I ran as fast as I could through the forest, I didn't care if my dress had torn or if it was covered in mud. Images of Kayler's daughter flooded my mind and wouldn't come out.
Piper.
How could he mess with the sister of the girl who wanted to kill me and hurt me a lot?
I stumbled on a root, I couldn't take it anymore. Besides, I didn't want mom to see me like this. I was crying, I'm sure the mascara had run all over my face.
Why, Kayler? Just when I thought we'd be happy. Just when I had left Gradreel for you.
Gadreel, maybe I didn't do things right a while ago but he was the only one who was with me in these five years and he didn't let me down. I paid him badly.
“Carolina!” I heard Kayler's voice in the distance. I got to my feet and kept running until I reached the backyard of the ceremony. I couldn't ruin Mom's night, it was her night. I went into the house through the back door in search of my room. I needed to shower and change. I don't remember much of that night, my vision, my mind were so clouded with shock but I acted without thinking. I took off all my clothes and went to bathe, there I cried like I had never cried for anyone. I felt a horrible pain in my chest, as if something had been torn from me.
It's just... it was true that we had finished but at least I would have liked to know from the beginning that Kayler had a daughter with one of my enemies.
Kylie.
She looks so much like him.
I left the bathroom and saw myself in the mirror, my eyes were red from crying so much. I couldn't help it. I left the bathroom and dressed in something more casual, a short dress and low sandals. I combed my hair, leaving my hair loose. I put makeup on the dark circles so it wouldn't show that I was crying. The ceremony was just starting and I didn't want to ruin it. I would have time to cry for Kayler and me.
I went down facing everyone, smiling as if inside I wasn't breaking down.
“Where were you?” Mom is coming over. She looks happy.
“I went… to take a shower, I dirty all my dress. You know how clumsy I am," I lied. But mom gave me a knowing look, she didn't buy the story.
"Hello, congratulations" a girl came and took her away from me. I appreciated it. In the distance I saw that all of the pack returned to their places as if nothing had happened. Also Anne, who came towards me. Behind her Kayler appeared, wearing a perfectly clean jacket, he looked at me. He immediately wanted to come but with my eyes I told him no.
"Carolina... I'm sorry," Anne told me. She had no idea either “I never thought Kayler would have…”
"Okay." I looked at my nails. I didn't want to break here, right in front of everyone. I am not so. I'll act as if it didn't affect me “It was obvious that Kayler was going back with some other woman, I've always known that he's the worst womanizer” I said it out loud because I knew he was listening to me “it was obvious that in one of those fevers he would leave to a pregnant woman” I had a glass of wine “who knows, Piper might not be the only one.”
Right now I need Gadreel's presence with me. I behaved so badly with him. He wouldn't let me down with the first woman that came his way. I know that it is not. I drank the glass of wine in a jiffy and went for another. I noticed that Kayler wanted to come over but Thomas stopped him.
"Do you have your cell phone?" I told Anne.
“Yeah.”
"Can you lend it to me? I'll make a quick call.”
"Of course." She took her cell phone out of her bag and gave it to me. I texted Gadreel saying I was so sorry and maybe we could start over.
“Carolina...” Mom and Mike returned “Come with us to dance, will you?” Mom took me by the hand and forced me to go to the dance floor. Mike would be my date and mom found Kayler.
“Carolina, you look sad,” Mike tells me as we slow dance to a song.
I guess you knew that too.
“The fact that?” she asks me.
"Kayler having a five-year-old girl with another woman." I looked at him. Mike seemed surprised.
“What? Kayler... I didn't know anything. Are you sure what you're saying?”
I nodded.
“Changing partners!” Mom came up with the silly idea of switching partners. Mike went with her and left me with this guy. I didn't want to touch him, I didn't want him to touch me, I didn't want to even look him in the eye.
"Carolina, please listen to me.”
“I am listening to you.”
Act like you don't care, my conscience tells me.
I looked up and took him by the shoulders to keep moving from one side to the other nothing more. While the song that became eternal ends. Kayler put his hand on my waist and I felt a tingle in that area. I couldn't deny that this man made me feel everything with just a touch. My heart was beating a thousand an hour. I couldn't be here.
“I love you,” he tells me, “I never stop doing it.”
I laughed a little. I found what he said so funny.
"Sure, whatever you say, Kaylersito," I smiled fakely.
"Are we back to the beginning?"
“Maybe you should never have shown up in my life, Kayler Brown. But it's okay, you can be happy with Palmer or whatever that girl's name is. After all, you have a daughter together, right? Don't be the only one. When I marry Gadreel rest assured we'll have ours.” I smiled triumphantly at him.
Kayler attached me to him possessively.
“Shut up, Carolina, I won't let anyone lay a finger on you and if you have children they will be with me.”
I looked him in the eye and said:
“I will never have children with you, Kayler Brown.”
I wriggled out of his grasp and walked out of there.
The rest of the night was joyous for the others but tormenting for me. Seeing him made me feel really bad. When it was all over, the people had already left. Anne and Kenzie said goodbye. Since we were on vacation we would spend it in Lewiston, I considered whether to go back there because Kayler was there, but I didn't want to stay here alone.
“Take the keys,” Mom tells me, “while Mike and I are on our honeymoon, we'll catch up with you in Lewiston in a week.” Mom and Mike said goodbye to me.
"Take care," was all I said to her. In the other cars that were about to leave was Kayler. As soon as I saw that he got out of the car I turned towards the house to go inside and not see him but it was faster than when I turned there he was.
His speed is new.
"Carolina, we need to talk, please. Let me explain how things happened.”
“Don't give me details about how you made love to Piper, Kayler, don't be gross.”
“You left me!” He exclaimed.
“I was also alone for five years and I never slept with anyone! Not even with Gadreel and he was worth it.”
Kayler didn't know what to say.
“Go away please. Leave me alone.” I pushed him away and went into the house with my heart beating faster. I wanted to cry at that moment, but he would listen to me. So I held back. I went up to my room and there I did cry in silence, for his betrayal, for everything.
•
Days after.
I can't believe I'm packing my bags to go back to that town that hurt me so much. I loaded my things up and got on my mother's beetle and started the journey towards the lake house. I hadn't heard from Gadreel, I felt sad about that part since I'm sorry that I hurt him for someone who wasn't worth it.
Hours later.
Welcome to Lewiston.
I had deja vu when I passed that sign. I looked at the houses, the stores, the high school. It made me nostalgic all that I cried while driving home. I entered the dirt road, noticed the same detour to Kayler's house and finally reached mine. I hasn't come for a long time. It was getting dark, the moon was reflected in the lake. It was the only thing I missed about this place. I lowered the suitcases and put them in the house. I tidied up a bit while listening to music and made my dinner. According to Anne, she would be here tomorrow or the day after, just like Kenzie.
After dinner and brushing my teeth I took a sedative that would help me sleep. I know I shouldn't be taking these things but for now they were necessary, the night was getting long for me. I suffered from insomnia and did not rest well. It was not good for my health. I went out to the dock for a while to watch the moon. On the other side, in Kayler's house, the lights were on and there was movement. A bunch of guys came out of the house so I turned on my heel and headed back to my house because I didn't want him to know I was back.
I went up to my room, turned off my cell phone and got ready to sleep, but not before crying for Kayler and his betrayal. It was something that could not be erased, it was done. There was no way to reverse it. I was a human being.
Little by little I fell asleep.