Chapter 8

Author’s POV

Celestine watched her husband drive away in his car.

She couldn't believe that he just left her in the middle of nowhere and that again, at night.

At first, she was disoriented and her brain didn't immediately think of what to do.

“Who do I call? I don't even know the way to his house!” She thought to herself.

She immediately gasped and looked around, she'd forgotten her purse in his car.

“No, no, no…please no.” She said frantically, pleading to whatever Deity was out there.

Realizing just how messed up the situation she was in was, Celestine broke down in tears.

She crouched and wrapped her arms around herself.

She was truly screwed.

If she'd known that he was still upset about her lying to him, she would have tried harder to appease his anger. But after that day in her house, the only time they’d met again was at the church for the wedding.

Now she understood why every single time she'd tried to reach out to him, he would always come up with one believable excuse or the other.

She looked up at the sky and sniffed, the cold of the night was finally getting to her.

“Maybe if I can get to the main road, I'll be able to ask for help.”

With that in mind, she gathered up her gown in her hands and began to walk down the lonely, dark, quiet path.

Soon, her shoes became a burden and she had to pull them off.

The floor was cold but it was better than the constant pain she was feeling in her heels.

Disappointment filled her heart when not a single soul was in sight which was a very rare occasion.

Rhys had intentionally chosen this part of town.

A place where she wouldn't be able to find a single soul after midnight.

Celestine had no choice but to spend the night outside bundled in her gown.

Thankfully, it was bogus and had so many layers that could serve as a blanket for her.

She slept off with tears dripping down her eyes.

Rhys on the other hand was downing a glass of whiskey when Babe walked in through the front door.

“I've always known you'd be the first of us to get married. I just didn't think it'd be this soon.” Bane said with a small smile and made his way to the bar.

“What are you doing here? Isn't the wedding night meant to be a private time for us?” Rhys asked.

“Yes but I had a feeling you wouldn't be spending your wedding night with your wife yet.” Bane shrugged.

“Meaning?” Rhys asked.

“This.” Bane slid a blue envelope over to him and smiled, “A late wedding gift but still a wedding gift all the same.”

Rhys stared at the envelope with suspicion before slowly reaching for it.

“A plane ticket?”

“Yep, to the Bahamas. A romantic honeymoon of two weeks for you both.” Bane reached for the whiskey bottle and didn't bother taking a glass.

“Why the Bahamas, why not Paris or Italy?” Rhys asked.

“Because we have branches there and you'd be tempted to work whilst on your honeymoon.”

Rhys sighed and pushed the two tickets back into the envelope. “You still haven't answered my question.”

“The tension between you was obvious and I had a feeling something was up with you two. Whatever it is, settle it amongst yourselves.” Bane said and took the whiskey bottle with him.

Rhys closed his eyes and different scenarios began to drift in his mind, like ghosts from the past.

“We’ll be back, promise.”

“I love you…”

“It'll always be you…”

“Thank you. This is the best gift!”

“Where is she!”

“I'm sorry but we couldn't save her. She's dead.”

“What are you doing here? I thought you-”

“So stupid, so naive. Go to hell, Rhys!”

“Die!”

His eyes snapped open and he took in heavy breaths.

Just when he thought he'd forgotten, the past still plagues him.

All of them, they were the reason he hates lies with his whole heart.

He detests it.

Rhys refused to feel guilty for what he did to his wife. To him, she deserved it. And he would punish her for thinking she could trap him.

He refused to fall into the same hole twice.

Celestine woke up to the feeling of someone tapping her shoulder incessantly.

She opened her eyes and immediately blocked the rays from blinding her on the spot.

When her brain finally processed where she was and what time of day it was, she sat up and looked around.

People were staring at her like she was crazy.

Well wouldn't that be your first impression when you see a lady sleeping in a fish stall, in her wedding dress.

“Are you okay? Do you need help?” The woman who'd woken her earlier asked.

Celestine immediately stood up from the table and turned to the woman with a pitiful expression.

“I'm sorry for disturbing you but do you have a phone?”

“Of course dear. Here you have it.” The woman immediately concluded in her head that Celestine was a runaway bride and said, “If you need to leave the country badly, I can help you. I promise he won't be able to find you.”

Celestine smiled at the woman gratefully and began to call her parents but none went through.

An idea popped into her head and she immediately typed in Rhys’s name into the search bar.

She wasn't able to get his direct address but the constant use of the name of Ervine Estate might just be his house.

“Sorry, can you give me some cash?”

“Of course. But you can't go around looking like that.” The woman said gesturing at Celestine’s beautiful wedding gown that had turned to brown.

And then the woman pulled out a knife