Chapter 3: Ultimate Betrayal
1184words
My jaw had never dropped as fast as it did now.
'W… which Nathan is that?" My lips trembled as she sat back beside me.
'This is not betrayal, Sunshine. It's just reality, okay? You have to understand me," Everleigh said.
'I warned you, Scarlett," Mother said, and she went out.
'I know you don't mean what you just said. If it's because of my mother, she is gone now. So, who is your groom?" I asked, trying not to feel the pain that was consuming my heart right now.
'I am serious, Sunshine. You really don't have to feel bad about this. Life happens, okay? You can't even be angry with me. I didn't choose this to happen," she began. 'It's Nathan's wish. You know my father is one of the shareholders of his company, right? My father owns about 45 percent of the company's shares. So, to strengthen the bond between the two high shareholders, Nathan decided to ally with my father. He claimed to have fallen in love with me at first sight, so he proposed, and my father forced me to accept it," she expounded. 'You have to understand me, okay?"
'You are my childhood best friend, Eve."
Those were the only words I could form out of my befuddled brain.
'Believe it or not, Sunshine. Considering your family's social standards, no rich man with a business mindset will ever wish to settle down with a woman who wouldn't add meaning or benefit to his life. I'm sorry, but that is the bitter truth," she stated.
'The fact that everyone wants me to understand is killing me!" I snapped, standing up on the bed. "You are supposed to be my friend, Eve! I always called you a sister!"
'And I still am, Sunshine. But you have to accept what life throws at you. Birds of a feather flock together, right?" She made the bitter reality sink into my brain. 'You can't ditch your childhood friend on her wedding day because of a man, okay? I already told my father you would be my bridesmaid, so don't disappoint me. I have to go now; I have a wedding to prepare for," she said, and she left.
I stood on my bed, speechless and confused. What just happened? What the hell is happening in my life? Why is everyone turning into nightmares? Why do they want me to understand what I can't?
I was at Nathan's house later in the day. I wanted to see his mother before Nathan returns home from work.
'Come on in, Miss Scarlett?" One of the servants welcomed me in.
'Thank you, Margret."
'Have a seat. I will inform ma'am of your presence," she said, and went off.
Some minutes later, Mrs. Camila Reyes, Nathan's mom wheeled her wheelchair to the living room.
I stood up. 'Good evening, Aunt," I greeted her.
'Why are you here?"
'I came to see you," I said. She didn't say a word. I sat down to explain myself. 'Um, I came to inform you about Nathan and I," I began.
'I'm aware of your relationship with my son, Scarlett," she said. 'You weren't expecting my son to settle down with you, were you?"
"But Nathan loves me."
'I'm not done talking, young woman! You can't be my daughter-in-law, and you know it. I can't have a wretched woman come reap where she did not sow. Stay out of my son's life. I don't want to ever see you go close to him again. Have I made myself clear?"
I tried not to be shaken by her words. I had read and watched many movies of such scenes.
"I can't stay away from your son, Aunt. I am pregnant for him," I announced.
'Do I look like I care about your bastard child? Look here, Scarlett. I hate repeating myself. I don't want to ever see you go close to my son ever again. If I do, forget the fact that I'm on the wheelchair, I will haunt you down. Now get lost."
I stood up. What kind of a mother is she?
'Fine. Just know that from this moment onward, this child in my womb will never have anything to do with this family," I declared, and headed out.
'Hold on a minute," she halted me. I looked at her. 'If my son hears a word about that thing you are carrying, you will regret ever knowing this family," she threatened, and I walked out.
I trekked back home. Different thoughts ran across my mind. I can neither be a single mother nor can I abort my child. Nathan has to know about it. I can't hide it from him.
Speak of the devil, my eyes caught sight of Nathan, coming out of a clothing store. I took a deep breath, and made up my mind to tell him about my pregnancy, waving off his mother's threat.
'Nathan?" I went to him before he would enter his car.
'Scarlett?" He shut the door to look at me.
'I have something to tell you," I said, moving to his side.
"Hi, Sunshine!" Everleigh waved at me, stepping down from the car. My heart shrank. She flitted to us. "Guess what, Sunshine? We just came to purchase my wedding dress. The design looks so perfect. Nathan does have a good sense of fashion, doesn't he? He chose the dress for me. Can you believe that?" She stated excitedly, snuggling close to him, and the most painful part is that he didn't flinch from her.
I stepped back from them, mouth wide open in disbelief.
'What do you want to tell me?" Nathan asked.
'She was going to wish us the best in our marriage, right, Sunshine?" Everleigh chipped in. 'Moreover, she is going to be my bridesmaid. I selected the best dress for you, Sunshine. It's going to fit perfectly."
"That's a great idea," Nathan commented. 'Get into the car," he told Everleigh, and entered the car.
'Do you want a ride, Sunshine? Oh no, we aren't going the same direction. See you soon," she said, and entered the car. I watched them go. I didn't know what to feel at the moment.
***
I witnessed the worst day of my life. Everleigh and I have always planned to get married on the same day. We looked up to each other. She was everything I needed in a sister and a friend. But then I had to witness my best friend getting married to the love of my life. He kissed her before me. He took vows with her right under my nose, and I just watched as her bridesmaid. Nothing was ever as painful as that, not even when your heart was pulled out of your chest and you were stabbed continuously with a blunt knife.
My mother had to drag me from the venue; I couldn't go home. I was going to die. I couldn't take it, not even with pretense.
The pain led me to make a drastic decision that is going to reform everyone's opinion about me.
