Chapter 1 There was a wedding

Andre returned from the night shift, his teeth shattering. It's the height of the cold season, the snow was dropping and he felt like he was going to freeze. His heavily insulated snow pants kept him warm but not enough to spare him from the cold.

His hood shielded his face by protecting his head and neck. He needed to do this third job to meet up with the demands of his fiancée. Christmas was in a couple of days and finally, he'd done with the job for the month.

He adjusts the water heater before turning the shower on. He heard his phone ringing in the bedroom but was not in a hurry to answer it. He took his time before stepping out of the bathroom.

His mom had prepared a hot coffee for him, he saw it placed by his bedside, the aroma of black coffee filled the entire room, the steam of it writhing away. He chose another outfit with a zipper pocket and head warmer as he took a sip from his coffee and stepped out of the room.

He had hardly sat down to have breakfast when his friend dashed in, his eyes red and desperation written all over it. He glanced at Andre and his eyes went moist. Alice glanced at Felix and then at her son Andre and doesn't understand why they both stared at each other without a word.

"Where's your phone,Andre?" Felix asked, hastiness in his tone. If he could have just answered his phone a while ago, perhaps he could have been able to stop them.

"My phone..." he repeated and realised it's still in the bedroom. "In my room" he said, standing up to come closer.

"I called you earlier Andre..." Felix trailed off and helplessly threw his hands to his side in a dejected manner. Oh gosh, how could he not have known or heard about it.

"Yeah..my phone rang but I was bathing" Andre replied and Felix pulled him saying "Come along, it's urgent..." he said and dragged him out, he sat on his bike and ordered Andre to sit down quickly.

Andre sighed softly. On this cold morning, Felix was going to get him frozen by riding at such a speed.

Obediently, Andre sat down and Felix swerved the bike and started going at a high speed. He got to the garden plaza and saw different varieties of cars all lined up like a convoy and dignitaries all stormed out, shaking hands with a couple.

Felix parked and said "I brought you to see for yourself. They're married now. You can't stop them, they're a couple now but I want you to see them" he said, gesturing for Andre to look in the direction the couple were.

Andre was lost, what is Felix saying, Married, couple. What is his business with that? Weddings were common around the December period, just before Xmas. Bringing him to see a married couple was not worth it on a cold morning like this.

Anyways he glanced at the couple and he sighted Regina Logan and her husband James. They were dressed exquisitely and he wondered if the couple were...

He hadn't concluded his thoughts when he saw her, the bride turned her head and their eyes locked. Andre stood rooted. His eyes wide opened in shock and his body shivered uncontrollably.

"What is going on, Felix" he thought but didn't realise that the words slipped out of his lips and his friend glanced at him, his eyes clouded with tears "a wedding just took place Andre"

Andre's complexion had turned pale. He couldn't believe his eyes, Jasmine is the bride, his own fiancée of three years? He was breathing hard now, laboured breathing as his chest rises and falls rapidly, visibly seen through his clothing.

The couple sighted him and they both walked towards him. Jasmine intertwined her hands around her husband's elbow and walked queenly like a bride truly. Her long expensive wedding dress was flowing behind her, being held by the chief bridesmaid.

Felix gently stretched his hand and took Andre's hand. He saw how he was breathing and he held his hand perhaps he could share in his heartbreak.

Jasmine's gaze was cold and indifferent as if he was a stranger. For a moment, her gaze faltered but as quickly as it did, it resolved back to being indifferent. Some of the guests saw him. They laughed and sneered in mockery.

"Yeah, the ambitious fiance who doesn't go for a slum like himself" someone mocked, sizing him from head to toes. No one can compete with Patrick West for anything that catches his fancy.

Andre was breathing with difficulty, he couldn't talk back. He was feeling drained already. "Jasmine, what's going on here? Why are you in a wedding dress?" Andre asked. He doesn't understand just yet what is going on.

Jasmine chuckled and asked "I don't expect you to understand what it means to see a woman in a wedding dress, you've always been blind to reality all your life" she sneered but there's something fleeting in her eyes, a hesitation but she can't help it.

Jasmine's parents came and said "listen Andre, we want a happy life for our daughter. We had to support her in her choice of a husband. Kindly go away, don't create a scene here" James Logan pleaded.

"Today is Jasmine's happiest day, don't ruin it for her. If you truly love her like you claimed, just go away. We will compensate you for all you've spent. Don't just do something silly" Regina Logan added, staring hard at Andre.

Andre gently turned his face to glance at Regina Logan. Did she say if he loves her like he claimed? Has his confession and feelings been a claim all along? He'd never claimed anything, just a pure expression of what he felt for his woman.

"Does he think any woman will leave a successful man like Patrick and choose him instead? How could he be living in a fool's paradise?" Another person from the sidelines mocked.

"Why are you trying to coax him? I can handle losers like him. Just stay away from us if you want to live a happy life henceforth. Otherwise, if you try to do anything silly, we'll put you behind bars and forget about you" Patrick threatened.

Jasmine glared at him in pure disgust. A weight of humiliation crushed Andre but he stood still with his gaze on Jasmine alone.

"Jasmine, I love you. You can't just forget about me, about us together. You know I can't live without you. You know that you are the only one that compliments my life and gives me hope and happiness. What are you doing? Please stop this nonsense, Jasmine" Andre pleaded.

He didn't seem to hear what other people were saying. He only wants to hear her words. She's the only one who has captured his life in love and he wants to remain that way with her for the rest of his life. No one else matters to him, just Jasmine.

"I loved you, but in the past. I love Patrick and we're married. I advise you to find someone without an identity like yourself and fall in love with her. What we shared and our feelings, dreams are long thrown into the thrash bin. You should have known that three months ago.

I can't settle with someone like you who was picked up from the orphanage. Mrs Alice was kind enough to give you a roof over your head and your stupid mind thinks you can make me yours? I can't settle for poverty and ruin my future with a hustling bastard like you.

And yes, I'm not missing words, you're a bastard otherwise, how can you be so grown up and not know your identity or where you came from. We're not meant for each other, We're not compatible and we cannot paddle life together.

Patrick is rich and can take care of me and my parents. Our future is settled and secure and I don't have to worry about anything. Just leave from here already. And yes, one more good news for you, Patrick and I are expecting a baby, I'm two months gone, you're so good-for-nothing" Jasmine sneered.