Angel’s point of view

My mind nestled on the itch in my back, but I’m in public, I can’t possibly reach it.

Scratch that… I’m not in public, I am in church, attending my mother’s wedding— and I’m her maid of honor. I told her this lace dress was too tight, and I wanted something else, but she never listens to me.

Everything has to go her way, and my life is not an exception.

The same way I had protested against her marriage, but now I am at the altar, sitting in the front row, clapping and grinning from ear to ear like I’m the happiest person in the world.

But look at her, she is so happy, and I think she deserves that happiness, after everything we have been through together.

“If there is anyone present here today who believes these two shouldn’t be joined together speak now or forever hold your peace.” The priest announced and I glanced around the guest, my eyes darting left and right, scanning the hall.

A part of me wanted my mom to be happy, the other part worry for her and hoped that someone would end it.

But shoot.

No one. Not even me.

“Um… we all know she is marrying him for his money.” I heard the not so low whispers of the women sitting behind me. They had been giving me the judging stares right from the time the ceremony began.

“I tell you,” The other woman agreed. “In the modern world, the concept of love doesn’t exist.”

I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping they would gossip a little quieter than that.

“I wonder how they met, Mr. Wolfe’s smile looks forced.” They giggled, and I clutched the hem of my dress. I tried to count to ten in my head, suppressing the anger swirling in me.

‘Angel calm down. Don’t say anything, just calm down.’ I encouraged myself.

“Wait…I heard he has an adult son,” one of the women worded again and this time I felt my ears perched up.

A little too curiously.

I think I remembered they once brought up his son in a conversation over dinner, but Mr. Wolfe hardly spoke regarding it, seemed like a sensitive topic, and moreover I wasn’t interested in their relationship, so I didn’t pry further.

I had forgotten about that little piece of information until now.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” the other woman sounded surprised. Like her friend’s lack of information was the biggest sin on the planet.

“His son is nothing to write home about, the only blot on Mr. Wolfe’s reputation.” The other woman joined in, and this conversation on Mr. Wolfe’s supposed son oddly piqued my interest.

“A good for nothing and a shame is he.” This time it was a completely different voice from the two gossipers, a more elderly woman had joined in, and I rolled my eyes, realizing how shameless people can be. Gossiping the couples, even in their own wedding but that didn’t stop me from leaning back quietly so I can listen to the gist more audibly, like they weren’t talking about my new family.

“He went to jail for the heinous crime he committed against that poor girl.” Contempt dripping from her voice, she seemed to harbor a lot of hatred for Mr. Wolfe’s son.

‘Jail?’ My mind echoed the thought to me. ‘What’s going on? Why didn’t I know about this?’

My new stepfather has a son that went to jail? Isn’t that dangerous? Did mother know about this? And if she did why is she still getting married to him?

“Yeah I heard about that incident,” The other woman spat, “Instead of jail they should have executed him, people like that are dangerous and should be taken care of for good.”

Why was my heart pounding in my chest? Whatever this son of his did, seemed to be a big deal, did he murder someone?

“I bet they just let him stay in jail because of his father’s influence,” her voice seemed sharper. “That’s the problem I have with rich people.”

At this point I was so confused, I didn’t even know what I was listening to anymore, and I thought this was supposed to be a harmless gossip, but they ended up revealing a lot of crazy things.

“The woman he is marrying is no any different from him,” one of them mouthed again, and now my eyes widened because this time, they were talking about my mother. “Did you hear what happened with her husband?”

I couldn’t hold myself any longer, I turned back abruptly with a hiss, my eyes red from anger.

“Could you all please shut the hell up?” I snapped and the whole hall went silent. All attention directed at me, the women seemed confused like they had no idea why I was yelling at them. “Have some decency and wait till the celebration is over before you start running your mouths!”

Too stunned to speak they just kept gawking at me, like I grew a second head, I bit down on my lips stopping the rest of the words as I turned back to the couple.

The last thing I wanted is for my father to be the topic of some bunch of jobless women, whose basic need in life is gossip; nothing should remind mother of him, especially on a day like today.

“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride.” With a big smile on Mr. Wolfe’s face, he leaned in and kissed mother on her lips, I sat there frozen in time, there was a riot of feelings within me, and I hadn’t seen her glow like this in years.

I was happy for her, and at the same time I was scared, what if Mr. Wolfe turns out to be exactly like my father? He has a son that went to jail because of an assault, which meant he might have violent tendencies too.

I stared down at my hands; I am not strong enough to protect my mother, and it scares me. I needed to know if this marriage was right, everyone was clapping and jeering, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do the same.

“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Wolfe.” I stood beside my new parents as people walked up to them to gift them, the only thing on my mind was leaving and throwing this dress in a dump because it sucked.

“Thank you so much.” Mother grinned from ear to ear, as she handed me the gifts, I scanned through the people and my eyes suddenly noticed an odd figure in the crowd. He was standing a little farther from the rest of the people, both of his hands were fixed in his pocket. From his build I could tell it was a man, he was imposingly tall, he had broad shoulders; a small curiosity was ignited in my chest, and my eyes narrowed on him. There was just an aura to him, something that draws me to inquire.

He wore a black leather jacket, dark ripped jeans, black boots, and a black cap, hiding away every single details that could give away his identity, except for his eyes.

Overall he was dressed for a funeral.

Who the hell dresses like this to a wedding? Is he in a gang or something, how did the security let him in, and why isn’t anyone suspicious?

All possible questions running through my head, and I felt my breath hitched when his piercing green eyes met mine, dark, thick eyebrows were slanted over them. I couldn’t see the rest of his face as they were covered by the nose mask he was wearing, but he didn’t take his piercing gaze off of me.

My heart raced, but nothing happened he simply turned away and left.

Who the hell is that?

I didn’t know but I one thing I know was that he was dangerous