No matter how hard she denied the fact and had wanted to wake up from this supposed nightmare, the truth before her eyes simply cannot be erased by a single wish whatsoever.

She even pinched a delicate thigh and the result had woken her up completely from her dreamlike trance. This was indeed not a mere figment of her imagination.

​​

'God above, how can you be so cruel?' Natalia lamented at last before she opened her mouth to try to change how fate had willfully mocked her.

"THERE WILL BE NO WEDDING!" At least not with this brutish man! Natalia had wanted to add but she gathered herself on time before she could appear like a lady with no class or finesse.

Unfortunately, her unrestrained sudden outburst had earned a few glances from the nearby tables.

She felt a little bit of shame from her actions but her anger and dislike towards her groom to be took precedence above anything else.

Donya Nelya merely raised an exquisite brow after this and looked at her son in a curious manner.

"If they don't want the deal then we could only honor their wishes, mother. We could make do even if we lost 70% of our riches. Sorry for wasting your time, Mr. Santa Cruz."

Paulo stood up and was in the process of taking care of her mother's chair like a perfect gentleman. Natalia saw this and the memory of her dying loved one resurfaced in her thoughts.

"Wait..." she whispered. The pair of mother and son heard her fully as the two looked at her, waiting for what she was about to say.

But Natalia could only drop her precious tears while a sad truth came barging over and over in her mind. She has lost to this despicable man once again.

* * *

The day was cool with big fluffy clouds on the horizon that only added further beauty to the event beneath its lofty heights. Songs were sung and its hymns resonated out towards everyone on the scene.

Each word uttered were tasted fully in the audible delight of the masses and every note that rose and fell with the beats that followed also harped the multitudes of hearts in the significant milestone that they have come to witness today.

Most, if not all, felt the message of love on this hallowed grounds. But this was unfortunately not shared by all souls in attendance.

Someone in their midst and perhaps one the most important cast experienced no happiness whatsoever.

The lovely music around the sacred dome was akin to the echoes of chains around her life which guaranteed a twisted fate she never imagined she would have.

She could have resisted and gone away from this place of sacred vows but that option was lost the moment she remembered how great the last 8 days had been.

Her mother's unpaid bills were settled and she was now recuperating in the best care this city can offer.

And after the latest bouts of treatments, the results seemed positive that all the more convinced Natalia that her sacrifice was indeed worth it.

"I guess this is it, huh? Took me years to hope for love to find me. Waiting for someone real within a world of frauds. And now..." she took a deep breath and focused on the sacraments before her.

"Natalia..." a handsome man murmured just inches from her. His eyes were particularly azure in color and that expressive hue only highlighted the perfection that this man embodied.

Tall, striking, and stood with such grace and confidence. Any woman would have been drooling in wetness the moment this man would pierce the lucky Eve with his melting stare.

But this certainly was far from the feelings that Natalia has at the moment. All she ever felt days ago up until this grandiose affair was a sense of dread and doom.

She totally has not envisioned fate to mock at her in this way. Not even in her wildest dream ever!

"Hmmmm..." what could Natalia do and say but a facade of assent. A lovely smile was plastered on her angelic face but her eyes were almost in tears because of the promise of what was to come next.

"What a perfect woman to match the heir of the Agustin Clan!"

"Truly a match rarely seen in this world!"

"A heavenly couple!"

"A picture of two soul mates entwined with Cupid's keen eyes!" The people in attendance conversed in whispers as they thought themselves lucky to witness such a partnership of hearts.

"You are the love of my heart, Natalia. I vow that from today onward, you shall only smile in life's wonderful surprises.

And if one day, i forget the words i say today, just a kiss from you will do and i will then remember the day when you conquered my heart forever. I love you so much, Natalia. Now until the end of time!"

Paulo uttered with unbelievable sincerity. His voice was clear and vibrant that made everyone feel the emotions held within each syllable that was used.

'Well spoken words of deceit coming from the mouth of the devil himself. A good combination.' Natalia said to herself. After the honeyed words, she realized that there was only silence in the surroundings.

The priest was waiting with a smile and the despicable man who put her in this situation has a grin to show on his seemingly genuine mien.

A second later, Paulo's smile turned a tad wider as if to dare Natalia to do otherwise than what was planned.

'ARROGANT PRICK!' Natalia yelled inside her mind. There was a sudden impulse to smile seductively before turning around to retrace her steps down the aisle like a runaway bride in the movies.

But alas, she still retained her sanity even at the silent urging of the most hateful man she knew in life. Instead, Natalia hit back in the most subtle of ways.

"Paulo... you arrogant prick!" Well, perhaps she was not that subtle after all.