Amara’s POV
WEDDING CEREMONY
"Amara, what do we do now? Adrian is an hour late! He was supposed to be here on time!" My mother's voice rose in panic, her personal assistant Jasmine frantically seeking ways to calm her down.
“Mom, calm down... he’s on his way, don’t worry.” I bit my lower lip, my hand trembling with anxiety, as I dialed Adrian's number again. Where could he be? I'd called him countless times, but his phone kept going unanswered.
As I looked around, everyone was pleased to see me in panic; they enjoyed watching me and my mom like clowns in their eyes, and suddenly, we just became a laughing stock in front of family and friends!
My best friend Jessie approached me, clutching her green bridesmaid gown. "Amara, I think we should—"
"No, I know he's coming. We should wait for more minutes, okay?" I said as I kept calling Adrian.
Jessie said, "The priest has left; he has another wedding to attend today. I’m so sorry, Amara…"
Adrian Baltimore, CEO of one of the country's most powerful companies, stood me up at the altar on our wedding day....
Tears streamed down my face as I gave up hope, shaking my head in disbelief. Then, to my horror, gasps erupted from the crowd. My mother clutched her chest, her face contorted in pain.
“Call an ambulance!” Jasmine yelled in panic at the audience. “Mrs. Smith is having a heart attack!”
“MOM!” I rushed towards her but it was already too late.
Her breath was ragged as she cupped my face, whispering softly in a heavy breath, "Amara... I am so... sorry. Please... please... take care of yourself... do what's best for you... I love you... my daughter." Her eyes fluttered closed and hands slipped off. Tears streamed down my face as a choked sob escaped my lips. "Mom! Mom! Please..." I screamed, my voice thick with despair.
In that shattering moment, my heart ached with a grief so deep that it felt like it would break me in two. My mother's sudden death had turned my wedding day into a funeral.
On the morning of the burial, I made a decision. My supposed relatives, the ones who had mocked us in life, wouldn't be there to witness her final goodbye. They didn't deserve the honor. Jessie, my only true friend, stood beside me, her eyes filled with silent understanding.
Jessie whispered apologetically, "I'm sorry for your loss..."
Then I broke down in front of her, my eyes were full of sad tears, while my shoulder shook into sadness.
I whispered with a broken voice, “Mom…”
***
The following day, I locked myself in my room, crying all day. My heart was so heavy that every time I closed my eyes, I relived the events of my wedding day. The memory of my mom's saddened face when she heard Adrian wasn't coming haunted me, and I couldn't help but believe it contributed to her sudden death.
I sat up on my bed while wiping away my tears, and then I opened my phone again to call Adrian. But the bastard has not been answering any of my single calls!
As I scrolled through my insta, my hand trembled in anger as I saw Mia Peters, Adrian's first love, post an intimate photo of them together on our fucking wedding day!
"SHIT!!!"
My heart sank heavily, and to my anger, I sent Adrian the photo of our wedding and texted him, "Why did you miss our wedding day?! Where on earth were you?! I was waiting for you!"
A few minutes later, I received his reply, and my face turned blue as I read it carefully, saying, "Mia needed me at that time. I'm sorry."
I threw the phone against the wall and screamed loudly, "Bullshit!"
Chapter 2Amara’s POV
I got up from bed with tears streaming down my face, then I picked up my phone with trembling hands. I texted him, "Why? Is Mia so important that you have to miss our wedding day?!"
He casually replied, "Look, I'm busy. I will have my secretary reschedule the wedding, OK? Stop texting me again."
His reply was like a slap in my face. My heart ached as the reality of his indifference settled in. I couldn't believe he would treat me like this!"
In despair, I replied to him with a text full of raw emotion, "We are over! I'm done with you. I don't want to see your face ever again!" I hit send, my sobs growing louder, and I blocked him, feeling a mixture of heartbreak and liberation.
For five long years, I tried my hardest to be the best girl for him. I did everything to get his attention and make him like me more but never worked. I changed how I dressed and how he thought a woman should be for him. Even though I changed everything about myself, he always dumped me when Mia needed him without a second thought. Every time he left, I felt a piece of myself fade away until almost nothing was left.
Heartbroken, I grabbed my purse, and took a taxi going to the cemetery just to talk to my mom. I am so tired and have no idea what to do with my life anymore.
I stared at my mom’s grave, cried loudly as I gushed out how Adrian turned a cold shoulder to me all these years. I never revealed a bit of it cause I didn’t want her to worry about me, but this time was different. “Mom… You told me that I have to choose what’s best for me. I will choose myself this time.”
I wiped away my tears and put on my sunglasses again, “I gotta go mom…”
And when I was about to go, I froze in my feet as I saw Mia and Adrian.
Mia raised an eyebrow at me, “You… What are you doing here?”
Adrian blurted out, “Are you stalking us, Amara? I thought we'd already talk about this? I told you that I will reschedule the wedding!”
I scoffed bitterly, “Why would I follow you everywhere, Adrian? I am not such a crazy woman who would want your attention twenty-four-seven!”
Mia sneered softly and asked, “What are you doing here then? Don’t tell me this is a coincidence?!”
I bit my lower lip and adjusted my black tinted sunglasses, “I don’t have time for this. I think I have to go and leave you two alone—”
But before I could walk away, Adrian grabbed my arm tightly pulling me close to him, “You’re lying… you’re spying on us, right?”
I shoved him away and stepped back, “In your dreams…”
How dare he ask me if I was spying on them? What are they? A celebrity?!
And Mia started to cry in the corner, “Uh, my baby… I’m gonna miss my lovely sparky!” she said while staring at her deceased pet cat.
I massaged my temple and when I was about to go, my eyes widened when Mia’s bodyguards started digging on my mother’s grave.
I exclaimed angrily, “HEY! Fuck off!”
I ran towards them trying to kick away their shovels, I stood in the middle while glaring at them one by one. “ What do you think you’re doing?!”
Adrian was confused and raised a question, “Amara! Are you crazy?!”
“No, you can’t do this!” I said, trying to hold back my tears with arms out in front of a guard.
And the guard trying to explain, “We are just obeying orders—”
I threw the shovel away and shouted on top of my lungs, “STOP!”
Chapter 3Amara’s POV
I shouted at them angrily, my voice echoing the whole cemetery. My tears suddenly rolled down on my cheeks as I stared at my mom’s grave. I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her.
Adrian glared at me, “Amara! What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why are you causing a scene?!”
“No… you don’t understand…” I said, my voice trembling in my throat.
Adrian didn’t listen to me, he gestured to Mia's guards to continue digging. Then I stood up and tried pushing them away, “Stop! Are you guys deaf?!”
“Amara! What are you doing?!” Adrian snatched my arm and shoved me aside, he said, “Take her away…”
“I said, " No! I’m not leaving!” I glared at him and pushed him away with all my strength.
Mia stood nearby, tears streaming down on her face, “Why are you giving me hard time for no reason?!” she sobbed, putting on her naive expression again, “That grave has no name plate! What did you bother, Amara?!”
I can't even begin to tell them the truth. The events of the other day, the day my mother passed away, are still too raw. I took a deep breath while holding back my tears, trying to prevent them from falling slowly from my face.
Adrian barked orders to his guards. "Don't listen to her! Continue!"
His callous words ignited a spark of rage within me. In a single, swift motion, I lunged forward and grabbed Mia’s neck. "Tell them to stop, or I’ll put you in the grave now!"
Mia gasped for air, her eyes bulging in terror. Adrian rushed to intervene, but I held her hostage with a vice-like grip.
"Amara! Stop!" he roared.
With no other choice, he used his superior strength to pry my hands from Mia's throat. He shoved me back, his voice laced with fury. "Apologize to Mia!"
I scoffed, rising to my feet with defiance. "Why should I?"
Adrian stalked closer, his patience wearing thin. "If you don't apologize to Mia, I will stop paying for your mother's medication!"
The urge to laugh was a bitter one. What was the point of revealing the truth? He wouldn't listen; he wouldn't even believe me! Tears streamed down my face as I stood before them, a dam overflowing with grief. Even Adrian was clueless about what had gotten into me.
"Amara!" he screamed my name, glaring at me.
But I wouldn't budge. "Try me! I will never apologize to her!" I shook my head, my voice thick with emotion.
In fury, Adrian snatched his phone and dialed his secretary. "You leave me no choice, Amara," he muttered, his eyes locked on mine.
"Yes, sir?" his secretary answered.
"Joseph, I want you to cut today's medication bills for Amara's mother—"
A stunned silence followed. "Sir, there's no need to do that. Amara's mother passed away the other day, on your wedding day. I'll send you the grave's location."
The color drained from Adrian's face. Shame washed over him as his gaze met mine. His lips trembled as he said, "What did you say, Joseph?"
Mia gasped in the corner, she glanced at me without remorse, she even looked surprisingly happy.
"Sir, I've already sent you the grave's location. I'm truly sorry for your loss, Sir."
Adrian slowly lowered the phone, his face etched with shock and horror.
"Amara..." He whispered my name.
I was about to walk away but he stopped me, he said, “I didn’t know...”
I slapped his face, “Of course, you didn’t know. Mia needed you that day, right?!”
He pursed his lips, lowered his gaze, “I’m truly sorry for what happened to your mother...”
“Do you even know the reason why she died?!” My voice cracking as I stare at him in the eyes. “It was your fault! You killed her!”