Chapter 3 SHADOWED DECEPTION

FLORA's POV

My eyes widened in shock!, my body trembling and paralyzed with fear!!!. "How did this happen, Micheal?!" I questioned loudly holding the duvet to my chest tightly

"Don't look so surprised baby, it's me. Your one and only Michael. I know you must have missed me a lot, right", he said, giving me a wicked grin

I couldn't look him in the eyes because I felt so ashamed of myself.

"You were so fierce last night baby. You kept asking for me again and again, and I couldn't resist not granting your request", he said, chucking like a devil that he is

"Why did you do this to me, Micheal?" I questioned with a teary voice. I had to hold myself before I gave in to the tears wailing in my eyes.

I shouldn't be here. I stood up from the bed, using the duvet to cover myself. In a rush, I bent down to pick up my clothes and left the room to the bathroom

"Hey, listen to me. Where are you going?", I heard Michael's voice from behind me, shouting like a fool that he is

After five minutes, I came out from the bathroom still confused and unable to comprehend what had happened. Michael was still sitting on the bed with his phone. It seems like he was waiting for me

"Listen to me Michael, whatever happened between us was a mistake, and you know that. So please stay away from me", I told him. "I only love Stanley, and I'm getting married to him soon, so please do not come to disrupt my joy," I said, my voice laced with strict warning.

Immediately I turned and moved towards the exit door after I had spoken my mind. Without hesitation, I slammed the door shut behind me not minding any response he must have given or wanted to give

****

FLORA's APARTMENT

Consumed by regrets as I tried to replay the events of last night in my head. How could I have been so reckless to the point that I actually slept with Micheal, my toxic ex two days before my wedding?

Have always claimed to hate cheaters, but unfortunately, I turned out to be one.

Hot tears gently roll down my cheeks as I think about Stanley, the man who has always stood beside me, and loved and cared for me dearly. All have done now is repay his trust with betrayal

I can't forgive myself. My body trembling with despair and fear, the fear of losing the one person who truly mattered to me

My fingers clutched at the bed sheets and my tears soaked into the pillow I used to cover my face

How do I face Stanley? It's two days to our wedding, and I went ahead to sleep with my idiotic ex-boyfriend. Will this be the end of my happy journey with Stanley? I thought as I sat lonely at the edge of my bed

'How about you tell him the truth?', a little voice in my head suggested

That isn't a good idea and it can lead to the end of this relationship. But it is also better to tell him myself than for him to hear about it outside but will he ever forgive me? All these thoughts kept roaming in my head until it was interrupted by the ringing of my phone.

It's Stanley calling!. Once more, all the guilt I felt started coming back.

I couldn't believe that a call from Stanley that always makes me happy would ever leave me feeling nervous and scared.

What do I do? I shouldn't have gone to that bar. Once again, SKYLINE BAR has given me another reason to hate my existence. I really hope Stanley forgives me this time around.

But, what if he doesn't? I was totally confused

I summoned the courage to tell him

I decided to pick up Stanley's call, having made up my mind to let him know of the tragic incident.

I'd plead for his forgiveness, and if he decided that he wouldn't continue with the wedding, then I'd respect his decision and pay for my reckless action.

"H-hello", I stuttered, my voice shaking

"Hmm, hello. Seems like you forgot you had a fiancé right?", he said, his voice laced with teasing

I felt even more guilty because he was actually right. We haven't spoken since yesterday, because I was busy getting screwed by my toxic ex-boyfriend.

Oh God!!!!!

Way to go Flora!! What's with your talks about hating cheaters??!!

"I'm very sorry darling", I told him my voice was barely audible enough to be heard.

"Are you okay, my love?" he asked his voice firm and laced with concern. I'm very sure he isn't convinced that I'm okay because my voice might sound otherwise

"Hmm, I want to discuss something with you", I told him, feeling very guilty

My heart was beating so fast that I thought it was going to explode

"Okay, love. I'll come over to your place then. But, hope you're feeling okay. Nothing is wrong with you right?", he asked, his voice laced with worry

This only made me feel more guilty. How did I end up with someone this good and still cheat on him? I thought

I held myself back from crying because Stanley did not deserve what I was about to tell him

"Yes baby, I'm fine. Please just be quick. Get here soon", I told him and hung up the call before I could even hear his response

Hot tears ran down my cheeks as I held my gown tightly with my slender arm. I really messed up, and because of this silly mistake of mine, I might lose Stanley forever

I was still weeping, when I noticed that my phone was vibrating and I looked to see who the caller was, thinking it was Stanley, but it was Jessica

"Hello Lora!", she said with a worried voice. "How're you, my love? Hope you're fine. I've been calling you since yesterday but,..."

"I cheated on Stanley with my ex, Michael", I interrupted her, my voice sounding teary

"What??. Oh my God", she exclaimed. "How did it happen? When exactly?".

I knew she could not also believe it from the way she responded, of all the people that I could have made this grave mistake with, why must it be Micheal?

With the little strength left in me, hesitantly, I explained everything I knew and could remember to her.

"Ohhh Lora baby, please stop crying. It's not your fault. I'm very sure Stanley would understand", she tried to comfort me

But, I'd say that it's not working. I still feel guilty for everything. I shouldn't have gotten drunk, I shouldn't have gone to SKYLINE BAR. I'm so stupid!!!!!!

"Stanley doesn't deserve what I did to him, I shouldn't have done that to him", I said, with tears in my eyes

"Yeah, I know baby. I'll come see you later in the evening. Okay?", she said, her voice tinged with worry

"Okay Jess, I'll be waiting", I told her, sniffing and wiping a little tear from my eye

"So, what's the plan? Do you want to inform him?", she asked, her voice sounding worried

"Of course, I have to. He needs to know the kind of person he was getting married to. It's better I told him than for him to hear about it elsewhere", I told her, feeling bad about myself

"Okay dear, if that's what you've decided, then it's fine. I'd support you. I believe everything will be alright", she said trying to comfort and give confidence even though I wasn't

"Thank you baby", I appreciated her support

Our discussion was interrupted when I heard my doorbell sound

"Hmm Jess, I think Stanley is here. We'll talk later", I informed her

"Okay, Lora. You can do it. Take care", she said, and hang up the call

I walked to the door to open it. Normally, I'd feel so elated to open the door for Stanley, but now I seem to be walking very slowly to the door. My heart was beating very fast with each sound of the doorbell I heard. I wonder how he'd react to this bombshell I'm about to drop.

I breathed in and out and summoned the courage to open the door.