’t have the strength to get up and go.

“Shit,” she heard the distant voice. The man who seemed closer to her and helping her, now seemed so far and distant. She’s didn’t want him to go but she was unable to open her eyes or make out anything.

“Ambulance fast, she’s bleeding,” was the last thing she heard before she completely passed out.

“And what are you supposed to be to the patient?” The doctor’s voice was the first thing she heard when she was gaining consciousness.

“I’m her husband,” another manly voice filled the room.

“This is a case of serious alcohol poisoning, we need to keep her under observation,” the doctor said and she was welcomed with extreme brightness when she opened her eyes.