Chapter 2. Wedding Deceptions

Morgan walked towards me and hugged me tightly for a moment. I looked at her, trying to control my emotions because I couldn't let them get ahead of me. She smiled and gave me a reassuring look, "I will do everything in my power to get his ass here. Okay, Isla? Calm down now. Everything's going to be perfect, I promise you."

As Morgan left the room, I was alone with my thoughts, and my heartache seemed overwhelming. I searched my phone for any sign from Pier, but the messages and calls remained empty. The voicemail he left the day before, filled with love and promises, only made the situation more painful.

If Pier finishes the work he's been swamped with, he promised to get in touch with me. It was only the other day when he explained that he wouldn't be able to make it the day before our long-awaited ceremony, following Morgan's strict instructions. He had a crucial quota to meet at his airline company, and without fulfilling it, taking leave was simply out of the question. Pier articulated his predicament so well that I couldn't help but empathize and let him focus on his responsibilities. As much as I longed to have him by my side the day before we exchanged vows after three beautiful years together, I understood the demands of his job, and I knew it was essential for me to be patient.

The day Pier broke the news, we were sitting on a quaint park bench, surrounded by colorful flowers in full bloom. The fragrance of nature mingled with the bittersweet taste of reality. He held my hand gently, looking into my eyes with that unmistakable sincerity that always melted my heart. "I wish I could be with you the day before our big day, love. You know how much you mean to me," he said, his voice tinged with regret.

Unable to hold back my emotions any longer, I put the dress back on and rushed outside to the ceremony. The chilly breeze greeted me, and the sound of the waves calmed my nerves momentarily. But my heart still raced, knowing that everything was in place except for the one person I needed the most.

The venue of the ceremony is just outside this building. The cold breeze of air covered me as I stepped out. The sound of the waves welcomed me, and the guests did the same when they saw me. All of them had different reactions. They looked concerned, shocked, and disappointed. My father, especially, had all of those reactions.

I stopped running and stared at the ceremony. Morgan is still talking to the service crews, not noticing me. I saw the officiant was already there, just sitting in his area and waiting for us--- for Pier to be there and for me to walk the aisle. Everything is in place except for my fiancé. I felt alone more than ever.

Did Pier leave me? No. He will not do it. He loves me, and he will not do such a ridiculous thing.

"I told you, Isla dear. That man doesn't love you. You're just poor as you were when you were a child,”

I looked back and saw Mariana behind me with her left eyebrow raised and her arms crossed. I didn't have the energy to talk back to her because I was occupied with something more important. So I just gave her a disgusting look before turning away from her. I wasn't surprised that she could say that to me on my wedding day. She has done much worse.

I rushed to the ceremony and saw how everyone looked at me. I can't be sure what they were actually feeling for me, but I know that Mariana is the happiest person in this place now. She always wanted the worst for me. She looked at me as if I was going to take my father away from her. Has she forgotten that she's the one who took my father away from me?

As I stood there, feeling the weight of the world on my shoulders, my father came to me, his concern evident in his eyes. I shook my head, not wanting him to worry. "Pa, don't worry. Pier will come. I know he will," I said, my voice trembling with hope.

He released my arm, understanding my need to proceed, and I continued my walk towards the ceremony stage. The venue was perfect, a picturesque scene with the moonlight dancing on the sea, scented candles flickering along the aisles, and a lavender carpet leading to the altar. But all this beauty seemed to fade as I reached the stage, realizing that Pier was still not here. My heart ached as I glanced at the empty seat beside me, the void a painful reminder of his absence.

As I faced the ceremony, uncertainty loomed in the air. The officiant approached me, recognizing the pain in my eyes. "Take a moment, my dear," he said, compassionately placing a hand on my shoulder. "We'll let your family and the almighty God handle everything."

But I couldn't accept the possibility that Pier wouldn't come. We had made promises to each other, and I knew he loved me deeply. How could he not be here on the day we were meant to start our lives together? I can't accept yet that Pier is not still here at our wedding. He can't do this to me. As much as I wanted everyone to stay, I couldn't make them. They were here for a wedding, but there's everything here now except for a wedding. You can't have a wedding without a groom.

I mustered every ounce of courage I had left and turned to face our guests. My voice wavered, but I tried to sound strong. "Thank you all for being here today. I truly appreciate your presence on this special day. Unfortunately, my fiancé hasn't arrived yet, and we're doing everything we can to contact him. In the meantime, the wedding is..." My voice trailed off, unable to finish my sentence.

Before I could process what was happening, a voice rang out, disrupting the tense silence. "Let's start the wedding. Forgive me for not being here on time." A man emerged, clad in attire that resembled what Pier was supposed to wear.

My heart soared with hope as a figure approached, wearing clothes identical to what Pier was meant to wear. For a split second, I believed that my beloved had finally arrived, that he had made it just in the nick of time to share this precious moment with me. But as the figure drew nearer, my heart sank like a stone, heavy with disappointment and disbelief. This was not Pier; it was someone else entirely.

I stood there, frozen in time, my mind unable to comprehend the reality before me. The man's beaming smile seemed out of place, and the way he casually patted me on the head. I felt a mixture of anger and confusion, unable to fathom how someone could play such a cruel prank on my wedding day.

"Shall we, babe?" he said with an unsettling familiarity, as if we were old friends sharing a private joke. The nerve of this imposter to address me with such familiarity only added to my frustration.