Prologue
**LIANA**
Disgusting.
Everything in front of me was beyond disgusting.
Theo popping down on one knee. The startled gasps from the rest of the guests. Marissa with shock written all over her face, with the exception of her eyes—almost like she knew this was going to happen. The beautifully shaped diamond that glistened under the night’s watch, the same ring I helped in buying. Marissa crying, tears streaming down her cheeks as my best friend of twenty years asked the question;
“Will you marry me?”
I felt sick.
I wanted her to say no. I pleaded silently for a rejection. Wishes were nothing but horses at the end of the day, Marissa nodded frantically as my best friend slid the ring onto her finger. Screams erupted in the room.
I wanted to die.
“I did it Liana.” Theo glanced over where I stood frozen, eyes beaming with joy as he hugged his fiancé, “I finally did it.”
I had no other choice but to force a smile, one who looked deeply could see the cracks forming at corners of my mouth. I clapped as my heart ached, my mouth let out a screaming cheer as Theo’s engulfed Marissa in a steaming kiss.
He was my best friend. I had to be happy for him. I had to be glad he’d found someone who loved and cherished him for the great man that he—
Who was I kidding?
I wasn’t happy. I was barely keeping a smile as it is. I could see Marissa staring at me now, her gaze boring deep into mine with a smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. To the mundane eye, it seemed ordinary, but I knew what it actually meant…..I knew the message she was passing across.
She’d won.
She had the man. She had the ring. She had the love.
She’d won.
And I— I was simply the loser in it all. I was naive woman who thought the man she’d loved all her life was finally making a move. I was delusional, to think he would propose to me when he’d never even acknowledged the spark we both shared.
So I watched. I cheered on as Theo wrapped his arms around Marissa, with eyes filled with joy.
I—i have one of those too
“Marissa likes Orchids…..no, not the purple kind….yes…..she likes White Orchids…..I want it all perfect for the party tonight….and keep a separate bouquet……yes, I want to give it to her tonight…..”
I watched on as Theo blabbered through the phone, his eyes beaming with a grin tucked at the corner of his mouth.
He looked happy. Addictively so.
I hated him for it.
“Sorry,” he smiled, tucking his phone back into his pocket, “Since the whole proposal everything has been chaotic. I haven’t had a moment of peace.”
“Hmmmm.” I forced out, taking a sip of the latte clutched tightly around my fingers.
Theo stared at me intently now, I could see the question dancing in those pale blue eyes of his. He wanted to ask, a part of me wished he would—why I was barely visiting the bar we frequented during the night hours, why I wasn’t calling or texting as I usually do, why I wasn’t visiting his office to bring him lunch when I felt like he was working too much.
I wanted him to ask, and then at the same time I wish he wouldn’t. I couldn’t tell him the truth, not when he was so happy and I remained the bitter friend who had been in love with him for ages and thought he felt the same. I couldn’t let Theo know I thought his proposal to Marissa was meant for me.
Delusional, I know.
“I have good news for you, by the way. It’s why I asked for us to meet up for lunch in the first place.” He said instead. A breath of relief washed over me as my curiosity heightened.
“What is it?” I asked, trying to seem calm as possible.
He paused for a moment, I saw a streak of nervousness cross his face which made my brows arch in question, “Theo?”
“Marissa wants you to be a bridesmaid.”
Silence followed.
Another second passed and there was no ‘gotcha’ like I wanted.
“Liana?”
I couldn’t help but let out a snort, “You’re kidding.”
He frowned deeply, “Why would I be joking? You’re my best friend and you’re as important to me as this wedding. You’ve also known Marissa for the longest time too.”
Obviously he was as blind as he was in love, if not he would know that Marissa and I have never been the best of acquaintances. There wasn’t an obvious rivalry, despite our families not having the best of relations, the silent animosity was very clear. Hence why their relationship took me by surprise.
“Did you put her up to this?” I just had to ask, it felt like Mother Nature was pulling the greatest prank of all time and I was her victim.
Theo shook his head, “If it were up to me you’d be a part of my groomsman lineup. She offered the role without me even asking, she wants this wedding to act as a bridge in cementing a friendship with my best friend.” The stupid smile was back on his face again as he took a sip of his tea, “It’s one of the things I love about her. She’s willing to make it all work, accepting all of me….which includes you.”
“Perfect.” I tried making my words less bitter than it was.
I loved Theo, with every fibre of my being, but I could also accept the fact that he was one of the most oblivious beings I’ve ever met. He had the disposition of sunshine itself, unwilling to accept the fact that humans can be a bunch of warped emotions, hence why he couldn’t read the pain and bitterness that was written all over my face. So happy that he doesn’t realize Marissa’s plan.
She wants to make me suffer. There was no other way about it.
“So,” he pressed on, “Will you accept the role?”
I gulped hard, nipping my bottom lip and unable to meet his pleading gaze, “Theo i don’t—
“Please, Liana,” He reached for my hand, covering it with his in a pleading stance, “Marissa is stressed as it is. Just do this….for my sake.”
For his sake??
I was going to be part of a wedding party—his wedding party, whilst secretly being in love with him? I have to suck up to his wife who pretty much knows about my feelings for him, and still be her bridesmaid??
If fate wasn’t punishing me for a crime I was unaware of, I didn’t know what this was.
***********
It was the worst decision of my life. Here I was, present at Theo and Marissa’s engagement party, on my fourth drink of the night. Half drunk. Jealous. With a permanent scowl plastered on my face which I was sure most of the guests present had noticed by now.
I was clad in a lilac chiffon dress, a color the bride had picked for all her bridesmaids to wear which annoyed a terrible deal out of me. I couldn’t help but watch as the happy couple permed their way through the guests, with smiles on their faces, whilst I was waiting for my nightmare to me over.
I wanted to go home, being here was enough torture as it is, and still I have to endure Marissa’s occasional glance towards where I was seated, nodding in acknowledgment of my presence. She was goading, and she had every right to.
She had the man I loved at the end of the day.
“Liana?” I heard her invigorating voice call out my name, thinking it was my mind playing games, only to look up and they were standing right in front of me—the bride, my best friend, and a couple of others from the wedding party.
My cheeks went flush, “Oh…”
“Marissa wanted to introduce you to the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen.” Theo spoke up.
“Oh…” I repeated.
The bride chuckled softly, “You must be deep in thought.”
“Huh?”
“It’s not everyday one gets their best friend taken from them, am I right?” She said and everyone around laughed. I couldn’t help but frown deeply at her playful jab.
I managed to force a smile, “I’m really happy for you both, Marissa.”
She nodded, “Thank you. Theo might be my husband soon, but he’ll always be your best friend. Don’t worry, I could never get in the middle of your friendship. He’s mine at the end of the day:” she laughed and the others followed. I could feel my cheeks going redder by the minute.
“Marissa was talking about one of her cousins, she thinks you’ll make a perfect match.” Theo added.
My brow arched, “Excuse me?”
“You’re single, are you not?” Marissa chuckled again, “i asked Theo if I could play matchmaker a bit and pair you with a relative, who knows? You could get a fiancé of your own and no longer bother mine.”
Laughter rang through the room again. I felt like I was going crazy—couldn’t they see the blatant insults being thrown my way?!
I gulped hard, downing my last glass of champagne, unable to take the verbal batter any longer,
“Thanks for the offer but I’m good. There’s no need to get me a fiancé. I have one of those too.”
