Chapter 9: Silent Truth

I stared at Dad, awaiting a response to my numerous questions, but the look on his face was out of this world. He didn’t say anything, but that look on his face was obvious; he looked like someone who had been caught in the act.

Mom didn’t even let him speak before interfering. “Why are you asking your dad such questions, darling?” Her eyes danced around mine.

“You sound off and strange. Do you think this was easy for us too? Sending our daughter away to a man she doesn’t love?” Mom’s words hit me deep.

“But what can we even do when we have no choice?” She held my hands. “We are only trying to be strong in front of you so that you don’t get too sad.” I watched her, feeling guilty for my questions. I really shouldn’t have asked them. It was so stupid of me.

“And let me even be sincere with you, even if your dad didn’t want me to tell you…” my ears itched. “The reason he couldn’t walk you down the altar was because he was so emotional then and didn’t want to end up crying, so don’t think this is easy on us either.” My heart shattered hearing this. I had really been too much.

I bowed my head in shame. “I am sorry, Mom and Dad. It’s obvious I have gone extra and only cared about myself. I forgot that this will also affect the family business once the wedding comes to an end. I only thought of myself.” I reached out for their hands. “I am really sorry, Mom and Dad. I promise.”

My heart flushed with relief when they smiled. I really felt bad for the words I had said to them. Indeed, I had been thinking too far. How could I let my thoughts control me so much?

“It’s fine, darling. We are going to miss you greatly.” I could finally see the sincerity in their eyes, the one I hadn’t seen before, or maybe hadn’t wanted to see.

“We will be with the guests,” they excused themselves, leaving me to myself again.

“I didn’t know that you would end up with Adrian,” Summer said, walking toward us. She wasn’t alone; she was with familiar faces.

“How could you be so mean, Zora? How could you get married without informing us nor inviting us? That is harsh on you,” she continued, and the other girls chorused, “Yes, Zora.” They surrounded me, leaving me in the middle.

“But I thought you hated Adrian so much, so what changed, or are the rumors I’m hearing true?” Lisa chirped. I glared at her; I hated her more than any of them. Pompous, proud bitch.

“Like you said, Summer, I didn’t invite you guys, so why are you here?” Their presence was really pissing me off.

“Oh, don’t be so heartless, Zora. I know we are rivals in the modelling agency, but you should have invited us, am I not right, girls?” The other girls nodded.

I scoffed in irritation. “As if.”

“Well, you are already here so just enjoy the party and stop bothering me. It’s annoying having you around,” I made to leave their circle but they tightened it.

“Zora, you haven’t responded to an important question,” Laura sneered.

“An important question? What is that?” They were already getting on my last nerves.

Summer chuckled and leaned closer. “Is it true that you and Adrian are having an arranged marriage?” The question hit me hard in my chest.

“We heard from a reliable source that we can’t overlook that you and Adrian have an arranged marriage. Is it true, Zora?” She pulled closer; her breath landed on my face.

“Get lost and stop spreading rumors. I am not in an arranged marriage, so get out.” I pushed her, my face hard with bitterness. She staggered, clutching herself from the embarrassment of falling.

“How dare you?” she yelled after regaining her posture. “You dirty, sneaky bitch!” I heard whispers. I looked around. Some people gathered in groups gossiping, some watched calmly, and some recorded the scene with their phones. It was exactly what I was avoiding.

“Gosh!” I swallowed hard, pushing my way out of the circle. “You guys should learn to watch your big mouths,” I grunted before walking away.

The wedding had already come to an end, so it was easier to get to my car. My bodyguards escorted me, walking me to the vehicle.

Once again the press swarmed me as soon as I stepped out of the church. “Ma’am, the rumours have increased drastically, don’t you still have anything to say?” a lady pressed.

“Yes, tell us. Just in, your friends accused you of having an arranged marriage. How true is that?” the woman who first brought up the gossip demanded.

I stopped, giving her a long stare. I wouldn’t let this slide anymore, at least for the sake of my family. “If you spread fake news about me again, I will make sure you rot in jail.” I hoped that would scare her off.

“Ma’am, are you now abusing your powers? Aren’t you ashamed of yourself?” I didn’t expect that from the woman I had just threatened. Where did she get the nerve?

“And why isn’t your husband with you? We heard he got lost in the crowd after the wedding, how true is that?” I felt the weight of the question pressing in on me.

But at the same time, I had seen him with my best friend laughing and gisting, and I had wanted to stop them before my parents intervened.

My parents? Why weren’t they even with me in such a difficult moment? Why were they all acting like they didn’t care when they were the ones who put me in this mess?

And yeah, Adrian’s parents didn’t even come to congratulate me, not even his mom, whom I had saved. It stung so hard.

I turned to the journalist, ready to pour out my pain. “Why don’t you ask the question to my…” The words were heavy to say. “To my husband?”

“Ask him and stop throwing these stupid questions at me.” The driver opened the car door for me and I got in.

As I sat in the car, away from the press, my heart felt relieved, but a deeper hurt remained.

My best friend preferred talking to Adrian rather than me. That hurt so much, and let’s not even talk about my family.

Maybe this was how it was meant to be. Maybe I was the only one fighting for something that had already been decided long before I even knew it.

Mrs. Hart POV…

“You saw that, she almost caught us,” I let out a deep breath, releasing my tension.

“Gosh! She has always been a pain in the ass. Thank God she is finally out of my sight. I couldn’t wait to send her away,” I hissed.

I stared at my husband, who had stayed calm all this while. “What is it? Aren’t you happy that she is finally out of the way? We can move on to our next plan now?”

He pulled out of his thoughts, and gave me a reassuring stare before replying, “Of course I am. I was just thinking that it might be hard on her. You know, her real father isn’t really bad to us.” My face twisted with irritation.

“What is wrong with you? How can you say that? Don’t forget what he did to us. He ruined us, and now we have to ruin his daughter too.”

“We are already on the first phase and can’t back down now. Do you know what it took me to convince her to marry Adrian? Don’t let that soft heart of yours get in my way.” I was furious to see him soften toward the daughter of a beast.

How dare he get soft for the daughter of a man who tarnished me and my whole family? “Master Don wherever you are, just know that I got your daughter and she will pay for everything you have ever put me through,” I clenched my hands in pain and bitterness as past memories danced in my head.