Chapter 53.

Mischievous. Cunning. Deceptive. Cruel.

Those were the names anyone who knew what Kim was doing would call her. That was what she would have been called. For the past few days, Kim had been madly obsessed with Holly. Tracking her every movement, studying every move and every emotion on her face.

From when she went into the bridal shop and when she emerged with a bright smile that only made Kim more angry. To when she went for her spa facials and Kim had paid two attendants 1,000 dollars each to listen in on she and Charlie's conversation. From what she had gathered. The wedding was going to be at the Pierre hotel. It was a private ceremony, so it was most likely going to be strictly by invitation.

But there were other ways Kim would get her way. Other ways she could get her way that would go unnoticed.

She approached the concierge with feline grace and calculated ease. The young woman was slim and short and had a permanent frown etched on her face. Although it had taken a little convincing and the promise of cash rewards, Kim was able to get exactly where Holly was staying in the Pierre's hotel and her key card. All for ten thousand dollars and a thinly veiled threat.

"I'm not supposed to reveal our client's information." The woman had begged as she looked around furtively. But Kim had her cornered in the elevator.

It had been simple really, she walked up to the concierge, pretended to be a friend of Holly Michaels and asked for her hotel room number. The woman had been reluctant at first, claiming she wasn't allowed to divulge such information. But Kim had been so persuasive that she thought it meant no harm.

A few hours after that and after thoroughly studying the concierge from the hotel lobby, she had cornered her in the elevator and asked for Holly's extra key card.

"Just give me the key card and you'll not only walk away free, you'll also get ten thousand dollars. More money if you find a way to destroy any evidence of me caught on camera."

"There's only two Key cards. And your friend has both."

Kim rolled her eyes.

"Don't play dumb okay? I know there's always one extra for maintenance and room service. Ten thousand dollars in cash can be all yours for just a tiny little key card."

There was a small pause as the concierge weighed her options.

She glanced at the camera fixed to the wall and looking directly at them.

"If I manage to destroy the camera evidence you'll give me more money?"

She asked unsurely as she tried to act oblivious to the fact that Kim was talking to her.

"I will get the money to you tonight if you hand me that key card."

"Deal."

It was approximately four hours to the twelfth of January. Holly's wedding day. She could imagine that Holly was in her room, getting her beauty sleep.

She looked at the 9mm full size glock gun hidden carefully in her bag and glanced around nervously. She had gone to great lengths to get the gun and did a lot to cover her tracks. All that was left was a successful plan without an hitch. She had barely gotten any sleep, and sleep deprivation and lack of her drugs was making her practically delusional.

Sometimes she felt like she was seeing things, sometimes she felt like she was hearing voices. Sometimes she felt numb. She was counting down the hours.

"It's beautiful honey!" Her mother said as she looked at the gown and Holly twirled for her.

"I'm in love with it." Holly said as she smoothed the gown. Charlie and the stylist were putting together her bouquet while her mum was gushing at her dress. Her two sisters who were going to be attending were almost in New York.

The day had started out kind of slow. Holly woke up as late as eight am. Slow and memorable. It had started with Holly receiving a gorgeous bouquet of flowers from Ryder. She remembered smelling them and falling absolutely in love with the bouquet of white bouvardia flowers. Ryder mostly gave her roses. This time was different, bouvardia flowers symbolised enthusiasm. Ryder had picked the flowers well.

She and Ryder then talked on the phone for about an hour and a half, they mostly talked about mundane things and they also deliberated upon where they would have their honeymoon. They had a quite a lot of options.

After talking to Ryder, she had breakfast with both of their parents and Ryder's mother showed Amelia and her parents the venue. It was also around that time that Charlie had come around and they went over the seating arrangement and every other detail they needed to go through.

Around three pm, the stylists arrived to do everyone's hair and makeup, and also Holly's.

According to what she had heard from Charlie and her mother, Ryder was already at the reception dutifully waiting with his parents and a few of the guests.

Her Dad came in while Charlie and the stylist were helping Holly with her veil.

"Oh Darling! You look stunning! Simply stunning!" He said as he gently planted a kiss on his daughter's cheeks.

Holly grinned.

"Thank you Dad. Finally, you get to walk me down the aisle. I know you've been waiting for this moment for quite a while."

Holly said with a smile and her father nodded. He was wearing a white suit and he had a bright smile on his face. Holly even noticed that he had also shaved his beards in honour of the occasion.

"Your Grandma would have been so excited to see you looking so pretty. There is no doubt in our minds that you were definitely her favourite."

Her father said as he gently laid his hands on Holly's shoulder's and planted a kiss on her cheeks.

Holly blinked back tears at the memory of her grandma. She remembered planning her wedding with her grandma. She also remembered telling her the kind of cake she wanted for her wedding.

"I'm pretty sure she's watching down from heaven and smiling too. She must be very happy."

Holly nodded.

"Yes, I know she is."

Holly turned to Charlie and the stylist and begged everyone in the room to give her a moment.

That was all she asked for and they all excused her.

Holly looked at her reflection in the mirror and she smiled. She had never felt so confident and so powerful in her own skin and body. As she ran her hand smoothly over the dress, she felt happy and free.

She was getting married!

It was as shocking as it was also exciting. If she had been told a year ago that she was going to get married, She would have dismissed it as a big joke. All a big joke, she thought as she placed a hand on her belly. There was also a life growing inside her. A baby formed out of the love she and Ryder felt.

Holly spent a few more minutes reveling in the moment before deciding that it was time to leave. Her father and everyone else were probably waiting for her on the third floor already.

There was the sound of the door clicking shut and Holly turned back to see if it was her Dad or Charlie coming to get her.

"Dad? I thought you'd be waiting downstairs?"

She said as she turned and saw Kim. Her heart stopped for a second and afterwards it skipped several beats. Holly glanced around as she moved back, looking for her phone or something that would help her alert her family.

"This is going to be quick." Kim said as she removed her blonde wig and pulled out the gun. Holly gasped.

"Kim! Kim! Don't do this! Please! Don't!"

"Yea well, you should have thought of that before sleeping with Ryder, or marrying him or even having his baby!"

Kim said incredulously as she stared at the loaded gun with admiration.

"Kim, I know you're sick. That's why you're doing all this right? Your brother told me that you're bipolar. You can get fixed."

Holly said quietly as she watched Kim. She was careful not to raise her voice or upset her. And Holly was more scared of the gunshot wound hurting her baby than killing her. But she knew that was inevitable, so she had to find a way to beg.

"Kim, please! Don't do this. We were once friends."

"Once friends? Did you think of that before taking Ryder away from me?"

"Oh God Kim! I didn't know you liked him that way! And I fell in love with him! Is it so hard to believe that I did?"

Holly shouted as she blinked back tears.

"Please, don't do this. There are so many people outside waiting for me. They're going to know it's you. If you leave now, I'll never tell."

Kim laughed nervously as she scratched her head like a maniac. She slowly raised her gun pointing it towards Holly. Her mind was whirling with different thoughts and emotions as she pointed the gun to Holly.

"The problem is, I don't believe you. I've stopped believing in you the moment you betrayed me."

Kim said silently.

Holly swallowed hard, she was numb with fear and she was struggling very hard not to cry. Is this how it ends? She asked herself as she looked up at Kim's unwavering face filled with determination without a hint of doubt.

"I'm carrying a baby Kim. Will you kill me and the baby too? Will my baby suffer for my sins too?"

Kim's hard look faltered as it seemed like she shockingly realised that Holly was right. She glanced at Holly's belly with uncertainty and the gun shook in her wobbly hands.

Holly felt a little bit of relief. For only a moment.

The events that followed felt as though it went by in slow motion even though it barely took a minute.

There was a loud voice banging on the door.

"Holly! Time to come out!"

Holly and Kim had both looked at the door with growing fear. They watched the door slowly open and a gunshot was fired.

And then Darkness.

That was all that welcomed Holly.