CHAPTER TWO: Her Decision

"You look very beautiful," Celine compliments behind me as she slowly caresses my shoulder, lowering her head with her cheeks brushing against mine.

Our eyes meet in the mirror, and she flashes a quick smile at me. I quickly shift my gaze away, her touch feeling disgusting, and her presence alone makes anger surge within me.

"Are you guys ready?" Emelia's voice finally saves me from this demon, and Celine chuckles and then heads out of the waiting room.

My fists tighten as I watch her leave, as today is supposed to be my happiest day, but I can't find a single bit of happiness thanks to her.

My mind doesn't want to go through with this wedding, but I know the embarrassment, insults, and disappointment my family would face if I break it off. Fiona's marriage crumbled after six months, and I saw what she went through when she divorced. Not only her, but what my entire family went through when she moved back home, and opting for such an option will bring me nothing but such a fate.

With Emelia here, I feel the urge to tell her the truth. Emelia, Caroline, Jessica, and Katherine have been my best friends since high school days, and we always share everything with each other.

Emelia and I work at the same gallery, Caroline is a model; well.. not a popular one but she's still good at her job, Jessica is a full housewife with a crazy husband while Katherine is a secretary at one… company; just company.

We’re all struggling out here and hoping for a miracle to happen one day because we do experience hell at work, and every day we all have one or two bad things to tell.

After narrating what I saw yesterday to her, Emelia just keeps staring at me with her mouth wide open, seeming lost for words.

“Emelia?” I call her, hoping for her to say something, but her expression quickly changes to anger.

"Ariel, are you stupid? How could you even consider marrying the man who cheats on you with your own sister? Are you blinded by love? Do you think pretending not to know and going through with this wedding will make him stop cheating on you even after the marriage? Can't you see what Jessica is going through, all for the sake of this damn marriage?" Emelia finally finds her voice and throws different questions at me.

Wow, that's just like her…

“What else do you want me to do? Do you think my family will be happy after finding out what happened? Hell no, because they contributed most of their savings to make this grand wedding happen so people would talk about my wedding and not Fiona's divorce again. I really didn't want to disappoint them, and that's why I'm right here," I reply, as tears well up.

She moves closer to me, bends down in front of me, and holds my hand, looking into my eyes. She says,

"Ariel, I want you to think about this very carefully and make the best decision for yourself so you won't regret it in the future. Once you enter this crazy marriage, it’ll be really difficult to leave. Think about what Jessica’s going through, do you want to go through such a thing? For a guy that cheats on you despite giving him all, including your virginity? Trust me babe, he’ll never be committed to you again and so, we have to call this off immediately,”

Her words seem right but I just can't do it. I remove my hand from hers, “No, I can't.”

“Why? Are you going to sacrifice your own happiness just for the sake of your family? The Ariel I know is far better than this; you are too good for him.” She vents out in anger as she  stands up and moves away.

“ You know what, I’m going out there now, and I will expose that bastard to the entire guest and your family. I won't allow you to ruin your life just like Jessica did,” she concludes, then makes an attempt to leave the room.

I try to stop her, but she insists on going.

“Why are you trying to ruin my wedding, it’s mine and not yours? It’s not as if you have gone through one or even have a single man in your life, so how do you know if I'm making the right decision or not?” I angrily burst out, already feeling frustrated.

As those words leave my lips, regret follows. What have I done? I can see that Emilia’s hurt by my harsh words.

“Ariel, I'm just trying to help. How could you say such words to me?”

“ I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean that” I quickly apologize, trying to explain to her that I really didn't mean that but just wanted to stop her from doing what she said.

Her words seem right, but I just can't do it. I remove my hand from hers, “No, I can't.”

“Why? Are you going to sacrifice your own happiness just for the sake of your family? The Ariel I know is far better than this; you are too good for him.” She vents out in anger as she stands up and moves away.

“You know what, I’m going out there now, and I will expose that bastard to the entire guest and your family. I won't allow you to ruin your life just like Jessica did,” she concludes, then makes an attempt to leave the room. I try to stop her, but she insists on going.

“Why are you trying to ruin my wedding, it’s mine and not yours? It’s not as if you have gone through one or even have a single man in your life, so how do you know if I'm making the right decision or not?” I angrily burst out, already feeling frustrated.

As those words leave my lips, regret follows. What have I done? I can see that Emilia’s hurt by my harsh words.

“Ariel, I'm just trying to help. How could you say such words to me?”

“ I'm sorry, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean that,” I quickly apologize, trying to explain to her that I really didn't mean that but just wanted to stop her from doing what she said.

I stand up from my seat and try to move closer to her, but she moves away from me and rushes out. As I want to go after her, dad comes in and tells me it’s time to go in.

Finally, it's time for me to enter, and I hold my dad's hand as he walks me down the aisle. I see my family smiling at me, grandma using a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and my two friends, Caroline and Katherine, waving at me, while Emelia, who is my best lady, is missing.

I drift into deep thoughts, remembering all that Emelia had said. But I'm brought back to reality by Aiden's voice.

"Ariel, you need to answer the priest," he whispers to me. The priest asks me again, "I will ask again, do you, Ariel Aldridge, take Aiden Wells, to be your lawful wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do you part?"

I look back at my parents, then my friends, and then at Aiden who is eagerly waiting for my response. But I can't go through with it, all I can see now is a cheater and not the man I once loved. I decide to make the bold decision because I know deep down that forcing myself into this marriage would only lead to turmoil. So, with resolve, I reply to the priest,

"No, I don't."

Instantly, rumors fill the hall, swirling around like a storm.

Turning to Aiden,

“And I’m not sorry for this,” I tell him bluntly, then remove my veil, give him a hard slap, as he wanted to say something again, another one lands on his right cheek, and then I run out of the hall.

I can't run very well with my heels, so I take them off and then start running on my two legs and head to the gate. Finally, I see Emelia talking to the security who refused to let her back in, and I shout her name.

“Emeliaaa…”

We both wave at each other, and I quickly rush into her arms and give her a tight hug.

“I’m very sorry, I really shouldn't have said such words to you,” I apologize to her.

“No, I should be the one apologizing. I shouldn't have left you there when I'm obviously your best lady,” she also apologizes, and we both chuckle.

“I'm not going through with it. I'm not going to end up like Jessica, and I think I’ll never regret this decision,” I say firmly.

“Welcome to the world of the singles,” she opens her arms wide once again and I hug her and we both burst into another laughter.

“It seems like the two of you already have everything planned out, leaving us in the dark,” Caroline’s voice emerges from behind.

Turning back, I apologize to her.

“You don't have to apologize, dear, because I'm sure you have your reasons,” Katherine replies, giving me a reassuring smile and I also pull them into a hug.

“So what's next now?” Caroline asks, disengaging from the hug, and we all head to Emelia's house.