Chapter 12: Need To Talk
"Vivian!"
Vivian’s body shook as she was brought back to reality.
Everyone’s faces started to look familiar as she glanced around, taking in her environment.
She was still at the church, walking down the aisle but had stopped midway.
Everyone was staring at her, worry evident in their gazes.
She stared down at Logan’s suit.
No blood.
Then she stared at her wedding dress, examining it with careful eyes.
No blood as well.
’Was I daydreaming?’ She wondered.
"Do you need a glass of water?" Logan asked. He didn’t wait for her reply before he shot off an order for someone to bring Vivian a glass of water.
When water was brought, she downed the whole thing, quenching her throat
Someone from the crowd scoffed when they witnessed Vivian’s performance.
A pair of blue eyes lingered on Vivian for the longest time and she felt it. She glanced around, hoping to find the person but she couldn’t.
"I’m fine. Let’s continue with the wedding."
Logan gave Vivian a look, the one who was unsure if she could continue. She smiled at him and that was all he needed.
Everyone dispersed and returned to the seats while the ceremony resumed.
The vows were exchanged and so were the rings.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife," the priest declared. "You may now kiss the bride."
Vivian waited for a disruption like earlier in her dreams but nothing came. There was silence while everyone anticipated the kiss.
A few minutes later, while the newly married couple were being greeted by their guests for their newly formed bond, a lady dressed in red stepped towards them, a large, fancy hat obscuring her identity.
However, the color of her dress got heads turning, as she stood out like a sore thumb.
She had a bouquet of blue roses in her arms. And when she reached the couple, she stretched out her hand, handing it out.
"Thank you so mu—" Logan’s voice cut off when he saw the face. His face paled instantly.
Vivian, who was accepting gifts from another woman, paused to look at the lady, and just like her husband, her face went pale, the flowers the guest was handing to her fell from her hands.
"Congratulations on getting married. I’m wishing you two nothing but more blessings in this newly formed union," said Arianna, a bright and innocent smile on her lips.
But to the couple, it looked like they were both staring at a nightmare.
"What? Aren’t you going to accept my flowers? These are your favorite flowers, Vivian. I got them for you."
However, Vivian didn’t dare touch those flowers.
Arianna frowned deeply when she saw the couple before her had no intention of taking her flowers.
She sighed, her hands dropping to her sides while loosely holding on to the flowers.
"H-how are you..." Vivian gagged on her saliva, unable to finish her words.
Arianna blinked at her, as if unaware of what Vivian was going to say.
Vivian almost believed this was another daydreaming but then, she overheard some of the guests murmuring about Arianna.
"Why is she here? Does she not have any shame?" A lady asked.
"What do you mean? Logan and Arianna are already divorced and there’s nothing wrong if she attends her best friend’s wedding with her husband."
The first lady glanced at her friend, wondering if she was thinking straight while the latter stared right back at her, the same thoughts running in their heads.
"You two don’t look happy to see me at all. You’re not even willing to talk to me." Then a smile graced Arianna’s lips. "Perhaps, if I tell everyone how you tried to kill me, you’ll finally be able to talk since you’ll have a lot of explaining to do."
Logan gulped down his saliva hard, forcing it down his throat as beads of sweat glistened around his face, drenching him in fear.
"I’ll be going now. Enjoy yourselves and once again, congratulations." She lanced at the flowers in her hand before shoving them into Vivian’s hands.
Then she turned on her heels and left.
Clara recognized her and screamed, "Mummy!"
Arianna halted, then turned to look at Clara for a second. The girl stared at her with bright wide eyes then they suddenly darkened into a frown.
"Are you here to ruin my parents’ wedding?"
Arianna’s heart sank.
Clara, the same girl she’d raised for so many years, now saw her as a villain.
Instead of replying, she resumed her steps and stepped out of the church.
With the weight of everyone’s gaze sinking on her shoulders, she strode to her car and released the breath she’d been holding in the whole time.
Seeing them together hurt. It had hurt deeper than she thought it would. She wasn’t a robot. Eight years of being with someone you thought loved you only for them to betray you was a heartbreaking experience.
Arianna felt tears streaming down her face, and this time, she didn’t bother to catch them.
After calming down, she ignited the engines of her car and drove away to her favorite cafe.
Just like back at the church, everyone was staring at her, all murmuring and whispering something about her.
But Arianna ignored every one of them as she went to the counter, gave her order, and took her food to a corner.
She wasn’t going to let that moment at the church bother her. It hurt and that was all it did. Hurt.
But that didn’t divert her plan or come close to making her reconsider her revenge.
As she munched on a snack, she suddenly saw a man enter the cafe. Due to his tall height, he towered over almost everyone.
Her heart dropped when she recognized him.
Daemon Langford.
He scanned around the open space, as if searching for someone and when they locked eyes, her heart sank even further.
He walked towards her while she hoped and prayed he wasn’t coming to her.
Then he took a seat opposite hers without even asking.
"We need to talk."
