Chapter 2 Too Much

IRIS'S POV: “I can't believe this….this has to be some sort of prank.” Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I carried up my gown running back to the dressing room. I could literally hear the laughter and amusement from the guests who I knew totally agreed with the unbelievable words which escaped Gabriel's lips. The security had pushed back the paparazzi who tried entering back into the church again enabling me to head back into the dressing room, but it was definitely easy for them to capture my face which was most definitely ruined by the tears which ran through my cheek unstoppably. “It's a prank. We were just fine yesterday, what could have gone wrong? Where was this even coming from.” My mind was racing, as I wiped my face as soon as I took off my wedding dress in a haste, but the tears still continued flowing as I had imagined Gabriel being the one taking this dress off. I threw on the most casual outfit I could find was a pink floral summer dress which I was meant to wear as we headed for our honeymoon in a country Gabriel had told me he had picked out, which he claimed was in a tropical area. I was so excited. “Are you okay?” I turned around startled seeing the event planner standing by the door with a look of worry and concern on her face. “I am. I just need to talk to Gabriel. This has to be some sort of misunderstanding.” I tried to convince myself and her, dialing his number, hanging my tote bag around my shoulder. But the call dropped, it seemed as if…I was blocked. I ignored the look on her face, as it made me feel stupid but I know Gabriel, he wouldn't do this to me. He would never hurt me this way, I was and I am…his forever. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand yet again as his soft words calling me his forever ran through my head. “Alright, I can drive you there and probably make it easy for you to go through without the press all up in your face.” She suggested and I nodded, muttering an appreciation. I carried my belongings and put on my Dolce and Gabbana sandals, still trying to call him yet again. I followed the event planner's lead and heaved out a deep sigh, as there was no other way since the paparazzi had surrounded the building. “I will go set up my car. And here, you will need this.” She informed me then handed me black tinted designer glasses, then managed to rush through the flocks of media personnel and as soon as they saw me, they ran towards me giving me no breathing space. “How do you feel about the words from your ex-fiance? Are the words of Gabriel Thymes true about you? Are you two going to come back together after you alleviate your poverty? What do you plan to do next?” The media bombarded me with questions, flashing cameras in my face and after so much hassle and more tears running down my cheeks, I was finally able to get away from them and head into the event planner's car. “Thank you.” I coughed out softly handing her back her glasses but she smiled, stopping me from returning it, “You can keep it. I literally made so much money from your wedding which did not even take place. So the least you deserve is my glasses.” I typed in Gabriel's location into her GPS and sank back in my seat, looking outside as the sun was slowly setting. “I'm Melody by the way.” She introduced, after about fifteen minutes of driving in silence and I glanced at her for a second admiring how pretty she is with long brown hair and gorgeous facial features, resembling that of a model. “Iris.” I responded and took a deep breath and let it out as my hand was trembling as we were slowly arriving at the skyline hotel, where Gabriel and I lived in one of the most luxurious penthouses there. We had made plans, that after getting married, we were going to move into a mansion. “Good luck! I hope you're right.” Melody spoke enthusiastically and I opened the door to the car. “Thank you.” I appreciated her and then closed the door after entering the building, hoping I was right. I nodded my head in confirmation seeing his four friends' sports car as well his own car parked in the parking lot. His friends included Marcus, Meech, Ben, and Isiah, and they were all wealthy and treated me like their younger sister. I stepped into the elevator, ignoring the stares from the security, receptionist and the guest, all who must have seen the news and most likely saw me crying ugly. I brought out my key card and entered the penthouse, hearing music playing through the speakers. He and his friends were dancing, drinking and some ladies who looked like call girls were present as well. The atmosphere did not feel homey anymore, it felt cold, like I wasn't meant to be here. They had not noticed my presence as they all seemed happier than ever, especially my Gabriel who was grinning like a king. “Let's make a toast to Gabriel, I actually never thought you could possibly take on that girl, and manage the horrible sex for at least a year and dump her without catching feelings. So you won the bet, Congratulations to you and here you go.” Ben handed him a stack of money and so did the others with a huge smile on their faces, looking so proud of him. Bet?....hold on…Is it me? I was the bet? “Hand it all to me. I told you four not to underestimate. I literally feel so excited Iris is off of me. It was getting a little bit too hard for me to continue pretending and feigning pleasure after having sex with her but I made it work. Like none of you could have ever. So cheers to having more years of good sex, fun and running away from cheap whores.” My heart broke into a million pieces as I heard those words coming from his mouth and all sorts of emotions ran through my body, from heartbreak to pain and last anger. I clenched my fists into a ball and clenched my jaw in rage walking towards him, “What in the world? When did she arrive?” Isiah's stupid voice ran through the room, but my eyes were glued to Gabriel who had a smug look on his face as he stared at me. “After all I did for you ... .After what I gave up just for you!” I cried in anger punching his hard chest, and the music playing in the background had been reduced. I kicked his penis, replacing the smug look on his face and turned it into pain and I repeated again until he knelt to the ground. “I loved you with all my heart and this is what you do to me! I hate you! I hate fucking you!” I yelled and kicked, slapped, punched his cheek with the heaviest force in me, trying to reduce the pain I was feeling from my chest and his friends finally went ahead to drag me off. “WHY did you do this? How could you play with my heart over a bet?” I shouted trying to fight off the grip on me by Marcus and even with a look of pain on his face, and blood on his teeth. A devilish smirk and a smug appeared on his face again as his friends who had excused themself before, helped him up. “We were the guys on June 5th and it's just payback baby! You still got it, don't you my forever?” He asked rhetorically, chuckling and his friends joined along with him. He then added with a crazy look I had never seen before “Goodbye delusional tramp!” Marcus literally dragged me out, snatched away my key card and with the same smirk tossed me on the floor and slammed the door on my face. I cried so hard picking my tote bag and walked off dejected and hurt from my soul. And June 5th, wasn't it the day five men attacked me and tried to rape me few weeks after I had just arrived in the country? I had a black belt in Karate so I was able to fight all five of them and damage their cars but all these while I had been hanging around with such despicable men and revolving myself simply around them? “This is just too much.” I cried to myself, holding my head as it was hurting and the pain from my hand added to it. I can't take this… I need a drink…I need alcohol to suppress this pain and to make me forget.