Chapter 1 1

Elena's POV

Standing in front of the altar, my heart boomed with excitement. I was getting married today and most importantly to the one I love, Pete.

Nothing excites me more than having the thought of being with him for the rest of my life.

He didn't have much but he was more than what I could ever ask for. I loved him regardless and now, I was about to be his bride.

The night he had proposed was the happiest I had ever been. It felt like all my dreams were finally coming true, at once. The cake, decorations and scenery of the place gave it all, everything was so perfect.

When he bent down on one knee with his hands stretched out holding the ring, I couldn't contain the amount of excitement bubbling within me.

I didn't wait for him to even find his words before shouting "yes"

After five years of being together he finally proposed. It felt like my world stopped.

The church decor wasn't dreamy or exquisitely luxurious but it was just the perfect fix for me. Simple but tasty.

There weren't many people that attended, in fact it was just me and some other random people I didn't know, which was obviously Pete who invited them.

The night my parents died was the darkest, seeing their lifeless, cold bodies being dragged out of the ambulance into the operating ward was an image I would never forget.

The shock of the accident had left a new void growing inside me,to the extent that I shut out my friends, work colleague and anyone who cared for me

My life became meaningless, always gloomy and distant. Not until Pete came in and rekindled the lit out fire inside me. There was a new zeal to live again, to survive. A new purpose to live for.

It had been over an hour since the wedding ceremony had started. He should have been here by now. I looked sideways checking if Pete had arrived, but he wasn't there yet.

Minutes ticked by, each one heavier than the last. The guests were already getting impatient and had started leaving little by little, leaving only a few people seated.

An hour had passed, my heart began to sink, watching as my perfectly planned imaginary wedding was slowly turning into a nightmare. Where was he?

I swiftly unlocked my phone calling Pete but he wasn't answering the call, his calls were always diverting to voicemail with every attempt to reach him.

Doubts and worry began to knot in my stomach, making it hard to ignore the twisting feeling sinking inside my chest.

I looked up apologetically at the priest who was already frowning. I couldn't bring myself to blame him. It wasn't his fault, he must have grown tired of the endless delay.

"I'm sorry, please, a little more time," I pleaded with the priest.

Few minutes later, his patients grew thinner and he left the church leaving only me standing at the altar.

As seconds grew and the day at its peak, my anxiety grew. Tears flickered in my eyes rolling down with every second that passed.

I refused to accept the reality that I was abandoned on the altar by the love of my life.The man I thought I would spend the rest of my life with.

Finally defeated by the intensity of my situation I decided to stop sulking and go home for a nice coffee. That's the least I could do.

I checked my call log history on my cell phone one more time, maybe he called but I missed it but there was none just the millions of times she had called and texted him but no reply.

Suddenly just as all hope was lost, the sound of the church door being open filled the room. My eyes abruptly stared up at the big church door as Pete walked in.

Relieve washed over me, as I quickly ran towards him. I didn't even have the strength to lash out on him right now, I just wanted to hug him and let him reassure me that everything was alright.

" Oh Pete" I cried out running down the altar towards him " where have you been, you made me worried sick. I have been calling on and on but you -"

I stopped on track as a blonde lady emerged from behind him. Holding his hand and placing her other hand on his chest seductively.

My eyes watered in confusion as a smile crept up on the beauty's face. She wore a cream-colored flare gown and a sparkling necklace that looked quite expensive.

She was indeed a beauty that everyone would die for. They looked perfect standing together but the question was, what was she doing with Pete on our wedding day when he's supposed to be with me. I just hope he had a better explanation for this.

"Pete? Who is she?" Not wanting to assume or overthink "Why is she putting her hand on your chest? T...te...tell me who she is Pete!!!"

I stretched my hands attempting to remove the blonde hand from his chest when he said " let her be she's my fiance"

What! I stopped mid air. My hands slowly dropped to my side. it felt like a ton of needles pricked into my heart, piercing deeply. Everything was starting to fall apart and I could sense this. I stood there fixated on his face searching for clarity but there was none.

No expression or sign of guilt at all. Nothing, just an emotionless face. His eyes that looked at me with so much affection were staring straight at me cold as ice.

"Pete, do you know what day today is? " I exclaimed " it's our wedding day Pete, please don't do this to me" my voice wavering as I tried to hold back the already falling tears

Pete jerked my hands off hugging the blonde tightly. " I'm sorry Elena, but there was never anything between us and will never be"

After all those times we shared together, how could he say there was nothing between us so plainly. He turned about to leave when I vigorously turned him in my direction. He wasn't going anywhere until he explained what's going on.

" Why?" I asked " I want to know how long you've been cheating on me with this cheap slu-" a slap landed on my face that landed her on the icy floor.

" don't you ever touch him again, you bitch" she said. Her voice stinging deep inside.

The slap was just a mere touch, nothing compared to the emotionless and disgusting expression on Pete's face.

He didn't even stop or do anything; he just stood there looking at me. Tears choked my throat and rolled down my cheeks as I watched the man that I had loved for many years slip out of my hands into another.

I couldn't take the humiliation anymore and ran out of the church hastily trying so hard to escape whatever it is that just happened.

Just in one day I was happy thinking about my happily ever after but now that had turned into a nightmare.

Tears rolled down uncontrollably as I ran through the streets to the unknown destination. If only he had just come up with a better excuse than that he had displayed, maybe things would have been different.