Chapter 3 The Cheat

Vicky looked at Serena with eyes filled with concern. She noticed that Serena was making great efforts in trying not to break down in front of everyone.

She looked so calm and collected on the outside but Vicky knew that deep down inside Serena was plagued by turbulent emotions.

'Serena was such a beautiful soul both inside and out. She really doesn't deserve to be treated this way' thought Vicky.

Vicky thought back to the time where she had first met Serena. She had first met Serena just a little over four years ago when she applied to become her assistant. At that point Serena had just opened up Empire events and took Vicky under her wing. She taught Vicky everything about event planning and the business behind it, slowly the business picked up and soon they were the best in the country.

To be honest, Vicky had never really cared much for Bebe who happened to be Serena's best friend. In her opinion Bebe was selfish and self centered person who cared for nothing but herself. She had tried to bring it to Serena's attention several times regarding Bebe's demeanor but Serena always chalked it up to Bebe being a revered top model in the industry. Typical Serena, always trying to see the good in everyone if only she knew that the venomous snakes always hid in plain sight.

"You don't have to stay here anymore you know, you can secretly sneak out the back door. I'll cover for you." Vicky whispered into Serena's ears as she crept closer to Serena again.

Serena paid her no attention as she stared at the wedding cake in front of her but not really seeing it at all.

Serena had ordered the cake from the renowned pastry chef Juliana cross who was said to be a cake goddess with over a decade worth of experience. Ordering from her cost Serena quite a fortune but she left no stone unturned in preparing for the wedding. The cake itself was dreamy, contemporary and completed with a sleek finish. It screamed elegance and complemented the feminine fete of the wedding.

Not just cake but the décor, the venue, the lighting and exotic flowers had cost Serena quite a large sum of money but she didn't mind it after all it was her wedding day and she thought that she deserved nothing but the best.

Serena had paid for all the expenses for the wedding out of her own pocket. Normally both the bride and the groom were supposed to split expenses for the wedding of their dreams but that hadn't been the case for Serena. Melvin had insisted that Serena foot the bill of the entire wedding claiming that he was trying to get a loan from the bank to add to his savings in order to buy a house for both of them. He promised to pay her back later and Serena being the naïve woman that she was went along with his suggestion after all he was her soon to be husband so she had no reason to doubt him.

She remembered the conversation she had with Melvin just before she started to prepare for the wedding.

****

"Darling I promise you that as soon as I get the loan, we will be able to get the house of our dreams and I will pay you back my own share of expenses." Melvin said with a smile

"But we-"

"No buts my dear, I want a grand wedding filled with only the finest things that life has to offer. No expenses shall be spared in the course of this wedding. I want the entire community to know that I, Melvin Delaney intend to make you my lawfully wedded wife."

"Well that's all wonderful Melvin but the budget which you are clamoring for seems a little too much though...wouldn't you agree?"

"I know sweetheart but I don't care, I want our wedding to be the talk of the town. I want our wedding to be the only thing on everyone's lips and for everyone to be envious of us on our special day"

"I know but still you-"

"Sssssh. Relax sweetheart." Melvin said as he lifted Serena up and into his arms. "Everything will be just perfect, I know it."

****

Now she realized why Melvin had been so reluctant to pay for the wedding! Who would want to pay for something that they would later abandon ship for? He really never had any intention of marrying her from the start.

The cheat!...

All her hard earned money that put in the preparation of the wedding had now disappeared without a hope of her getting any of it back.

Now not only had she been jilted on her wedding day but she was also cheated, betrayed and left penniless.

How she yearned for her mum now, who would comfort her with soothing words and warm hugs but alas she had passed away just the year before. People who still have their mum have no idea how blessed they are what she would give to hear her mums voice her sweet laughter, her sense of humour her mum was everything to her. Her dad died not quite long after her birth so she never quite got the chance to meet him. Her only family was her sister Chelsea who lived quite far away.

She couldn't blame anyone; she could only blame herself for being foolish enough to trust in her love for Melvin over her relationship with her sister. Now all she could say was if only she had known.

Serena got up slowly from her chair and looked around her surroundings for the last time. The venue was still lively and bubbled with excitement even though it was the late hours of the night.

'They all seem so happy and care free. I'm sure no one would want me too ruin their night with my bad demeanor. Maybe they wouldn't notice if I left for a while right?' thought Serena as she tuned to look towards the backdoor.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before slowly creeping out the back door of the venue. Thankfully, no one saw her sad figure leave and she disappeared into the night without looking back.