Chapter 2 Betrayal And Heartache

Ellen's POV

As I walked on the road like a stranded bride still in my white gown, I was aware of all the eyes that stared in my direction, but I didn't care. Being embarrassed was the least of my worries, it didn't compare to the pain that was in my heart at that moment.

I recalled vividly the victorious smile on Elfreda's face as she walked out of the hall with my groom. Now that I think about it more, I couldn't deny the fact that she wore a white gown because she knew exactly what Hammond would do to me.

Could it be that she had planned all of this? I asked myself as I kept walking on the road. But there was no way Hammond would hurt me this way. There must've been a reason for it. Yes! He must have a valid reason for ditching me at the altar while the whole San Francisco was watching us.

I sat on the nearest street seat and pulled out my phone at that moment and dialed his number. It rang and came to an abrupt end but he did not pick, but I wasn't giving up so easily. I kept calling till he finally picked up on the fourth ring.

"Hammond?" I said into the phone.

"Hello, sis." My sister's voice responded on the other end and I went quiet as my tears threatened their downpour.

"I know you are listening to me, as much as Hammond would like to pick up your call, he can't because he is currently signing his marriage certificate to me. Maybe he'll call you sometime soon. I hope you loved my wedding gown, I just wanted something simple." She said and I could hear her smile on the other end.

"Elfreda! What do you have on Hammond, I know he will not follow you blindly like that," I said in the most formal tone I could muster, trying my best not to give the sound of my broken heart away.

"Oh, that? He just found out he was in love with me. That's what. Goodbye sis, I hope you find someone who loves you more than he did, because this one is now mine." Elfreda said and before I could say a single more word the call went off.

For two minutes, I sat still with my phone still placed on my ear listening to nothing as I tried to process what had just happened to me. It all made sense now. Hammond had ditched me to get married to my step-sister.

I always knew Elfreda never had good intentions for me, but she was my sister after all, it didn't matter that we didn't share the same sadness, still, I loved her. But this? This was the highest level of her betrayal and I knew what she wanted but I wasn't going to let her break me.

I stood up at that moment and my eyes searched for the nearest boutique which I strolled in with my wedding gown following me behind.

"Welcome ma'am," the attendant greeted me in a surprised tone and I just nodded without responding to her before pointing at the black elastic gown I saw on one of her mannequins.

She quietly brought it down for me and showed me the price tag, I gave her my card and walked into the closet to change up, next, I picked a pair of short-heeled sandals to match the gown and put it on.

This black gown was a sign of mourning. I was mourning the love of my life, that night, Hammond had died in my heart and there was no changing anything.

"Waybill my wedding gown back to this address and send me the bills," I told them and walked out into the bright street once again.

It was almost noon and here I was walking around the estate like a crazy woman. I thought of where to go but no place came into my mind. I didn't have any friends I wanted to see at the moment, so I walked into a hotel and booked a room. I was going to regret the money I was spending today but I didn't care.

I asked for a bottle of wine to send to me before I got to the room. When it came, I pulled my clothes, sat on my underwear and drank alone, dried-eyed, in the quietness of the hotel room. And when it felt like the quietness was eating at me, I put on the television.

Immediately the newscaster began speaking. I knew it was a bad idea because the first thing I heard was my name.

"Early this morning Miss Ellen Bennet was ditched at the altar by her childhood sweetheart who walked out of the church holding her sister's hands like long lost lovers... the bride was..." I shut the television at that moment as I sighed deeply and fell on the bed.

*****

The next time I opened my eyes, everywhere was still as bright but when I looked outside, it was already dark. The time read 8 pm and I smiled to myself.

If I had slept for eight hours, what would I be doing for the remainder of the night?

I stood up, walked into the bathroom and freshened up before putting my outfit back on me. Immediately I stepped out of my room into the corridor, I saw people walking into a passage and I followed them without a care in the world. It was when I got in that I realized it was a clubhouse.

A wide smile played out on my face then. What better place to be than here?

As I walked in, my eyes roamed the hall filled with dancing bodies until they finally landed on a handsome-looking man sitting at the bar and sipping his drink quietly and my smile widened. I had found my prey for the night and so I began walking in his direction.

It was not until I got close enough that I realized that he was not alone, he had about four bodyguards standing a few feet away from him. I paused in my steps and was going to retrace them but his eyes caught mine in that moment.

He let out a devilish smirk and still held my eye contact as he sipped his drink more slowly and I knew that was my cue to go closer.

A voice in my head kept warning and threatening me, but my mind was already made up. When I took the next step, his guards began closing in on me, but my eyes didn't leave his as I kept walking and he raised his hands to stop them as I took the seat beside him.

I was going to regret this! Deep in my guts, I knew I would.