Chapter 4: Crystal Clear

“Where is she?!”

“Sir, you’re not allowed here!”

“Get out of my way! Lia!” One of the guards in the entrance immediately cut him off as he attempted to enter.

“Hey. Isn’t that Rupert Kilmer? The Kilmer Industries’ second son?”

“Yeah, that’s him. What’s he doing here?”

“Wait. I heard that he was also getting married.”

“Did the Waynes even invite him today?”

“Gosh, this is humiliating.”

“And disrespectful.”

“Sir! Only invited guests are allowed to enter the hall. This is trespassing.” The security guards reason out, blocking Rupert’s attempts to enter the chapel. 

“I said, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY WAY!”

“Pardon me but no need to make a scene here, sir. This is a distinguished gathering. “

“Do I look like I care?! Lia! Where are you?! LIA!”

“Sir! Just who are you searching for? We’ll find who it is in your stead.” Another security guard arrives, attempting to negotiate as Rupert goes out of control.

“MY WIFE!” Rupert screams, with his raging voice echoing throughout the walls of the chapel. 

“Huh? His wife?”

“Oh, his wedding is also today at Crimson Crescent Hotel, if I’m not mistaken.”

“Yeah. Actually, one of my mom’s friends is right there to attend.”

“But how come he’s here? Shouldn't he be at the Crimson right now?”

“Hold on. He mentioned something about “Lia”.”

“Who’s that? Is that his wife?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t actually pay attention to the articles regarding his wedding.”

“But why is he finding his wife here if he’s supposed to be getting married at the same time?”

“Wow. He’s really making a scene” Jasper adds to the line of murmurs as he watches Rupert getting ballistic while screaming. However, sounding amused in his remark, the narrowed black orbs of his clearly showed hostility and disgust. 

“One of the main characters is here.”

“The climax is finally coming to life.”

Lianna, on the other hand, still couldn’t bring herself to look at Rupert. His desperate calls for her name kept ringing in her ear. 

Stay strong, Lia.

You already expected this. There’s no turning back now.

Don’t falter from his pleas…it’s not true…

Just like before, his voice laced with worry and concern nearly broke down the walls she steadily built for a while now. She knew that if she turned her head, she might just eat her own words and decision.

As the chaos ensues inside the private chapel, Jasper finally speaks, catching Rupert’s ragged attention towards the altar.

“Mr. Kilmer, what a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting you to arrive today.” With his left hand in his pockets, Jasper clicks his right as he continues. “As joyous as this day may be, I didn’t send you an invitation, in consideration that you too are celebrating a rather similar, joyous occasion.” 

Everyone in the hall understood what Jasper truly meant in his words. Sounding respectful it may seem, their ears still caught on to the mocking tone Jasper slyly uttered. 

In reflex, Rupert’s brows twitched in annoyance.

“Jasper Wayne…”

“I’d love to offer you a seat to join us, but looking at you right now and the stunt you just pulled, I believe you’re not here to congratulate me though” 

“Where is my wife?” As much as Rupert’s patience was dwindling rapidly, he took a deep breath to calm himself from further humiliation.

“Hmm? May I ask why are you looking for your wife here? I believe you already got married just a while ago, so shouldn’t she be with you and not here?”

“I’m not here for jokes.”

“Neither am I, Mr. Kilmer. To think you’d barge in my wedding without an invitation and cause a ridiculous scene at that…I think it is you who thinks that I’m a joke…”

“Just answer my goddamn question. Are you the owner of the white limousine that is currently parked outside?” Rupert sharply queries the laid-back bachelor. 

“Oh that? Yes, I do own it. In fact, it is what my bride rode earlier upon coming here” Jasper replies, returning to his bride’s side. Noticing how Rupert’s glaring eyes consistently following his every move, Jasper trails on to Lianna’s shaking hands, secretly pinching it in the process.

“...what? Your bride?”

It was Lianna’s cue. The perfect moment for her revenge to finally reach its peak.

While Jasper converses with Rupert, Lianna repeatedly assures herself that all the things she did, all the actions she took, were indeed the right decision. That she should not wimp out at this dire moment. 

Remembering the reason why she started all this farce, her heart gradually froze. 

Just because they don’t remember it, doesn’t mean my feelings are invalid. 

My body, from the very inches of my hair down to my tippy toes, every sense of my being remembered. That includes the excruciating pain they inflicted on me. 

Remember it all Lianna. Don’t you dare forget.

Before Rupert could retaliate, Lianna herself removes the white veil covering her gorgeous appearance. And with a smile, she faces the very person she didn’t want to see anymore.

The very person she loved…yet, she hated at the same time.

“L-lia?” Seeing Rupert’s shock expression brought forth a satisfactory feeling inside Lianna, something she was surprised to feel herself.

“Hi Rue”

“Wait. Isn’t that Ms. Lianna Smith?”

“Oh my god! It is her!”

“You mean, Lianna Smith. That illegitimate daughter of the Smiths?”

“She’s a bastard?”

“Hey, zip it!”

“Yes, that’s definitely her! I saw her face in the articles online.”

“Hold on! If it's Lianna Smith, then that means, she’s…” Its like every guest present realized the whole situation when all eyes turned to Lianna. Countless flashes from the cameras almost blinding them.

Everyone was truly appalled by the scandal currently unfolding. Even the parents of Jasper immediately got up, unaware of the whole setup. Meanwhile, the main characters of the event just stood in the altar, with Rupert looking stoned in his spot as he gazed at the face of the woman clad in white.

“No…t-this can’t be…” Rupert felt like a huge rock just fell on him as he set his eyes at the altar.

The one he was desperately searching for earlier…the one he was supposed to marry for life, stood beside Jasper Wayne, with hands intertwined tightly.

“Lia? Wha-what’s…what’s the meaning of this?” Words felt heavy to be properly constructed as he gazed on the familiar face behind the white veil.

“Isn’t it obvious? It’s my wedding day, Rue” Rupert’s mind went completely blank, disturbed by what he just heard from Lianna. Multiple emotions raged inside his chest, but what was imminent was the feeling of confusion.

“I don’t understand, Lia. Wedding? Yes, you are to be wed. TO ME THAT IS.”

“But why are you with him?!” 

“Oh, spare me with naivety, Rue. Must I spell it for you to fully understand it?”

“I AM ALREADY MARRIED. Starting from this day, I am now wed to Jasper Wayne. I am now Lianna Wayne” Lianna declares along with the sweetest smile she could offer. 

“Any more questions?” Rupert’s face almost twisted when she raised her hand, showing her wedding ring to the chaotic crowd.

Rupert initially thought that Lianna must have been confused. But when she clarified her name to him in front of the whole crowd with Jasper’s surname, he knew she was in the right state of mind. 

He, alone, stood like an idiot. The one who is confused.

“…are you mad at me, Lia? D-did I do something wrong?”

“Why’d you ask?”

“Because this is so unlikely of you.”

“You’re not like this…no. You wouldn’t do something like this…Stooping down so low…Causing a scene…”

“Are you perhaps mad at me?”

“What makes you think I’m mad at you?”

“Usually you’re calm…and collected…”

“Oh? You seem like you really know me.”

“Of course! I am your fiance!”

“Oh, are you now?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?! We’ve been together for two years! We’ve talked about a lot of things. Stitched up each other’s wounds.” 

“We promised each other that we’d be together! You swore to me!”

“We were about to take our vows earlier. But why? WHY ARE YOU WITH HIM?!” Rupert thought long and hard about where things went wrong. But no matter how hard he racks his brain, he still couldn’t comprehend why Lianna ditched him for Jasper.

“Let’s play a game, Rue.”

“Guess it.”

“What?”

“The answer to your question. “

“I’M NOT PLAYING GAMES HERE, LIA!” Rupert’s voice thunders inside the room. Lianna, however, didn’t budge by the rise of his tone.

“Aw. Don’t be such a killjoy, Rue. I know you like games…”

“Ponder on it more. Why do you think I’m with him?”

Having no way to retaliate, Rupert tries to recall the days they spent together, scanning as to whether he did something that upset Lianna.

“Lia always stayed at home…so she wouldn’t even have the time to meet the bastard Jasper Wayne…”

“And now, she’s claiming that they’re married?”

“Since when did they have a connection?”

His confusion gradually led to one painful emotion, the feeling of betrayal.

“...are you cheating on me?” Rupert utters in between his breaths, with his head lowered. Lianna's eyes immediately twitch upon hearing Rupert’s answer. She wasn’t expecting such an answer from him.

“…of all possible answers, that's what you came up with?”

“With you ditching me on our wedding and finding you here together with that bastard, WHAT WAS I SUPPOSED TO THINK?!”

“WE WERE SUPPOSED TO BE WED AN HOUR AGO! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY ME LIKE THIS?!”

“April 4.”

“W-what?”

“Did you forget that day already?” 

“It was the day I told you that I'm going out with Lacey. Remember it?” Rupert halts in his place. His mouth felt the need to shut up hearing Lianna’s icy tone.

Letting go from Jasper’s hold, Lianna walks towards Rupert with a stone-cold expression. Seeing Lianna approach him in a straight manner and with ease, Rupert felt something odd. 

“You put a tracker on my phone right?”

“H-how? How d-did you k-know?”Rupert’s face instantly became pale. Anxiety blooms inside his chest as he gulps in nervousness.

“Didn't it say that I was at Lacey's house? But…”

“Did you confirm if I was really there…at THAT time?” By her words, Rupert instantly knew what she was implying, and his throat felt dry.

“Surely you remember right? You always boasted about your high memory retention so of course you know what I'm talking about…” Lianna turns her gaze on the ceiling as memories of that day flashes back to her vulnerable, chaotic mind.

Every step she took that day. Every tear she shed. Every time she held her breath, so as not to make a noise. 

Lianna couldn’t help but release a painful sigh before continuing her next words, laced with sarcasm.

“Damn. Our apartment was so lively back then…”

“So.damn.lively…” Blood almost drained from Rupert’s system as he recalls that day.

“Lia…y-you…”

“Surprised? That’s supposed to be me. I’m the one who’s surprised. Çoz, as a reminder…” Lianna steadily takes a few steps towards Rupert. Each sound coming from her heels adds up to the tension and anxiety he was feeling. “My ears aren't the ones that's impaired, Rue.”

Rupert finally found his answer to the oddness he was feeling.

Stopping just a few meters away from him, Lianna stares deeply into Rupert’s eyes. There, she witnesses how his complexion gradually twisted, indicating that he finally put all the pieces together.

“Lia, you…y-you can s-see me?” 

Rupert’s remark made the audience intrigued. No one truly knew Lianna, aside from the widely-known fact that she was illegitimate. 

And only a few people knew about the existence of Lianna Smith’s…disability…

Satisfied with Rupert’s answer, Lianna flashes a cold smile. “Of course, my love. I can definitely SEE you…”

“Crystal clear, in fact.”

Rupert was aghast as the innocent, blind girl was no longer there. For the one who stood in front of him was a woman looking straight at him with a pair of aquamarine, yet dead eyes.

*****