Chapter 1 Taste Of Betrayal.

Ivy Hughes

"Praise my soul, the king of heaven," The cathedral choir sang as I prepared to walk down the aisle. I furrowed my brows uncomfortably because that wasn't the hymn I chose for the bride's procession. I paid little attention to it and assumed there must have been a mix up.

I will be getting married to my best friend today. I stepped out of a red range rover with my wedding dress stung on my body like I was born with it. The dress was designed by a popular designer and it costs a fortune. Many thanks to my soon-to-be husband, Ryan, I was able to look elegant on my wedding day.

The man I will be tying the knot to is one of the A-list actors in New York. I am also an actress but hardly recognized by anyone. I will be deceiving myself if I classify myself as a D-list actor. My grade is lower than that.

"Where is Evelyn?" I asked my sister, Kayla.

Evelyn is my best friend and my bridesmaid. She left the hotel we lodged last night because of an emergency and hasn't arrived since then.

"Dunno! I tried her number, but there was no pick," Kayla answered, checking her simple makeover in the car's mirror.

"We can't wait anymore. Let's go on without her. I am sure she had her reasons,"

Kayla nodded and smiled at me. We have learned to cherish each other since we lost our parents a few years back.

She clasped her hand with mine and we footed toward the church's entrance, putting on the cutest smiles ever.

Our faces were struck with shock as soon as we took a step into the church. The congregation in the church was more than my expectations. However, that was not the case.

Another wedding was going on in the church and Ryan, my soon-to-be husband was the groom and there was a bride beside him. Which definitely wasn't me because I haven't even walked down the aisle.

"I hereby present Ryan Austin and Evelyn Desmond as the newest couple in the world,"

The priest announced and I felt my world crashing. I was oblivious to the shouts and joyful screams that were going on. The last statement the priest made echoed in my ears.

Did Ryan get married to Evelyn?

Was that the reason she left the hotel last night claiming there was an emergency....?

"Arrgh!" I shrieked.

The shrill garnered everybody's attention and they all turned their heads, fixing their eyes on me.

Their stares were piercing into my skin. I felt like there were needles all over my body. I prayed earnestly to God to let the ground eat me up. My legs were transfixed. Thinking of the next thing to do was a problem because my head was aching badly.

The betrayals' lips were curled up victoriously. There was neither guilt nor remorse on their faces. It only meant one thing. It has been planned out, but I trusted them so much as not to suspect them.

I pushed the brimming tears back and looked at the congregation faces one after the other until my eyes landed on a man. His amber eyes were shining like a star and his cold expression did nothing to my body but gave me an idea.

I walked into the church, surprising everyone. Kayla tried to stop me by holding my hand, but I jerked her hands away. She thought I was losing my mind or maybe I was.

I stopped in front of the man with amber eyes, and in front of everyone, I asked him to marry me.

"Will you please, take me as your bride?" I asked, garnering another whisper from the congregation.

My mind was trying to chide me to stop, but my head wasn't comprehending that. All I wanted to do was to save myself from the disgrace and shame they had both planted. The man stood up from his seat and looked into my eyes. I felt shivers in my spine as he pierced his beautiful eyes into mine.

I was praying to God and hoping he wouldn't say NO.

"Okay... Let's have a wedding," He agreed and I forced a smile from my lips.

He took my hands and walked me down the aisle.

Ryan and Evelyn gave me their last glances and walked out of the church, majestically.

"Ivy, you are not in your right senses. You don't even know the man you are getting married to,"

Kayla spoke while shaking my shoulders, but I have made up my mind.

"Start the vow, priest," I instructed, looking at nowhere in particular.

"The groom should say after me,"

The priest began and we were asked to exchange vows. There was no ring and it was time to exchange the rings. I removed my veil and tore a little part of it. The man collected the torn part from me and split it into halves. He tied one to my finger and I tied the other to his. All these actions took place with a bright smile on his face. He looked like a man who has been in love with the woman in front of him.

"People of God, I present to you, the newest couple in town," The priest announced.

The church was as silent as a graveyard, a clap could not be heard and that was none of my business. The only thing I wanted to do after the wedding was to go home.

I gave the man a last smile and footed out of the church hurriedly, Kayla opened the car's door, I hopped into the car and she followed suit. The driver drove off.

The tears I have been forcing back moved freely out of my eyes. Ryan and I started from scratch. We'd been dating since our college days before he chose acting as his career and everybody knew us as a couple. Even if I was expecting to be betrayed, it wasn't from him. I wasn't expecting to be betrayed by them.

The car stopped in front of the mini flat I stayed with Kayla, but I was still sobbing. She circled her arm around my shoulders and patted me softly. These gestures were supposed to make me stop crying but they increased my tears instead.

We entered the small living room and Kayla helped me settle on one of the single couches.

She turned the lights on and helped me remove my shoes and veil. She flung them and took a seat in front of me. Of course, I knew it was time to listen to her endless nagging sadly, I wasn't in the mood for that.

"Ivy, why did you do.....,"

She started but I cut her off.

"Spare me that, Kayla. I am not in the mood for that,"

I stood up and strolled into my bedroom weakly. I just want to shut the noises in my head.