Chapter 171

ALICIA

Ahhh!

It's my wedding day!

Ahhh!

Finally! At long frigging last! It's finally happening. I'm finally getting married to Shane. I can't believe it.

Words can't express how overwhelmed with joy I am right now. It feels like a dream. This is all I've always wanted… to get married to Shane, birth his children and build a future with him.

I dream of it all the time, and now I can't believe that my dreams are finally becoming a reality.

The makeup artist who was beautifying my face leaned back, a smile of approval and pride tugging on the corner of her lips. Then she turned the chair to the mirror for me to see myself.

I blinked at my reflection. My heart fluttered wildly from excitement so much that I feared it would burst.

I look… pretty.

So pretty.

I don't think I've ever looked this pretty in my entire life before.

“Oh, my!” Rayne, my best friend, gushed from behind. “Girl, you look adorbs!”

My mom and two sisters, Beth and Becca, just gaped in utter awe and admiration and I couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.

Becca turned to the makeup artist, “Wow, you're good.”

The lady smiled brightly, her cheeks flushing. “Thank you so much.”

“No, you really are good.” Becca pulled out her phone from her purse and handed it to her, “Here. Type in your contact. I want you to do my makeup, too, when I'm getting married.”

“You don't even have a boyfriend yet, and you're already thinking of your wedding day.” Beth said.

“Shut up, Beth.” Becca countered, “You never know what might happen tomorrow or in a few hours. A really hot man might get swooped off his feet when he sees me. Here, type in your number.”

Beth rolled her eyes.

The smile on the makeup artist's face stretched wider. Nonetheless, she took the phone and quickly typed in her number.

“You look amazing, Alicia.” Beth said in the softest voice.

I smiled at her through the mirror, “Thank you, Beth.”

“And that dress looks so freakishly classic.” Rayne gushed excitedly, “I'm sure that he would fall in love all over again with you if he sees you in it. You know what? Wait, I'm gonna take some photos. OMG!”

She reached into her handbag and pulled out her phone, then stepped closer and started to take photos of me, then me and her, and then proceeded to take selfies of us.

When we were done taking the photos, I turned and glanced at Mom. She had an expression of displeasure plastered all over her face and she wasn't even trying to hide it.

Everything she's done for me regarding this wedding has always felt forced, like she had no other choice but to do it. Even now, standing right where she was right now was not a choice but just an obligation.

No matter how much Shane and I try, our attempts bear no fruit. We had another brunch last week, and Shane showed them the sweet, amazing side of him that I fell in love with and see every day.

To set things right, Shane apologized for the dark, unsettling jokes he made last brunch and promised that it wouldn't happen again. He and my dad got talking, and as they talked, my dad seemed to grow to like him.

Even Becca and Beth, who found him creepy, eased up around him and laughed at the jokes he made. He made good jokes this time. Everyone is now on board with the wedding and is genuinely happy for me and my pregnancy.

Of course, except for my mom. She has made it her sole purpose to hate Shane. It's like with each passing day, her aversion towards Shane just grows deeper and deeper.

Which baffles me, because Shane has done absolutely nothing wrong to her or to anyone else. He was just unfortunate to go through such a traumatic experience during his childhood.

A knock sounded through the door, signalling us that it was now time to leave.

Beth, Becca and the makeup artist headed for the door.

“Come on, Alicia, it's time.” Rayne helped me stand to my feet, then she crouched and gathered the garments of my wedding dress in her hands.

Mom stood there watching me with disgust, sadness and disappointment all at once.

I figured I needed to have a word with her.

I turned to Rayne. “Rayne, can you wait outside?”

Rayne’s gaze flicked from mom to me, sensing the tension, she mumbled a “Sure thing,” before releasing my wedding dress garments and walking out through the door.

When the door clicked shut, I let out a soft sigh.

“What is it, Mom?” I asked gently.

She shook her head, “Nothing.”

“Oh, come on, Mom, we both know it's clearly not nothing.” I said. “You’ve had that look on your face all day.”

A pause.

“Okay. You're right.” She said admittedly, “It's not nothing. It's something. In fact, more than something! What other look do you want me to have on my face?”

“Uh... how about an expression of happiness?” I asked in a sarcastic tone.

“You want me to be happy for you?” She let out a dry scoff, “How do you expect me to be happy for you when you're getting married to that…”

“What? A creep? An oddball? A scumbag?” I asked. My time was sharp and defensive. “What other words do you have?”

Mom sighed, then licked her lips and began, voice now gentle, “Look, Alicia, you might think that I'm saying all these things or acting this way because I'm biased towards him or don't like him at all. But that guy is not someone you want to build a future with. You're willingly throwing yourself into fire, Alicia. Trust me. A mother is always right.” Then she pointed to my stomach, “You need to get rid of that thing you're carrying. Because you'll come to regret it in the fut…”

My hand shot out, open palm landing hot on her cheek, cutting off her words. The impact sent her head snapping to the side.

The door burst open instantly. Becca, Beth and Rayne barged in, their faces a mask of shock.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. “You're uninvited to the wedding, Mom. I do not want to see your face there. Thank you for ruining my day.”

I sidestepped her and made for the door.

“When it all comes crashing down, Alicia,” Mom said quietly, “I'll laugh at you and tell you ‘I told you so.’ Because I did tell you so. And by then it'll be too late.”

“Go to hell, Mom.”

I walked out through the door and sniffled, then wiped another round of tears that spilled out.

Rayne rushed after me.

“Your make-up is ruined,” She mumbled under her breath, gathering the garment of my dress, “We can fix it in the car.”