ONE MONTH LATER
Stacey's POV
What happened at that hotel was still fresh in my memories, but I hid it from my fiance and father to prevent conflicts. Cindy, on the other hand, went on a vacation after that night and I couldn't contact her even my fiance.
He's on a business trip for a month and told me he'll return on our wedding day, but today I'm all alone.
"The number you are trying to reach is busy. Leave a message after the beep—hey, it's Nathan. I'm kinda busy right now, but I'll get back to you as soon as possible. Thank you."
For the fifth time, my fiance is not answering his phone. I begin to worry, especially since I have limited time. The priest was standing in front of me and I could tell what his expression was trying to say. I don't have guests to witness my wedding and it seems like my dad ensures I'll regret keeping this wedding that he was trying to cancel for a month.
The only family I have left is in hospital. My grandmother is sick, and I haven't received any news from the hospital she was into for two years now. Furthermore, my father did not let me leave the house for too long, so I couldn't visit my grandmother.
"The person you were trying to reach is busy. Leave a message after the beep—" I stopped the call when I was directed to the voicemail again.
"We have a wedding to attend after this, Miss Davidson. Do you still wish to proceed?"
I smiled, hiding my pain and disappointment. "I think we'll reschedule the wedding, father. Perhaps my fiance has a good reason for not showing up to our wedding."
He nodded before leaving, and silence immediately prevailed. I looked around, walked to the aisle until I reached the door. The taxi I rented already left, maybe he got tired of waiting since I only paid him half. I went out of the church when suddenly the rain started, soaking me.
I walked on the street, ignoring the rain when I suddenly got a message from my dad. He wanted me to go home as if he already knew that my fiance stood me up at our wedding, so I called the taxi I saw and got in.
"Where are you heading, Miss?"
I gazed outside the window and replied, "Boulevard street, 14 avenue."
"Okay." He drove away and all I did on my journey was watch the rain while crying silently.
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The rain became heavy when I arrived at my dad's mansion. I can hear the music coming from inside, making me wonder what is happening. After paying the taxi, I looked at myself. The wedding dress I rented was soaked in rain, and my heels were covered with dirt.
I twisted the end of my dress, fixed my hair, and took a deep breath before heading in. The place was packed with people, causing me to head to the living room where the voices coming from and the event before me shattered my world. Nathan and Cindy were hugging and kissing each other, everyone was touched with it like they're some sort of couple.
Without hesitation, I marched to their location with big steps. "Nathan!"
My beloved turned at me and I quickly slapped him, causing him to separate from Cindy. "What the hell?" He mumbled.
"What is this? I'm waiting at the church, been calling you six times and didn't receive any message from you for one month and this is what I'm going to witness?! Now, tell me! What the heck is this?!" I shouted, ignoring the fact I'm surrounded by my dad's rich guests.
"Stacey!" My dad stepped in. "How dare you cause a commotion at your sister's party?!"
"I'm not planning to, dad. But Nathan didn't show up to our wedding today and made me look stupid in front of the priest! He promised to show up, but instead he was busy kissing my sister!" I answered.
"Stop this at once while I can hold myself," he threatened me.
"No, I'm not stopping until Nathan explains why he did that to me!"
"Because I don't love you, Stacey!" Nathan exclaimed, making me pause for a moment.
I scoffed, "That's not a valid reason, Nathan. You love me! You said it before you leave for a business trip!"
"I don't have a business trip for pete sake! I made it up to be with Cindy, and I'm not ashamed to tell everyone in this room that I love your sister and we're engaged!"
I slapped him again before attacking my sister, but Nathan used himself to protect Cindy. "You! I knew it! You're a snake! I will kill you—" I was cut off when my dad slapped me.
My lips bleed because of the heavy impact on my cheek. He was looking at me dauntingly, "You have no right to threaten my daughter, Stacey!"
"Why are you like this to me, dad? Why are you siding with her? I'm your daughter, too!" I asked.
Cindy chuckled, so I swirled to face her. She raised her eyebrow before clapping annoyingly, "Nice drama, Stacey. Do you think we'll let a flirt like you be part of our family? I don't think so."
"What do you mean?" I questioned.
"I think you'll understand more if you watch this," she handed me her phone.
I widened while watching the video. It was me being intimate with an unknown man. The one night mistake that happened one month ago. The people around us start whispering while looking at their phones, making me realize it was Cindy's trap and I bit it.
"That is the reason why Nathan abandoned you at the altar, Stacey. Your scandal will put a shame into this family, so Nathan and I decided to teach you a lesson by announcing to everyone our relationship."
"You did this! You wanted Nathan, so you did this!" I shouted.
"Enough!" My dad yelled. His fiery eyes remain on me, "Ever since you were born, you bring nothing but shame to this family. I tried everything I could, but I had enough. I'm no longer supporting you, Stacey. Get out!"
"No, Dad. Don't do this to me! Please, I have nowhere to go!" I begged.
"I already warned you, Stacey. I told you to stop this wedding, but you were too stubborn."
I paused, "You knew? You know Cindy and Nathan went on a trip together. You know they were having an affair, Dad. For how long?!"
"One year! And yes, I know about it. I supported it because Nathan deserves better than a trash like you, so get out or I will drag you myself!"
"But you are the only family I had, Dad! Can't you listen to me for once? I have nowhere to go! Please, don't kick me out!"
He gripped my arms tightly, digging his nails to my skin. "After what you've done to my daughter? No way. Moreover, that's not my problem anymore."
Dad pulled me away from that room, and I tried to resist but he was stronger than me. I opened the door and without thinking, he threw me out in the rain. My wedding dress was immediately covered with dirt, and I can tell my sister is enjoying the show.
"I have done my part as your father, Stacey. I should've put you for adoption when you were born, and didn't fall in your innocence. Don't ever come back or I will have you arrested," he warned.
My father headed back, followed by Nathan. But Cindy remained on the porch, smirking at her as if she won. Which she is. Cindy successfully made her life miserable than it used to be, and now she has her fiance.
"I did nothing wrong, Cindy! How could you steal my fiance? What did I do to make you do this to me?!" I shouted in the middle of the rain.
"I only have one reason for that, Stacey. I hate your gut. I hate seeing you become happy, and I hate you becoming the heiress of my dad's money. Everyone is siding with you because despite our mistreatments, there's people who see you as worthy in his empire! So, I have to ruin your tarnished reputation. Also, listen to what dad said. Don't come back because Nathan will never be yours," she murmured.
"What do you mean?" I asked, crying.
She stroked her belly and smiled, "I am pregnant with his child, so back off." That's all she said before heading inside, leaving me hopeless.
I stood up, pulling myself together and walked away from that hell. I was supposed to celebrate because finally my dad let me go, but I'm nowhere to go and penniless. I stop from marching on the street when I receive a call from the hospital where my grandmother is.
I answered it and quickly inquired, "Hello? How's my grandmother? Can I see her?"
The caller sighed deeply and answered, [I'm sorry, Stacey. Your father made me hide your grandmother's situation for two years.]
"What are you talking about?"
[He stopped paying your grandmother's medical expenses and…]
"And what?!"
[She's dead, Stacey. Your grandmother has been dead for a year now…]
The phone slipped from my hands after hearing it and felt like my world collapsed. I lost everything in just one day, and this was enough misfortune for me to endure. My mind wasn't working properly and I found myself walking in the middle of the street, hearing the horn from an upcoming car but I ignored it.
Later on, the car hit me. I fell on the ground and was a few inches away from the car. A man got out of the car and stood in front of me, causing me to look up. His face was unfamiliar and my vision was getting blurry.
"I finally found you…" he murmured.
Who is he?
"I will protect you, Stacey. Leave everything to me from now on." His words filled my heart with comfort, and then everything turned dark.