Chapter 3

Betrayal 

Abby's Pov 

 As I rushed down the driveway leaving Nathaniel's mansion and its annoying owner behind the crisp night air was thick with the smell of damp earth because it had just finished raining.

As I drove quickly I couldn't help but think about that day I had signed the contract. 

And now ? How dare he control me? How dare he treat me like a pawn in his haughty games as though I were his property? 

Just because Father was in the hospital and the company was bankrupt.

But even in spite of my rage I could still hear his arrogant tone. 

His precise slow and annoying words sliced right through me. 

 But Nathaniel wasn't the main issue now No not at this time. Fred was very important to me, he was the one who is dear to my heart and who deserved to know that I had not forgotten him. I still can't keep deceiving myself, pretending to love Nathaniel.

I slowed the car down as I got closer to Fred's house. 

My rage subsided and was replaced by a glimmer of hope and I just couldn't wait to run into his arms.

But then I thought , What if he didnt believe me or if he was still upset? 

No , I firmly told myself. 

Fred loves me. He'll understand you.

I parked the car and jumped down as I was drawn forward by the dim glow of a light coming through the window. 

A glimmer of golden light spilled onto the porch from the slightly open door.

This was strange .

Free was always cautious.

Where had he gone to ?

After a brief pause I entered without knocking.

I was greeted by the faint sound of muffled voices coming from the one of the rooms upstairs. 

I suppressed the nagging feeling of uneasiness. Maybe he was on the phone but Fred had always been a private person.

Then I didn't hear it again as I walked gently up the stairs staring at the beautiful carpet.

Then I came before the bedroom, our bedroom door which was half open.

No longer muffled, the voices were distinct and unmistakable.

"Come on Fred....go harder...." A recognizable seductive voice cooed and I stopped .

 It was followed by a a groan and moaning then." Ouch!, you are such a bad boy."

Then a sharp laugh that I knew instantly. 

My cousin.

 I remained motionless my mind unable to understand what I was hearing. 

No. That isn't possible.

 With shaking hands, I pushed the door open and the scene in front of me made my entire world fall apart. I almost stopped breathing.

Then there was Fred, his body entangled with hers , his shirt thrown on the floor.

 In his arms was my cousin—the same cousin who had sat across from me at innumerable family dinners, laughing and smiling with me as though we had an unbreakable bond. 

For a moment I stopped breathing, my eyes rolling back in my head.

My heart was beating wildly, that I could hear it and tears rolled down my cheeks.

 "Abby!" Freds voice pierced the silence as his eyes caught mine, his face changing from astonishment to fear as he fumbled to put on his abandoned clothes. "Its not what it looks like. "

I laughed bitterly the sound strange and piercing in my ears. 

"Not what it looks like? "I repeated my voice trembling with a mixture of heartbreak and rage. "Then please, Fred tell me. What exactly am I seeing? "

Still wrapped in the sheet my cousin, Rita dared to smile.

 She said in a voice that was brimming with fake sweetness ."Calm down Abby. You and Fred arent really together. "

"Shut up, just your mouth."I said my voice cracking . Fred moved in my direction his hands up as though to soothe me.

" I can explain Abby." he said in a beseeching voice. 

“What?” I asked raising my voice. " Do you want to tell me ? Thsr the man I once loved—*trusted*—is now sleeping with my own cousin?"

Fred frowned his face but I didnt mind. Any lingering feelings of affection I may have had for him were washed away by the tidal wave of rage that was rushing through me.

 My voice was low and shaky as I said "You're unbelievable. Do you understand what Ive been through? Do you know what I've given up? And this is how you pay me back?"

"Abby, please."Fred said with a hint of desperation in his voice. "It was an accident. This is not what I wabt to happen. "

"A accident?" I said again in a chilly tone. "What the heck Fred? You stumbled and fell into bed and you didnt mean for this to happen, how sweet ." 

I turned to face my cousin with blazing eyes as she snickered. "And you. We are cousins, Rita . How could you hurt me like this? "

I said my voice brimming with disdain 

With an unflinching grin she shrugged. "Perhaps he wouldn't have come to me if you had kept him happy."

I was stunned, my tongue betrayed me and my eyes were burning, the pain in my heart was too much.

Without thinking, I grabbed the glass of water on the nightstand and threw it at her.

 I didnt stay to see her scream as the water splashed over her.

 I turned and ran away from the room tears clouding my vision. 

As I stepped outside, my chest heaving with uncontrollable sobs, the cool night air felt like a balm. 

I staggered down the street, heartbreak betrayal and rage roiling inside my head. 

My cousin and Fred, the people I had trusted the most had broken me in ways I never would have imagined.

 How could they have done this to me? 

 I was clueless about where I was going to . 

My feet moved by themselves, dragging me away from the embarrassing situation. 

The emptiness in my heart coupled with the tears in my eyes made me think of ending it all.

I walked to the nearby park, sobbing 

, my head in my hands I sank on a bench and exhaled . 

This was not how I had planned my life .love had failed mr.

I thought Fred loves me, I had come to make things clear to solidify our love only to see him in bed with my cousin.

 And now ,there was nothing to fight for anymore. 

I was still thinking when I heard a car pull up and when I looked up and saw Nathaniel getting out of his sleek black car. 

As he drew closer I silently welcomed his presence but I looked away

"What are you doing here? I questioned

In a raspy voice  

"I followed you. "He said plainly without any emotion 

" Why? I asked turning to look at him. "So you can tell me you were right? So you can gloat?

For a brief moment I thought I caught a glimpse of sincere concern in Nathaniel's eyes as his gaze softened.

" No." he muttered quietly. "I came because I knew you would need me little wife."

 I gazed at him, taking in what he had said. "Why would you care?"I questioned my voice hardly audible above a whisper  

A small grin that stopped short of his eyes flickered across his lips. 

He smirked and leaned against the car 

"Because I came to tell you that our wedding Is tomorrow, now get into the car. We are going to see the dress maker."