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Chapter 40
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The Substitute Bride Chapter 41
The walk through the mahogany forest the next day was equally romantic. The forest was man-made and thick with a variety of green foliage and different species of trees and giant ferns lining the road so it appeared like a canopy, it might as well be the boulevard in Paris.They went sightseeing at the famous chocolate hills which was a unique geographical formation that was shaped like a cone and look like mystic mounds. They had lunch in one of the cosy floating restaurants on Loboc river and when the cruise stopped at Busay Falls, they enjoyed a light picnic on an islet surrounded by calming waters. Van had never had so much fun in her life or laughed so loud until her ribs hurt as Jake slipped and fell into the river simply because he was trying to look cool. She would always find herself sighing in content after the day's adventures and each day they made sure to end it with a romantic walk down the beach and watch the sunset. It was all surreal that Van wished never to
The Substitute Bride Chapter 42
"You look so beautiful." Rella said as Van came out of the fitting room in a lacy white gown with a sweetheart neckline going past her ankle. "My gosh I'm so nervous."Van laughed shakily as she came to stand in front of the floor length mirror to get a good look at her dress. Everything was moving so fast it was overwhelming but the joy she felt in her heart was overflowing as well it was a good feeling overall and Van couldn't think of a perfect time to marry the man of her dreams. "We all went through that it's only wedding jitters you'll get over it." The sales lady told her. "Van I agree." Rella said. "You just need to focus on being the most beautiful bride ever." Van couldn't help the smile that stretched her lips. She has everyone who loves her by her side and all the support was making tear up but then she remembered Rella's wedding, how her friend must've felt so alone and afraid to be put in such a tight spot by her family. All in
The Substitute Bride Chapter 43
Jake's side of the bed was empty when Van woke up the next morning. She wasn't dreaming was she? The wedding dress, the wedding ceremony…they weren't all a dream right? It all felt like a dream but their clothes strewn on the floor beside the bed told her it was very much real. Van wondered where her husband–it felt so good to be able to call him her husband–could've gone so early in the morning? She got out of bed and went to part the curtains on the window when she saw him in the gazebo. She smiled affectionately then went to get dressed so she could join him. Jake ran agitated fingers through his hair as he paced about the gazebo. So many thoughts were running amok in his mind he felt like he was going crazy. All the joy and happiness he was feeling was making him sick because he knew he'd never be at peace until he was able to come clean and tell Van the whole truth. He'd thought that once they were married everything will become easy but he had
The Substitute Bride Chapter 44
"He's still out there sis," Van’s brother informed her as he craned his neck to look outside. Van ignored the twinge of guilt that was crawling its way to her heart she didn't make him decide to stand outside all evening while the rain fell in heavy pelts so whatever happens to him is not her fault. You know that the only way to make him leave is to talk to him. A tiny voice at the back of her mind told her but Van wasn't in the mood to listen to anything Jake Calloway has to say, she was done being an idiot.Karl clicked his tongue, "it's been over two hours and he's just standing there like a statue, do you want me to make him go away?" Van's eyes landed on his bruised knuckles which he got from punching Jake and she didn't want a repeat of what happened in Bohol. Things got so ugly that Stefan and his friends had to pry Karl off of Jake and the idiot just lie there while he was kicked around like a ragdoll. "No, ignore him he'll leave when he realises he's wasting his time
The Substitute Bride Chapter 45
As soon as Karl was out of the door Van began to brew more coffee which she offered a cup to Jake and kept another for herself.They both sat at the rickety old table and Van sipped her coffee as she watched Jake through the rim of her cup. He was looking everywhere but her clutching the cup in a death grip. "Thank you for giving me a chance to explain." he said and this time he met her gaze. His voice was hoarse and tired. "I want to hear the whole story." She told him and he managed a small nod. "When I was six and Karen was just a baby my dad began to see someone else." Van flinched as she could guess by now who that someone was. Hadn't she always known that her mom had been unfaithful to her dad there was a time when Van was sure she'd gone to be with her lover abandoning them, that was about the same time their lives began to fall apart and her father's health began to deteriorate. However, she didn't interrupt Jake as he told his story.
The Substitute Bride Chapter 46
"You're right." Van said through clenched teeth. "No amount of sorry can erase the hurt Jake. The fact that you made me pay for someone else's sin is not right at all, it's unfair and it's equally the worst sin someone could ever commit against another person. When you were out planning your stupid little revenge did you stop even for once to realise that you were going to destroy my life, did you stop to think that maybe I too was hurt, that my own family fell apart because of your dad as well, that I went through the same hell you went through? No you didn’t, why would you, after all only you and your mom matter right?" "I admit that I didn't see it that way. I didn't think for a second that you were also a victim. I'm sorry." Van balled her fists until her knuckles turned white. "When my mother left us I felt like I didn't matter, I felt like I was a bad daughter that I must've done something wrong for my own mother to leave me." This time the tears did fall and sh
The Substitute Bride Chapter 47
The call came that afternoon and it took everything in Van to muster up the courage to hold back from running to his bedside. "How is he?" "He's doing okay now, he managed to get out of the accident with minimal injuries." "Thank God." relief flooded her as she clasped her Rella's hand. They were at the hospital's reception area along with his friends. Jake had gotten himself into an accident after he left her place that morning, she'd been beside herself with worry and guilt that maybe she drove him to it with her harsh words but Rella had insisted that it wasn't her fault at all , her friend was equally furious with him after learning the truth. Van was bouncing on her heels restlessly holding back because she knew that if she saw Jake in the current condition he's in, she'd be tempted to stay by his side even though she wouldn't be able to forgive him for what he's done which would be unfair to them both. The wound was still fresh and
The Substitute Bride Chapter 48
When Jake regained consciousness, the first person on his mind had been Van and he asked if she knew he was in an accident, he received a positive response but what got him curious was the looks exchanged between his friends. "What is going on? What aren't you me?" he demanded. "Van asked me to give this to you before she left." he accepted what was in Rella’s outstretched hand. Confusion washed over him for a second before he realised that it was the ring he'd put on her on their wedding day as he was making those vows to protect her, respect her and never hurt her but he didn't do any of those things. It seemed to dawn on him only now what Rella had been saying. "What do you mean she left? Where did she go?" "You should recover first." Stefan told him. "Where is my wife?" Jake demanded nearly hysterical and was going to leave his bed but Dave stopped him. "You are in no condition to go anywhere right now. Why don't you get well then yo
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