Chapter 4

• Nothing feels worse than the heart you craved the most, loathing you with all its being.
• ARLET
• "The bride is ready." These were the words I had longed to hear for so long, but little did I know, they would wound my soul like never before. I wanted to become his desire, yet it felt as though I was deceiving him.
• Looking down at my reflection in the mirror, I hated everything I saw. Just as she had cut the length of this dress, she had sliced away my emotions and my devotion to love.
• The bridal ensemble was a symbol of aspiration, and I could feel how Reile had burdened me with it. Her freedom would be my suffocation. Her choices, my suffering.
• My teary eyes longed to ask her why she had pushed me into this fire of deceit. But then I remembered—this was the deal with these devils. When someone has an axe to grind, they’ll do anything for selfish gain.
• Reile had made the replaced bride seem worthy, outfitting me with things that didn’t belong to me.
• "Oh, stop crying. Can you believe you’re about to marry a millionaire, and you don’t even have to work hard to be a mother because you already have a child?" Debbie's words stung, but they came at the right time—she stitched in time and saved nine.
• Reile chuckled, tossing her perfect rhinestone wedges at my feet. "Wear them."
• I tried, but they slipped off my feet. With a disgusted look, she glanced at me and quickly came up with a temporary solution: stuffing cloth dust at the back of the wedges.
• "She’s ready, Mom." Reile crossed her arms over her chest.
• William strolled up beside me and delivered the last command I needed to follow, one that sank into my very soul.
• "You’re walking on thin ice. If you spill the beans, nothing will be left for you," he declared, and the veil of replacement settled heavily over my face.
• As I walked down the aisle, I didn’t dare look up. My feet ached in the sloppy wedges, and the pain only intensified.
• "Not a single tear, Arlet," William said, escorting me.
• With every step toward him, my heart drowned in sorrow. Yes, I wanted to marry him, but not like this. What went wrong in my prayers was that the universe had twisted the situation into something unrecognizable.
• As I neared the wedding arch, my body froze. Ruben stood there, waiting for me. It felt like a dream come true—he had never looked so handsome. And here I was, wondering if an ounce of prevention was worth a pound of cure.
• Should I tell him the truth?
• I bit my lower lip, hard, as William seemed to read my thoughts, knowing I was considering revealing the truth.
• I bit my lower lip hard as William seemed to read my thoughts, sensing my hesitation about revealing the truth.
• I exhaled a shallow breath, and everything seemed to calm when his hand gently touched mine. I didn’t realize how much I longed for this simple contact, but as much as I wanted to hold his hand, a deep fear stirred within me about what would happen once he saw my face.
• "Are you okay?" His voice was so close, warm and reassuring. I nodded silently, trying to shield my face from him.
• "You look beautiful." But do I? How empty those words felt, like they weren’t meant for me. Yet, as we moved toward the next part of the ceremony, his attention shifted from my veil when his friends came forward to give their opening remarks.
• A couple stood next to us on the stage, offering their heartfelt blessings. They shared stories about Ruben’s secret proposal plans for Reile, how he kept it close among his friends. But as I stood there, listening to the joy around me, my heart remained unsettled. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was deceiving him, becoming the face of a lie in his life. He deserved so much better than this, and I couldn’t help but wish I wasn’t the one standing here.
• It was time to exchange vows. But little did anyone know, this bride was mute. I fidgeted, my breath held tightly in my chest, as a wave of anxiety washed over me. How could I recite vows to him when I didn’t even know what to say?
• Ruben spoke, but I couldn’t focus on his words, lost in my own embarrassment. I could hear the applause as everyone reacted to his vows, and I was certain he had poured his heart into them for Reile.
• Now, it was my turn.
• My hands were trembling, and I desperately wished the earth would open up, swallow me whole, and never spit me back out.
• But that wish was interrupted when Debbie shoved a piece of paper into my hand. Did she rip something from my journal? Shit.
• Yet, I still had something to figure out for myself—how was I going to read this?
• "Sorry, Ruben. She had too many ice cones yesterday and couldn’t utter a word." Debbie quickly came up with a fake excuse, one I was sure would unravel the moment Ruben saw my face.
• Sometimes, I ask myself, What have I done to deserve a man like you in my life?
• Why am I so deeply in love with you? But there’s no answer I can find—only feelings too profound for words, rising from the depths of my heart.
• From the moment I understood what love truly was, I’ve loved you.
• I want to dedicate every song in this world to you because when I close my eyes, I hear your heartbeat in every melody.
• I want to cherish those quiet mornings, making breakfast together. I want to hold your hand when I first feel our baby's kick. I want to grow old with you, as time perfects the love we share.
• Debbie read the words I had written for him in my journal. Inside, I cried, but not a single tear fell from my lashes.
• If I were to describe love—romance, passion, devotion, and blessings—I would simply say: Your name.
• Ruben Rodriguez.
• Everyone clapped happily, but inside, everything cracked. Ruben held my hands in his, and happy tears filled his eyes.
• Those emotions were so pure, but they weren’t meant for me.
• "This is beautiful. You have touched my soul, Reile."
• I exhaled sharply, swallowing the lump in my throat. It felt like everything was about to come crashing down. The priest recited his words, and we exchanged rings.
• "Ruben Rodriguez, do you take Reile Amor as your lawful wife?"
• "I do."
• Each word sliced deep into my soul, and I knew, without a doubt, this was the worst evening of my life.
• "Reile Amor, do you take Ruben Rodriguez as your lawful husband?"
• The words caught in my chest. Even if my soul longed to answer, my mouth refused to form the words.
• "Reile Amor, do you take Ruben Rodriguez as your lawful husband?"
• The priest repeated the question. I nodded, unable to speak, gasping for air as my mute throat struggled.
• Debbie jeered from the sidelines, "You know her voice..." she mocked, supporting the lost cause standing before them.
• "You may kiss the bride."
• My heart stopped when Ruben's hand touched the veil. Slowly, he lifted the sheer cloth, and in that moment, his teary eyes froze, hardening into cold, grey stones.
• Those grey eyes saw the truth. They saw the face that had betrayed him. This would be the face he would loathe for the rest of his life.
• I wanted to speak, to tell him that the words had been mine, but all that came was the overwhelming guilt in my eyes.
• I'm sorry, Ruben. I never wanted you to see me like this.
• "Kiss the bride."
• "Kiss the bride!" The crowd cheered, their voices a blur of excitement.
• Before I could even process what was happening, he leaned in and kissed my chin. It was so quick, so sudden, I barely realized it had happened.
• Did he? Why would he? Wasn't he supposed to scream at me, to rage?
• I was stunned, and I could see the same confusion mirrored on the faces of his friends, the ones who had witnessed his proposal.
• Something was wrong—too quiet, too still. It was the silence before the storm, and I could feel it in the pit of my stomach.