Chapter 3

SELENA'S POV. I contemplated excuses to avoid it, but my mother's glaring look stopped me. Facing Aiden, he drew near, tilted my face up, and approached for a kiss. His lips met mine, eliciting a soft sound from me. His flavor was unlike anything I'd experienced, even with Derrick. Or perhaps I was overstating. As his arms encircled me and our lips remained joined, the clapping reminded me it was time to stop. The last thing I wanted was my image plastered across magazines and the internet, kissing Aiden Evans. "That's enough," I declared, pulling away from his firm hold as he smirked. One of the guests congratulated us, "You both are wonderful." I managed to reply a polite "Thank you," noticing Aiden's preoccupation with his phone. "Congratulations," his mother, a dignified woman in her fifties, added. "Thanks, mom," he responded curtly. The pretense of it all threatened to overwhelm me, and I needed to escape before I succumbed to it. "I'll return shortly," I informed Aiden and his mother, who were deep in conversation, as I hurried to my room. My mother's footsteps followed, but I didn't pause. Collapsing on the bed, tears flowed as she entered. "You nearly frightened everyone with your silence," she scolded, aggravating my frustration. "It's always about others' opinions, never my feelings," I cried out. "Selena, tears change nothing. What's done is done," she stated coldly. "And pack your bags; you're leaving with Aiden tonight," she added before leaving me alone with my sorrow. With reluctance, I began packing, dreading the six months ahead with a man for whom I felt nothing. Derrick's reaction will surely be one of anger when he hears about it. Facing him seems like an insurmountable task. As I was securing my luggage, a faint tap at the window caught my attention. There's only one person who uses that route to slip into my room. Approaching the window, it opened to reveal Derrick. He's the one whose mere presence accelerates my pulse. "Surprise!" he exclaimed, leaping in with a bouquet he'd been concealing. "Derrick. Why are you here?" I inquired. His smile waned. "Darling, the real question is why you've been ignoring my calls," he retorted. I hoped that was all he noticed. I avoided his gaze as he stepped closer. "And why are you adorned in a bridal gown?" he inquired, his words making me wish for the earth to swallow me whole. "Answer me!" he demanded, his tone reaching a volume I never thought possible. As I retreated, shaking, he seized my hands from behind. "Derrick, release me. Let me go," I implored, withdrawing my hand from his hold. "Forgive me, my dear. Can you explain why you're wearing that gown?" he inquired, worriness in his words. How should I begin to explain? What should I say first? These thoughts whirled in my head. “Selena, please, utter a word. Say anything," he pleaded. "I married Aiden Evans," I confessed, no longer able to keep it a secret. It was over. Despite the pain, I owed him the truth. "No! You must be kidding, aren't you? You're—you're—" "I'm speaking the truth," I interjected, looking him in the eye. "This can't be real, Selena. Not today," he protested, and only then did I notice the ring box he clutched in his hands. "I intended to ask for your hand in marriage today, my love. How could you do this?" he lamented. His sorrowful expression moved me. Deep down, I wished to reveal the sham and our eventual reunion after six months, but the backstory of the marriage had to remain hidden. "Who forced you into this?" he probed, drawing nearer as tears streamed down my face and he clasped my hands. "I...I never felt love for you," I declared, striving for believability in my admission, but he just shook his head, unconvinced. "Really? You expect me to accept that tale?" Derrick challenged, skeptical, but I persisted. "Whether you accept it or not, my feelings for you were never sincere. It was merely a casual affair," I claimed, releasing his hands. "You're a terrible liar. Gabriella, your sister, was supposed to marry that man. How did you end up in her place?" he confronted me. His anger was unsettling, but I had to come to terms with my situation. "Derrick, that's not your concern. Please, leave me be," I implored, overwhelmed by the strain. As I faced away, his firm hold encircled my waist. "Let's escape together. Let's just flee from all this," Derrick murmured in my ear. My body yearned to agree, but the thought of my father compelled my heart to refuse. Turning towards him, he gently lifted my face, his eyes brimming with emotion, and was about to kiss me when the door burst open, followed by a voice. "What are you doing here?" my mother demanded, causing us to separate instantly. I signaled to my mother to keep silent about the situation, and she gave a subtle nod of understanding. "I've come to marry your daughter," Derrick declared boldly, grasping my hands. "How audacious!" my mother exclaimed, her smile tinged with mischief. Approaching us, she forcefully separated his hand from mine. "My daughter is already wed, and we have no need for you in her life. Leave immediately," my mother commanded, her voice booming. "You orchestrated this, didn't you?" Derrick accused, prompting my mother to tighten her jaw. "You're the mastermind behind this, right?" he pressed. "Derrick, I won't tolerate baseless accusations against my mother. Kindly depart," I said, maintaining courtesy. Though I was aware of my mother's influence on my choices, I refused to let anyone address her disrespectfully. "You'll regret this immensely, I assure you," he warned. "Please, just go!" I urged, my voice quivering as I watched Derrick make his exit through the window. A piece of me seemed to vanish with Derrick's departure. Derrick's warning reverberated: "You'll regret this immensely." Perhaps he was right. Perhaps duty would eclipse desire. Yet, as the man I had once dreamed of slipped away, I wondered: could I rewrite my fate, or was it already etched in indelible ink, binding me to a stranger's embrace?