After the call ended, Wayne said his goodbyes and left, leaving me alone in the now eerily silent kitchen. The stillness settled around me, and an inexplicable loneliness began to creep in, gnawing at the edges of my thoughts. I couldn’t quite place why, but the feeling lingered.
"Let's just forget about it, Amarra," I whispered to myself as I stood up, taking my empty cup to the sink. I watched the water run over the porcelain as I washed the dishes, the mundane task offering a brief escape from the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.
With the dishes done, I tried to shake off the lingering feelings and began my morning routine, reminding myself of the day ahead. I had to prepare to go to the mansion, where I knew my aunt would be waiting. Sighing, I mentally reviewed my plans and canceled all my appointments for the day, knowing they would likely be overshadowed by yet another conversation about the impending wedding. They were relentless, pushing forward with their plans, despite my every protest.
I dressed quickly, pulling on something suitable for a meeting I didn’t want to attend, but knew I couldn’t avoid. The weight of their expectations pressed down on me, heavy and suffocating, as I steeled myself for what was to come.
....
"Amarra, take a seat," Mamang said when I arrived at the mansion. The venue was elegantly prepared by the large swimming pool area, with tables set up and food meticulously arranged. Nodding to her, I took the seat she guided me to. There were already a few guests seated at their tables, and I noticed the Buenaventura family settled in a large, well-decorated section. Their family was sizable, and I spotted Wayne among them, alongside his fiancée, my sister Isabella, his brother Raze, his four half-brothers from his mother’s side, and two half-sisters from his father’s side. Wayne had told me about them before, though we had never met.
At another large table sat the Dela Cruz family. Lennox waved to catch my attention, but I pretended not to see him, diverting my gaze elsewhere. My eyes landed on my nephew, Caspian, who was standing a little distance away. I signaled for him to come over, and his face lit up as he ran towards me.
"Tita, I missed you," he said, throwing his arms around me in a warm hug.
"I missed you too, baby," I replied, hugging him back. "I left a little gift for you on your study table in your bedroom."
"Tita, you didn’t have to, but thank you," he said shyly, his eyes bright with gratitude.
"You're welcome, sweetheart," I chuckled, ruffling his hair lovingly.
I asked him to sit beside me so I wouldn’t feel so lonely. Although my mom, dad, and sister Seraphina were also seated at the table, they weren’t engaging with me. The familiar loneliness crept in, a feeling I was all too accustomed to. Mom and Dad had always made me feel invisible, so their silence was nothing new. Seraphina, on the other hand, had always been reserved and quiet, especially when she wasn’t in the mood to talk.
As I sat there, I felt like an outsider in my own family, surrounded by people but still utterly alone, with only Caspian's warmth offering a small comfort in this otherwise isolating gathering.
After a while, the event officially began. It felt more like a family reunion between the Buenaventura and Dela Cruz families, with lively music playing in the background and the sound of laughter filling the air. The guests mingled, some dancing to the music, while others engaged in animated conversations.
Despite the festive atmosphere, I remained seated, feeling like a mere spectator to the joy around me. The clinking of glasses, the cheerful banter, and the occasional burst of laughter created a lively scene, but I couldn’t bring myself to join in. I watched as Wayne and Isabella exchanged smiles, their happiness evident, while Lennox moved through the crowd, shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
Even as I observed everything happening around me, I felt a sense of detachment, like I was watching a scene unfold in a play rather than participating in it. My mind drifted, the music and chatter fading into the background as I sat there, trying to find comfort in Caspian’s presence beside me.
"Are you comfortable there, my wife?" Lennox suddenly approached me, a glass of wine in hand.
I rolled my eyes. "I’m not your wife yet, and I never will be."
"Oh, come on," he said, his face showing a hint of disappointment. "Do you really have to be like this?"
"I don’t see any reason to go through with this marriage," I replied, standing up. He set his glass of wine on the table and, without warning, grabbed my waist, pulling me close. My hands landed on his chest, and I tried to push him away, but he was too strong. The people around us started looking, some even cheering as if it was a romantic scene from a movie. I caught sight of Wayne, and for a brief moment, our eyes locked. His expression was hard to decipher, but I noticed his fist clenching on the table.
"Get away from me," I said through gritted teeth, still struggling to push him off. He leaned in even closer, his breath warm against my ear as he whispered,
"If you keep being difficult, I’ll burn your mamang's business to the ground. Do you want that, Amarra?" His voice was low and menacing, sending a chill down my spine.
After that, he pulled away and left me standing there in stunned silence. My body felt frozen, disbelief washing over me like a cold wave. I couldn’t move, couldn’t even think straight as I watched him walk away, his confidence almost mocking in the way he carried himself. The crowd around us continued to chatter and laugh, oblivious to the turmoil raging inside me.
My mind raced, trying to process what had just happened. His threat echoed in my ears, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I clenched my fists, feeling the anger and frustration bubbling up inside me, but I forced myself to stay composed. I couldn’t afford to show any weakness, not here, not now.
Taking a deep breath, I straightened my posture and smoothed out my dress, trying to regain some semblance of control. But the truth was, Lennox’s words had shaken me to my core. What kind of man would resort to such threats? And what did this mean for my future, for everything I’d worked so hard to protect?
"Baby, I’ll just visit the restroom briefly," I told Caspian. He nodded, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek. With that, I headed towards the entrance of the mansion. In truth, I wasn’t heading to the restroom; I just needed to find somewhere quiet to escape the noise.
As I entered the grand house, the spacious living area to the left and the small indoor garden to the right framed the view. The central feature was a grand staircase that spiraled up to the second floor. To the left of the stairs was the kitchen and dining area, and on the right, the maids' quarters. I quickly ascended the stairs, holding up the hem of my dress, the sound of music fading into a distant whisper as I reached the top.
Once inside my room, I slipped off my high heels and sat on the edge of my bed, feeling a sense of relief in the quiet solitude.
"It seems like I'm really going to have to get married, aren’t I?" I murmured to myself as I lay back on the bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.
"Then don’t get married," a voice suddenly broke through the silence, jolting me upright.
"Wayne?!" I hissed, startled to see him standing in the doorway. His expression was serious, his brow furrowed, arms crossed as he leaned against the doorframe.
"Why did you follow me here?" I demanded, irritation evident in my tone as I stood up.
"Why not? Is it so wrong for me to follow my fiancée’s sister?" he replied, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Can you please leave? I want to be alone." I walked towards him, intent on pushing him out, but he caught my wrist and swiftly reversed our positions. Now, I was the one pressed against the door, my hands pinned above my head by his firm grip.
"Let me go! What are you doing?" I demanded, my voice rising in frustration. But he simply gazed into my eyes, his gaze drifting to my lips. I watched as he wet his own lips with his tongue before locking eyes with me again.
"You can cancel the wedding. I’ll save your mamang’s company," he said, his tone serious.
"Why do you talk as if you have all the money in the world?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow as I struggled against his hold.
"I’m willing to spend everything I have, even if it means helping you," he responded, his voice unwavering, his grip still firm.
I scoffed at his statement and locked eyes with him, my expression turning serious. "I don’t need any help."
Wayne leaned in closer, the proximity overwhelming, but I couldn’t push him away as he still had my hands pinned. He moved closer to my ear and whispered, "But I need you." His voice was soft and warm, his breath brushing against my skin. The sudden intimacy of his words caught me off guard, but I didn’t see how it was relevant to our conversation. I raised an eyebrow, trying to mask my unease.
"So? What’s your point?" I mocked, attempting to sound unaffected.
He pulled back slightly, but the space between us was still far too close for comfort. His expression was serious, his gaze intense as he looked into my eyes. "I still have feelings for you."