Chapter 99 Bride-to-be.
Chapter 99 Bride-to-be.
Maureen's POV
~continuation~
The next day, I woke up early, even before my alarm rang. I lay completely still on the bed, my eyes wide open, staring at the ceiling as though the answers to my troubled thoughts were hidden somewhere within its cracks.
My body felt heavy, yet my mind was restless. Slowly, memories replayed themselves without permission: the video scandals, the days I had almost lost my life, the fear, the pain, the shame, the proposal, and the secret I had been holding onto for so long.
I wanted to tell Liam about Sam, I really did, but each time the thought crossed my mind, fear tightened around my chest like a vice.
At first, the secret had not seemed so serious. It was something I believed I could bury and move past, something that would fade with time. But now that Liam had proposed, it no longer felt small. It felt dangerous. It felt like something that could shatter everything we had worked so hard to build.
Our daring love story suddenly felt fragile, threatened by the very thing I had chosen to hide. I swallowed hard, my throat dry, wishing I could rewind time and make better decisions.
I let out a deep sigh and rolled over on the bed, hoping the movement would distract me. Instead, the thoughts rolled with me, stubborn and relentless. Each position brought a new wave of worry. My chest felt tight, my breathing shallow, and my hands trembled slightly against the sheets.
When my alarm finally rang, the sound startled me, and I groaned softly before dragging myself out of bed. My movements were slow, almost mechanical, as if my body was acting without my permission.
In the bathroom, I took my bath quietly, letting the water run over my skin while my mind drifted. I stared at my reflection afterward, my eyes dull, my lips pressed into a thin line.
Back in the bedroom, indecision took over. Clothes were thrown onto the bed, the chair, and even the floor. Nothing felt right. It was Monday, and I needed to dress formally, but my mind felt scattered.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally settled on a grey chiffon top with a bow at the neck and soft ruffles at the edges of the sleeves, paired with a black high-waist skirt. I slipped into my ash-coloured heels and picked up my black Birkin bag.
I moved to the kitchen and made myself a cup of hot coffee. Normally, I would sip thoughtfully while planning my day, mentally arranging meetings and deadlines. Today, however, my chest felt unbearably heavy, and my head felt overcrowded with thoughts I could not organise. I barely tasted the coffee.
When I was done, I left the house and slid into the back seat of my car, where my driver was already waiting.
The drive to my workplace was awkwardly silent. I stared blankly at the road ahead, my fingers nervously rubbing against my bag. Without thinking, the words slipped out.
“Daniel…”
“Yes, ma’am,” he replied calmly.
“If you are in a relationship with someone you love deeply, and that person hides a secret because they are afraid of the outcome, and you later find out from someone else, how would you feel?”
The silence that followed was thick. Daniel’s eyes flickered briefly to the rear-view mirror, his brows knitting together as he thought.
“Daniel,” I called again softly.
“Sorry, ma’am. Can I be blunt?” he asked hesitantly.
The word blunt made my heart sink, but I nodded slowly, my reflection staring back at me with uncertainty. He cleared his throat, his shoulders stiff. “I would feel betrayed, ma’am. Because what is the essence of love if secrets are hidden?”
“Oh,” I murmured, nodding faintly. “But what if the person planned to tell you, and the secret could destroy the relationship? Would you really walk away?”
He let out a nervous chuckle. “That depends on how much I love the person and what kind of secret it is. Ideally, it shouldn’t end things, but we are human.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
His words did not bring the clarity I needed. Instead, confusion settled deeper. When the car stopped, I barely noticed until Daniel opened the door, making me flinch sharply.
“I’m sorry, ma’am,” he said quickly.
“It’s fine,” I replied, forcing calm.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concern evident.
I hesitated, then forced a small smile. “Thank you for asking. It shows you care.” I stepped out of the car and walked into the building.
Inside, colleagues greeted me with unusually wide smiles. My brows furrowed in confusion as I returned their greetings. In the open-plan office, the large shared workspace filled with desks and computers, people waved enthusiastically, calling my name. My palms grew clammy.
I hurried into my office and closed the door gently behind me. I had barely sat down when the door burst open. Patricia, Laura, and Mathew rushed in, faces glowing.
“Look who’s getting married!” Patricia the lousiest squealed, dancing and wiggling her body.
“Bride-to-be!” Laura and Mathew chorused.
I laughed nervously, gripping the arm of my chair. Before I could speak, Patricia grabbed my hands, her eyes sparkling. She rambled on about wedding dates, invitations, and how she must attend.
The others joined in dramatically.
Overwhelmed and desperate for silence, I blurted out, “Yes.”
And then, suddenly, Alexa walked in. My team leader.
Her heels clicked sharply against the floor as she stepped into my office, her arms folded across her chest. Her eyes rolled dramatically as they swept across the room, lingering especially on the three nuisances who were still hovering around me.
“What is going on here?” she asked, her voice sharp and impatient.
The moment they heard her voice, Patricia, Laura, and Mathew stiffened. Their smiles vanished almost instantly. Without saying a word, they quickly composed themselves and began to file out of my office one after the other, their heads slightly bowed, avoiding eye contact. Within seconds, it was just Alexa and me.