Chapter 2 Beyond shock

Chapter Two.

Following the exchange of vows, Brian excuses himself to head to the changing area. My mother, who has been observing the entire situation, requested that I follow Brian. As I entered the dressing room, I was startled to see Brian kissing my childhood best friend Emily. She cried to him, and he was so gentle with her, listening to her. "She stole my place; we were both supposed to be the ones getting married at the altar today." She said, feeling let down as she declined another kiss from him. I watched in dismay as my ever-cold, irascible Brian attempted to soothe her. "It is an arranged marriage, dear, and you should relax for a little while." I would soon inform her that I will be divorcing her in a few months. He stated.

With tears streaming down my face, I used the piece of handkerchief I was holding to gently wipe away the tears, never letting the world see how hurt I was. "Really," I exclaimed as I turned to face the main event again, pretending I had not seen what had happened moments before. My betrothal to Brian and having no alternative was enough for me, but not him cheating on me with my best friend Emily and filing for divorce. My heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. It scared me because I could not comprehend what I had just witnessed. Will confronting Emily about her sudden betrayal on my wedding day with my alleged husband be a good idea? What will Brian's reaction be when I ask him about it and his proposed divorce? Can I accept this heinous betrayal and act as if nothing happened? Why not walk away and decide not to marry him?

Brian noticed Aria's heels clicking as she turned to walk away. Brian and Emily turned to face each other. Wanting to know who that could be. "I cannot afford to get into any trouble because today is my wedding day with Aria". "I am coming, sweetheart. Let me take a look at whoever it might be". Since he believes it is someone else and does not suspect Aria, he continues to search in the hopes of finding the person. "If you dare lay your hands on me, you cheat," she said, moving in close to Aria, whose eyes were welling up with tears. "How could you do this to me on our wedding night with my best friend?" "Brian, I trusted you, but you chose to break my heart into a million pieces."

I rolled over and smacked Brian across the cheeks because I could not take the pain any longer. "What did I do to deserve this? "You are not telling the whole truth." "I love Emily and want to be with her; I know it will hurt you, but I have made my decision and it is final." "We can both bid this marriage farewell once this transaction is finished." "Our marriage is only an agreement and I never told you I had feelings for you and that's all". "What kind of a man are you, Brain?

He spoke without considering the impact of what he said on my emotions. "Wow, really," I was tearing up, of all days you decided to cheat on me on our wedding day. "What did I do to deserve this? I need another chance to prove myself to you," Aria said sternly, "you do not Aria, you messed up the one you were given, and now you have to pay dearly for it." He spoke while maintaining direct eye contact with me. " Tell me, you don't mean what you just said about your love for Emily". "I do and I am filing for a divorce between me and you, this so-called marriage is not going to be possible." I cannot stand you, Aria". " No, you can't do this, what will happen to my dad's company and to our marriage". "You should have thought of that before attributing any of your nasty character here"."You will just have to wait until everything has been done officially by my lawyer and that's it". "I will be fair to you, you can keep the mansion but that's the only property you can get from me". "I don't need your mansion, Brian what I need is to continue to be a part of the Rodriguez family".

"You know I can't afford to lose you or my family company and business is doomed". "Leave Emily alone please, she doesn't deserve to be with you, I do". I was kneeling down and begging Brian to let this marriage work out between us as tears streamed down my eyes uncontrollably. I guess seeing me helpless gave him an unexplainable joy as he insisted on filing for divorce on the same day we just got married. I should have believed it when I heard he was a cold beast and not capable of love. My father's greed has brought me into a world of misery I cannot comprehend. ``What am I going to tell my parents?" "How will this news affect my father?""My inability to maintain a man was entirely my own fault; I was raised to learn the art of submission." "I should have been more understanding to Brian." "Please forgive me, Brian," I sobbed, "I promise to do better," I said, feeling helpless. Emily, who is still in the bathroom, hears someone crying and moves aside to look more closely, but she goes back inside without catching a glimpse of me.

Brian walks away, leaving me on the ground begging. He went over to see his sweetheart Emily, who also happens to be my best friend. He left me shattered, not seeming to notice that I was sitting down on the floor directly in front of him. Once he had finished coming out of hiding with his sweetheart, he positioned himself beside me. I watched Emily walk into the hall, smiling as she came straight up to give me a hug and a wedding gift. "My dearest friends, congratulations!" "I am overjoyed for you." Even though I knew the truth, I gave Emily a smile for her pretenses. "Thank you, my love," I said, my heart aching from betrayal.