CHAPTER 3

Liam's POV

I hurried to find and ask Lucy what had happened when the reception ended and what she meant by "I Had to get away from you.". I believed we were in love . 

Luckily for me, I found her chatting with a friend I didn't even bother to know and dragged her to a room I suggested to be the dressing room.

"My family and I moved because of your father," Lucy sobbed as I pulled her inside the room.

"Your father gave a threat to murder me and destroy my family if I didn't stay away from you," Lucy said amidst tears. I quickly clamped my hands over her mouth to avoid us being overheard. I removed my hands when I noticed she's calm, the last thing I needed was to be overheard.

 "Why did you come to my wedding after everything that happened?" I asked, confused and hurt. "I assumed you wouldn't want anything to do with me after what my father did. I tried to stop the tears that were fighting their way from my eyes but I couldn't, my heart really was pounding. In addition to being angry, I didn't want to understand it. 

Lucy looked at me, tears streaming down her face, her face was blotch and red, her nose was running, she tried to wipe it with her palm but it did not stop the steady stream. I wondered how she could have put herself in such danger by coming to my wedding. 

She said, her voice hardly audible above a whisper, "I couldn't stay away.". "I love you."

 "Lucy, I will never stop loving you too. "My father told me you're dead, I find it difficult to believe but after searching around for you, I asked your friends and they could not tell me your new location. It's so difficult for me to accept the fact that you were dead". 

"I still love you Lucy" I said, leaning in close, my words were filled with emotions.

"But you're married," She countered. 

"I never wanted to get married; this is an arranged marriage," I remarked. 

"Liam, I know your marriage is arranged, but I want you to accept the fact that you are married and embrace your wife, try to love her," Lucy said with a serious face.

 “Are you married?” I asked as I was shocked by what she said after she claimed she still loved me.

"No", She replied amidst tears.

 I grabbed her waist and kissed her lips. She resisted at first but later she gave in, I could feel her heartbeat beating fast as she leaned in. The kiss was gentle at first, then later deepened, I could feel the sweet savour of her lips and I never wanted it to end. We were so lost in each other that we never noticed the door creaking open. 

 I pulled away from the kiss as I saw Asher standing at the door with hot tears streaming down her face and ruining her makeup.

As I watched tears streaming down her face, I felt a pang of quilt but my feelings for Lucy are still very strong.

I could see she is in so much pain but my heart belongs to another.

I wished the marriage would work but I still love Lucy. This marriage is just to please our parents and nothing more. 

"Asher, I'm so sorry for causing you so much pain" I said, my voice shaking with emotions.

“Asher, I still love Lucy,” I said, my heart beating in my throat. Seeing tears in her face made tears welled up in my eyes but I swallowed it.

"I think, my coming here is a very bad idea" Lucy finally speaks, her voice quiet.

"I shouldn't have showed up for the wedding".

"Asher, please come in and shut the door ''

 It was then that I realized she was still standing at the doorway. The door was wide open.

"Asher", Lucy called her again, moved close to her and held her hand.

"I never met to hurt you, I wanted to come to your wedding to see Liam, I really missed him so much.

"Liam was my first love but I have to leave him due to some reasons. I had tried to find him but all my effort proved abortive, I couldn't find him on all social media platforms, I don't know why" She said with emotions and looked at me. 

"It was as if he disappeared from earth" She said and sniffled.

"I saw your wedding invitation on a friend's phone and I decided to come, at least to see my Liam for the last time. I never met to come here and cause you pain"

"Please, forgive me Asher" She said with apology in her tone.

"Even though I believe your marriage was arranged, you have never had the opportunity to fall in love with Liam like me" She said with a smile.

"You still need to be happy on your wedding day, today should be your happiest day, my presence should not spoil that for you"  She said gently as she wiped Asher's face with her hand.

"Liam", she called as she faced me

" I think you too can make this marriage work" Lucy said with tears flowing freely down her cheek.

"I will love you to embrace your wife" She said as hot tears dropped from her eyes, placed Asher's hand in mine and left the room, I could hear her footsteps loudly as she left.

Lucy's words were really heavy in my heart. I was lost of words, it's only me and Asher in the room. She couldn't stop sobbing, her eyes were so red and puffy. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes too.

"I don't know if these are the right words to say" I finally speak, moving her close to me.

"I think we should try and make this work" I said, took a deep breathe and continue

"I know we need sometimes to do this, I believe we can work things out" I said, my voice wavering slightly.

Asher looked at me, she had cried so much as her eyes were so red. She buried her head in my chest and cried out again.