Anticipation

The dry leaves and wee trunks crumbled under my feet as my hesitant legs trudged through the eerie tacit cemetery. Only the chirping of the birds, hidden behind the heavy branches of the mighty trees that surrounded the cemetery, could be heard around the silent graveyard.

Placing down the fresh Lilies before the newly wrought tombstone, my eyes roamed over the epitaph engraved on the stone.

'Tim Jonathan Reeves

1968-2020

A doting father and a courageous man we will always remember with pride in our hearts.'

"You shouldn't be here, you know? It's your wedding today," a whisper came from beside me.

Blinking away the moisture in my eyes, I turned to her. Her gaze set on the gravestone before us.

"I came to seek blessings from the person who has treated me as his own daughter all his life." And to say thanks too. After all, because of him I was marrying the love of my life today. Had he not stopped Monet from shooting Adrian for the second time that day, I would've lost the man I loved forever.

A chill crawled up my arms at the mere thought of losing him.

"From the person who betrayed you despite the infinite amount of love and respect you gave him?" A bitterness laced her voice.

Turning her to me, I met her hazel eyes that were shining with sneaking tears. "I know you're blaming him for everything that happened to me and Adrian, Chloe. But you can't forget what he had done for us. He sacrificed his own life to save us. If he didn't stop Monet that day, and didn't take the remote from him, we wouldn't be alive today. And we will always be grateful to him for that."

That day Monet couldn't find the remote because during the time he was busy fighting with Tim, Tim had sneaked the remote from his pocket without his knowledge.

So not only Adrian, he saved all of our lives too.

"And you were in that situation because of him. If he didn't support Marie with her evil plans with Monet, you didn't have to face all those tortures and pain in the first place. Adrian didn't have to fight with death. It happened only because of him. Because of his betrayal."

I knew what she was feeling.

Tim was never a father one could be proud of. Being always busy with work, he had been away from his daughter most of the time. But that didn't mean he didn't love his daughter. He loved her more than anything. He just couldn't show his love like the other normal parents.

And working for Monet and Marie against his will to protect her from their wrath was the proof. Though it wasn't a novel way to show it. But I forgave him. I know why he did it. His last words still echoed in my mind.

'I know what I did is unforgivable. But trust me, I- I didn't have any choice. I had to do it to keep my daughter safe. F-forgive me, Sofia! I- I wish I could change my deeds. But know that, I always loved you as my own.'

My heart clenched as I closed my eyes; his lifeless orbs were still vivid in my memory.

I found out some other secrets from his mouth before he gave up on his life.

Monet had threatened to kill Chloe if Tim didn't help him and Marie with their plans. He had a secret affair with Marie when he first started to work for Dad. At that time, Marie was married. She brain-washed him using her manipulative words, saying how unhappy she was with her husband and couldn't even leave him because of her brother. But later when Tim realized her true face and his mistake of breaking Dad's trust in that way, he broke off his relationship with her. Since then, he knew about all of her evil deeds. He was aware that Marie was the one who ran the drug business using Dad's name behind his back. He stayed quiet because he feared losing Dad's friendship at first, not to forget some feelings he still had for that witch. But when she started the drug business, he wanted to tell Dad about it. But she threatened him with Chloe.

Chloe went missing just before I was kidnapped. It was Marie's way to show Tim that she could go to any extent if he didn't listen to her. The trick she used on Jenna to get what she wanted.

He didn't want to betray me that night, but to keep his daughter safe, he had to.

That's why he was asking me again and again to rethink my decision about going outside of the mansion. He was hesitant to let me go out with him.

"You know why he did it. He did it only to keep you safe."

A sad smile tugged up her lips. "I had always wished to get his time and love, Sofia. But I never wanted it in this way. Never in my life I would have wanted him to do something like this just to keep me safe. Definitely not in exchange for your safety. I don't know if I will be able to forgive him for this ever."

Sighing, I pulled him in a hug. *I know how you're feeling. I can't say what he did was right. But know that he wasn't a bad person, Chloe. Far from that. No matter how strong he was from the outside, he was a human after all. He made mistakes like we all did. But at the end, he tried to rectify them by risking his own life. So we can't stay mad at him for that forever."

Pulling away, I wiped her tears.

"He is gone now. We are all safe today because of him. And we will be forever grateful to him for that. We forgave him, Chloe. You should let go of your grudges too."

She sniffled. "You are saying this because you have a big heart, Sofia. But I don't think it will be easy for me. After all, you guys were all I had after Mom died. And he…"

"For me? You will at least try, won't you?"

She met my expectant gaze. When I didn't break our eye contact, a sigh left her.

Looking down at her hands, she slowly nodded. "I will try."

A smile spread across my face. "That's my girl! Now smile and come with me. Now it won't be good if the bride arrives late at her own wedding because one of her bridesmaids was sulking around some corner, will it?"

A chuckle. "Alright, let's go. Otherwise Adrian will have my head."

At the mention of his name, I bit my lip.

I haven't answered his numerous calls and messages for two days. Well, Laura had this stupid rule that before the wedding, we couldn't meet or see each other. And to say Adrian was furious about it would be an understatement. Especially when I agreed to follow this weird ritual. I didn't meet him or let him come to me. Though it's just been two days, he was already losing his mind.

I glanced at my phone.

Ninety seven missed calls and twenty two messages.

Damn. Someone's mood will be really bad today.

Stifling a giggle, I grabbed Chloe's hand and left the graveyard.

***

"Where were you? Everyone is looking for you, especially Laura. She is getting crazy over everything!" Alex met me outside of my room, shaking his head. "God help me, that girl can be a serious headache sometimes!"

One of his arms was still wrapped in a shoulder sling. Though the fracture he got from Monet's dungeon has healed already, the doctors suggested him to keep it on for another week, much to his dissatisfaction.

"The culprit would be me. She got late because of me," Chloe answered for me, pulling Alex's gaze to her.

"Oh, Chloe. Uh, you alright?" he asked, noticing the redness of her eyes.

Giving him a smile, she nodded.

"You!"

A high pitched voice startled me.

Glaring holes on my face, Laura strode to me with hurried speed. "I have been looking for you for almost an hour! And here you're talking to them? Today is your wedding, and you have only one and a half hours left before you have to walk down the aisle if you forgot! Now get your ass inside this instance or God help me!"

"Alright, alright! I'm here now. Don't need to put your ass on fire." Rolling my eyes, I walked inside the room with her and Chloe following behind.

As soon as I did so, five women with displeasure written on their foreheads greeted me. The high profile hair stylists and make-up artists my soon to be husband hired for me. And they definitely didn't look happy about being stood down.

Oh boy! I just hoped their pissed off mood doesn't show on my bridal look.

***

"God! You're looking..." Laura shook her head in awe, watching me in the mirror. "I don't have words. This dress… trust me, doll, this dress was only made for you!"

I roamed my hands on the material, admiring its smoothness against my palms. The blush pink mermaid gown fit deliciously around my curves while the flare of mesh adorned with sparkling tiny diamonds around my knees rolled down to my feet gracefully.

I stared at myself in awe. I looked… beautiful.

I was glad that the sleeves looked good with this dress as it was originally designed as an off shoulder. But I requested the designer, who also happened to be a good friend of Lilly, to add up the sleeves. Though she wasn't happy to tamper with her original design at first, she honored my request.

The scars Milton left on my arms were still there. Though they were healing fast. Thanks to the treatment Adrian's family doctor has prescribed me.

But they were still visible. And I couldn't just wear that off shoulder version baring my scars to the light. I didn't want any memory of the past to ruin the happiest day of my life. My wedding.

My heart fluttered as a soft smile touched my lips, remembering the man I was getting tied down to. The man who lived in every beat of my heart.

The love of my life. Adrian.

No way I would let the past ruin this day. The past was in the past now. The man who was haunting us even in our dreams was gone, forever. Even Marie and Marcus were taken care of by Sinister. And about Milton, I didn't know what Adrian did to him. He didn't say anything about him except that he wasn't done with him yet.

"She is right, you're gonna be the prettiest bride in the history in this dress once we're finished with your complete look," Alice, my hair stylist said, grinning at the mirror.

The others nodded, agreeing with her.

Though they were pretty mad at first for being stood down, they got easily warmed up once I apologized for my tardiness.

A series of furious knocks on the door pulled our attention to it.

And the way the door was literally shaking with knuckles made of iron thudding against it impatiently, I knew right away who it was.

"Who is it?" Laura shouted.

"Open the door! I need to talk to my wife!" His voice was colder than ice and harder than rock.

Oh, boy! He is mad. And I think I know the reason very well. Well, reasons.

Nervously, I chewed on my lips.

"She isn't your wife yet! And no can do, we can't let you in. It's bad luck for the groom to see his bride before she walks down the aisle."

A moment of silence.

One.

Two.

Three...

"Open this damn door right now, or I will break it down! I don't give a damn about any stupid rituals!"

"Phew, what's wrong with him walking around with a stick up his ass these days?" A confused frown marred Laura's forehead. "It's just been two days since I kept you guys from meeting. But his mood was already sour before that."

"Yeah, I noticed that too," added Chloe, glancing at me.

A furious blush covered my neck and cheeks under their gazes.

They were right. He has been grumpy for the past two weeks because I denied to have sex with him until we got married.

You know, the anticipation? Though he popped my cherry much before our wedding, I wanted to feel the anticipation and impatience they said was a beautiful feeling in those romance books I read.

And he went ballistic hearing it. He was already displeased about my postponing our marriage a month where he wanted to have it a week later, after he got his consciousness. After whatever happened, we all needed some time to recover. Especially him. He wouldn't even get discharged from the hospital in a week. We had to take our vows on his hospital bed if I let him do what he wanted.

And then I refused to make love.

Now this.

I let out a sigh.

Of course, he would be mad. My betrothed was a man of control. He liked to control everything. And when something got out of his hands, he didn't take it lightly.

And it was a huge turn on for me.

I shook my head.

Focus, Sofia! You have a much more serious matter to deal with right now than thinking of getting dirty with your fiance!

Seemed like those two weeks also took a toll on me.

"I said, open the fucking door!"

Laura raised a brow at me, wanting to know my decision. When I nodded, letting out a huff, she flipped her locks over her shoulder before opening the door.

And as soon as those flaming electric blue eyes locked with my green ones, I gulped.

Time to handle the beast.