My phone buzzed on the coffee table, shattering the eerie silence that filled the room. The text message from an unknown number glared at me, its words cutting deep:
"You're invited to witness the happiest day of Oliver's life. He's getting married to the love of his life right now at St. James's church. We'd love for you to join us and celebrate their love."
My mind went numb as I read the message over and over, hoping it was some kind of cruel joke. But deep down, I knew it wasn't.
The room began to spin, and I felt like I was going to throw up. My hands instinctively went to my belly, where our unborn child grew, unaware of the chaos unfolding around us.
Who had sent the message? I couldn't tell. The number was unfamiliar, and there was no indication of who might be behind the malicious text.
Without thinking, I grabbed my car keys from the table and rushed out of the door, still wearing my pyjamas. I didn't even bother to put on shoes.
The cool breeze hit me as I stumbled to the car. Tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision, but I kept moving, fueled by a mix of rage and desperation.
When I arrived at the church, I saw the familiar sign—"St. James's church"—and my heart sank even further. I parked my car haphazardly and stumbled out, but before I could cross the threshold of the church, someone stepped in front of me, blocking my path.
I looked up, recognizing the tall blonde girl, Lily Hampton, the best friend of my arch-nemesis, Sophia Dakota.
"You can't go in now," Lily harshly said, holding my hands and dragging me roughly aside.
I wrestled against her grasp. "I need to go in," I pleaded. "I have to see Oliver. I have to know the truth."
Lily's expression twisted with disdain. "Are you really that clueless, Alexis?" she sneered. Her grip on my hands tightened, forcing me to cease my struggles. I looked up, my eyes locking onto hers.
"Oliver is not meant for you, he doesn't want to be with you," she spat. "He is marrying the love of his life. Why can't you accept that?"
And in that moment, realization hit me—Lily must have sent the message. How could I not have known? My eyes narrowed. "You sent the message, didn't you?" I asked, my voice trembling.
Lily smirked, but said nothing.
"Did Sophia instruct you to toy with my emotions?" I screamed, my emotions getting the best of me.
"No," she responded. "Sophia didn't ask me to, and that's because she's inside the church, getting married to Oliver."
What?
Something snapped inside me. A spark of fury ignited within me, and with a newfound strength, I shoved Lily aside and stormed into the church, only to freeze in my tracks.
The scene before me confirmed my worst fears. Oliver and Sophia stood at the altar beaming with happiness as they prepared to exchange their vows.
A scream pierced in the air, and I was startled to realize it came from me. Every head turned, and I felt their curious stares on me.
Oliver's gaze met mine, and for an Instant, I glimpsed a flicker of surprise, fear, and remorse. But it was swiftly replaced with a mask of detachment. Sophia, on the other hand, regarded me with a triumphant smile, her eyes aglow with victory.
The church fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the shocked congregation.
I was at a loss for what to do or think. I stood exposed, a barefoot and pyjama–clad spectacle, as the congregation's judgemental gazes seared into my skin.
The shame was suffocating, the humiliation crippling. Witnessing Oliver, the love of my life, about to exchange vows with another woman was a brutal blow, a dagger to my heart. I felt like I was drowning in despair, crushed by rejection and heartbreak.
Overwhelmed by the pain, I turned and fled, tears streaming down my face uncontrollably.
I couldn't endure the scene any longer.
As I reached my car and opened the door, a firm hand grasped my arm, halting me.
The familiar scent of cologne wafted up, revealing the identity of the person behind me.
Oliver McCall
"Why are you here, Alexis?" His voice was tight, his whisper strained. "I thought I told you not to leave the house, not to trust whatever anyone says, and to trust me no matter what."
Like seriously!
I spun around, my eyes flashing with anger. "So you could marry your best friend, your newfound love?" My words tumbled out in a raw, chocked whisper
His eyes narrowed. "Alexis, listen...."
But I cut him off, unwilling to hear his excuses. "You keep hurting me, Oliver. Have you ever stopped to consider how I feel? What about our unborn child?" I demanded, my voice cracking. "Have you ever stopped to consider how your actions will impact its life...?"
My voice faltered as I became aware of the small crowd gathering around us. Oliver's cocky friends had clearly followed him, but in my distraught state, I couldn't make out anyone except Sophia, whose gaze was fixed on me with a mixture of shock and hostility.
"You're pregnant?" She asked incredulously. Her eyes went to my stomach and then back to my face.
For the first time, I felt a sense of triumph over Sophia, and I smiled, a cold, calculated smile spreading across my face. "Yes, I'm carrying Oliver's child."
Oliver tensed beside me but I didn't care. My attention was fixed on Sophia, whose face twisted in rage.
"You bitch, how could you sleep with someone else's man?" She spat, raising her hand to strike me. But Oliver swiftly intervened, grasping her wrist and pulling her behind him.
That gesture stung, a slap in my face. Oliver's concern for Sophia was palpable, and his calm, gentle tone when speaking to her only highlighted the contrast with the harsh voice he used with me.
"Please, we're outside. Don't do this here," he pleaded, but Sophia brushed him off, her fists clenched at her sides as she glared me with venom.
"That child is an unwanted bastard, just like you," she hissed.
Her words cut deep, but I refused to back down. In my fragile state, I revealed the secret Oliver had begged me to keep.
"My child is not a bastard," I said, my voice shaking. "Oliver and I got married last month."
A collective gasp echoed from Oliver's friends, their faces shocked by the revelation. None of them had known about our secret wedding. After the quiet ceremony, Oliver had taken me to a quiet apartment, using my pregnancy as an excuse to force me to drop out of school. He had then made me promise to keep our marriage a secret, hidden from the prying eyes.
But to my shock Oliver denied it. His words cut through me like a dagger. "Don't believe her, Sophia," he lied, his voice trembling slightly as he struggled to maintain a calm facade. "The marriage was a sham, a desperate attempt to trap me. I only went through with it because she claimed the child was mine."
His gaze met my shocked one, cold and unforgiving. "The wedding was fake, Alexis. It meant nothing to me."
I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. My feet trembled beneath me, and for a moment, I thought I might collapse. The world around me began to spin, and I felt myself losing my grip on reality.
Just as I thought I was about to crumple, Oliver's arm wrapped around me, holding me upright.
He leaned in close, his voice barely audible as he whispered, "I'm sorry." His breath was hot against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "Please just wait for me at home."
Like a fool, I wanted to believe him. I wanted to believe he had a reason for denying our marriage, for hurting me so deeply. So I nodded, letting him guide me to the car.
As I drove home, my vision blurred by tears, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was making a mistake. But I couldn't help myself– I wanted to believe Oliver, wanted to believe that our love was still real.
I arrived home before sunset, the fading light casting a somber glow over the empty rooms. I settled onto the sofa, my heart heavy with emotion, and waited for Oliver. The silence was oppressive, and I stared at the door, willing him to come in and explain everything. The only sound was the ticking clock.
But as the hours passed, the room grew darker, and I was left alone with my thoughts.
TBC
