Chapter 21: I'm Getting Married
1103words
Nathan, that son of a bitch, didn't budge. 'It would be great if you burst it because I don't know how to control it anymore," he challenged me.
'I searched everywhere for you. I was blinded by my promise to my late father and my mother's sacrifices. I didn't consider anything else before hurting you. It was my biggest mistake, Scarlett. You knew I wouldn't be myself without you. You should have known I would come running back because, as you said, your world revolved around me. So does mine. If you hadn't left, we would be happily married by now. Can you forgive me? I want us to start over. Please give me a second chance to prove my love," he pleaded.
I saw honesty in his eyes. His emotions nearly brought me to tears, but remembering all I had been through, I couldn't let go.
I cocked the gun. 'Second chances aren't in my dictionary, Nathan. Don't make me pull the trigger. Leave."
'Is it okay to call your bluff?" he asked, nonchalant.
I lowered my hand. 'There are other ways to kill you than pulling a trigger."
'Can I agree?" he smiled.
'Go to hell," I said, picking up my car key to leave.
Suddenly, a wave of heat washed over my abdomen, and my toes clenched in response. I massaged my temples with closed eyes and tried to breathe deeply to ease the rushing desire.
'Are you okay?" he asked, holding my hand.
It felt like an electric pulse surged through my veins, and I jerked up to go. The heat was becoming unbearable. If I wasn't careful, I might ask Nathan to take me right here.
'What's happening to you? Are you sick?" He stood up with me.
My knees buckled, and I nearly collapsed before slamming into the wall for support. My breathing was shallow.
'Can I help you? What's wrong?" Nathan rushed to my side.
'Don't touch me!" I groaned. 'Argh!"
Hot sweat dripped down my body.
'Nathan?" I couldn't help calling his name.
'I'm right here," he assured me.
I grabbed his hand. 'You have to…oh, goodness," I cried.
'Ma'am?" Gabriel appeared. I let go of Nathan's hand and grabbed Gabriel's.
'What's happening to her?" Nathan asked, his tone filled with worry.
'Stay out of this!" Gabriel snapped before sweeping me off the floor.
'Where are you taking her? I deserve to know," Nathan demanded.
'Gabriel, please," I sobbed.
'You are going to be fine, ma'am," Gabriel assured me.
Nathan followed us outside, clueless about the situation.
'Scarlett, talk to me, please. Which hospital are you taking her to?"
'Stay out of this, dude," Gabriel warned before we got into the car.
A few minutes into the drive, I spoke up. 'I can't hold on any longer, Gabriel. I'm losing my mind. Can't we just do it here?"
'I will find us a nearby hotel. Five minutes, okay?" he said.
I gulped down the remaining water in the bottle, but it didn't help. I lost consciousness.
I so badly wanted to remove the veil of embarrassment from my face. If Gabriel hadn't shown up in time, I might have asked Nathan to make love to me in a bar. My stomach churned with anger and shame.
'I ordered your favorite," Gabriel said, placing a tray of beef caldereta and some appetizers on the bed beside me.
'I'm not hungry, Gabriel," I replied, wiping my tears.
'Why are you crying? What's wrong?" he asked, sitting on the bed next to me.
'Everything is wrong. I'm losing my mind," I sobbed. 'I'm so rich, yet I can't find a solution to my problem. Imagine the embarrassment. I was about to expose my vulnerability to Nathan, of all people. He would have mocked me."
'I understand how you feel," he said, pulling me into his arms. 'But why don't you agree to go to church with me? There's nothing God can't do."
'Stop talking to me about churches," I snapped, pulling away from him. 'When I devoted myself to worshiping God, what did He do? He made my life miserable and left me hanging. What did I do to deserve that?"
'It's okay. I won't bring up churches anymore, but you should know that God loves you. Come on, you need to stop crying and eat your food," he said, wiping my tears.
'I don't want to eat," I declared.
It was past 9 PM, and we were still at the hotel, watching a movie. My head rested on Gabriel's lap while he stroked my hair.
'How do you feel now?" he asked.
'I'm not sure," I replied. 'But why weren't you answering my calls?" I sat up.
'My mother took away my gadgets and locked me in my room," he said.
'Your mother what?" I burst out laughing. 'This is the funniest thing I have heard in years. She locked you in your room like a grounded little boy?" I couldn't stop laughing.
'She threatened to disown me, so I couldn't do anything about it," he said.
'Oh," I stopped laughing abruptly. 'Is it that serious? What was her reason? What did you do?"
'I'm getting married," he announced.
'Really? Oh my gosh! I'm so happy for you!" I said cheerfully before realizing what I had said. 'Wait, you are getting married?" I asked.
'That's what she wants," he replied.
'No, your mother can't want that now. You can't be getting married, Gabriel. At least not now. I will be doomed if you leave. Can you postpone it? Can you not get married this year? Or next year? Maybe in two or even three years? Oh goodness, I'm not making sense," I babbled, my heart pounding.
'Calm down, ma'am," he said, holding my trembling, clammy hands. 'Just tell me what you want me to do."
'I don't know. I can't ask you to stay. Your mother will disown you. I can't let you go. I will be helpless and devastated," I cried. 'You are going to leave me too, Gabriel. Everyone is just leaving."
'Calm down, ma'am. I won't go if you don't want me to."
'You can't stay if I want you to. I can't make you an orphan like myself. That would be selfish," I said.
'I'm going to become a prostitute. I will be alone again. You can't go, Gabriel, but you can't stay either. Oh dear God," hot tears streamed down my face.
He pulled me into his arms again, stroking my hair.
'I won't go. Just stop crying," he assured me.
'You have to go. You can't become an orphan."
