Chapter one

“Is the groom on his way?” The Minister whispered, I did not know how to answer, I have been feeling agitated since arriving at the church this morning. It had been thirty minutes, sitting and waiting for Daniel.

Thankfully the church had a room, where I could dress for the wedding, so I came earlier than everyone, but Daniel promised to be here with me at the same time. He promised.

“No, but he’s on his way," I answered, although I did not know if it was the truth, but I had to tell the Minister something. The Minister just shooked his head and left.

I need June, June was supposed to be here with me, helping me, as one of the duties of a bridesmaid. This was not how I had envisioned today going. 

Sweat trickled down my face, even with the air conditioning in this room, it was not enough to keep me from sweating. 

“Selena, try and call him again, what is this behaviour, does he not know today is his wedding day, such a stupid boy." My father shouted at me, eyes blazing. 

I went out the room with my gown flowing around. I checked the parking garage, the church, to see if he had forgotten the way to the church room I was situated in. 

"I hope what I'm thinking, is not what is going to happen, God please no.” I mumbled a prayer with fear.

Daniel was nowhere to be found.

I tried calling again, “Daniel darling, where are you, you are late and people are starting to wonder if you are coming, please is something wrong, are you okay." I decided to send a voicemai,l since he was not picking up the phone. 

“Did he not want to marry me, was everything a lie, are my parents right.” a wicked thought cross through my mind. 

“No it can't be, Daniel loves me, we promised never to hurt each other, Daniel was just like me, we both have parents who don't really care about us, so he can't leave me and he loves me.” I begin to whisper to myself. 

I was shaking with fear, I could feel something dripping on my face, as I brought my hands up to clean my face, I discovered I had been crying. I was crying. 

Tears welled up in my eyes, ruining my makeup but I did not care. He had abandoned me, he left. Daniel is not coming to marry me. 

“Why do I suffer God, tell me why God, I have done everything right, I have loved, I was loyal, am I not good enough." I was screamed, no longer whispering and mumbling.

Anger in my eyes, I went back to my parents and said, “There is no wedding mom… dad please tell everyone to leave, Daniel is not coming and I don't know where June is". 

"What do you mean no wedding?” my mother asked, confusion in her voice. 

"That is what I said mom, there is no wedding.” I replied.

“Do you mean… ahh.” her mom gasps, “He is not coming?, He is not?, oh my God, He abandoned you" my mother continued, shaking her head as she came to a conclusion. 

“What do you mean he abandoned her, he can't, what does he have that, gave him the right to leave her. Does he know how much was spent on this wedding” my father shouted, his face turning red.

I could have reminded them, the money spent on the wedding was mine, and that they did not contribute a single penny.

But I was not really in the mood to exchange words with my parents, right now I was shaking from the betrayal and pain coursing through me. 

I needed to think and to do that, I need to be alone.

I spoke again, when I could realize my parents were waiting for my response. “Yes Mom…Dad, this wedding is cancelled.”

Before I could beg them to leave me alone, my phone chime with a message.

I gave a pause, my parents stopped what they were about to say. 

I opened the message, and what I saw almost made me collapse. “ No, no, no, no, no…” that was all I could say.

"What is it Selena?, did something happen to him?, was it an accident?” I heard her mother say. But I could not respond. It was all too much. 

“Give me the phone." my father snatched the phone from my weak hands and read the message out loud.

“Selena, I'm sorry but I can't go through with this wedding, when I'm in love with someone else. This was not the plan, but love does not always fit into someone's plan. So I'm writing this message to tell you, June and I are getting married today. We can't go on pretending we don't love each other. Please do not be angry with June, it was not her fault it was mine. Goodbye." 

"June? Does he mean your friend June?, how can you be so stupid Selena, you have always been worthless but I thought you were at least smart” my mother yells, with a disappointed look on her face.

“Can you please leave, please mom, please dad, just go, I know I'm stupid, you don't have to tell me again"

“I was stupid to trust Daniel, to trust June, to trust the both of you, so please go" 

As my parents left, I slumped to the floor, with my gown and all. I loved this gown the first time I saw it in the wedding shop and now it was just a reminder. A reminder that all was lost. 

How long was I blind?, how long had they deceived me?. The pain was unbearable.

I thought I would have June to fall back on, but it was the both of them. They have both betrayed me. 

But there was no time to cry and wait for their apology, I needed to act, to take control of the situation before this pain swallowed me whole, it was too unbearable. 

I thought of what to do but nothing came to mind. “I need fresh air" I thought.

I got up and left the room, I discovered everyone had left, including my parents. I should have known they were not going to comfort me, I knew but it hurts regardless.

I stood outside of the church, trying to think of what to do with my life, how I was going to make Daniel and June crawl back to me. 

That was when I noticed him, a man standing alone, he was tall, so tall. His gaze fixed on me with so much intensity that it sent shivers down my spine.

He was ruggedly handsome, with piercing brown eyes, eyes that should have been ordinary but I knew immediately there was nothing ordinary about this man. He seemed to see right through me.

I knew in my heart that he was trouble but I did not care, not right now anyway. I moved to approach him. 

“Are you all right?” he asked. His voice sent a tingle down my spine.

I debated how to answer, then I said. “I'm fine, just… dealing with unexpected circumstances” my voice steady despite the pain coursing through me and how much I wanted to crawl somewhere and cry.

“I'm Selena Brown and you are?”

The man looked at me from top to bottom before answering. "Max Stone at your service”

"Well Selena, I am guessing your day did not go as planned.” He said, taking notice of my wedding gown and my tear stained face. "What do you say, we do something interesting?”

I frowned, unsure of what he was trying to say. “What do you plan on doing" 

"Before I answer that, Selena, do you want revenge on whoever made you cry?” He replied.

I pause for a few minutes thinking, "Yes I do, I was fooled, you know, my best friend and my so-called fiance betrayed me.”

"Then marry me.” Max said.

"What!” I shouted.

Before I could say more Max added, "It will be a contract marriage of course, marry me and I'll help you get your revenge.”