Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath.

" I-I can't." She let out. The church became uncomfortably quiet.

......................

Flashback Continues

" Brae?" I was genuinely confused, her words not registering in my mind. She pulled her hands out of mine.

" E-Evan , I c-can't marry you. I am s-sorry." She stuttered. The church broke down into murmurs. I couldn't understand what action of mine made her so angry that she was saying all this. I walked closer, putting my hands out for her but she took two steps back.

" Brae , what happened?" My attention was solely focussed on her face waiting for her to crack a smile, accept her poor ability at cracking a joke.

"This wedding can't happen." A strange uneasiness was settling in the pit of my stomach.

"Tell me what's bothering you? Whatever it is , we can solve it . Please calm down, baby." I knew whatever it was , we could solve it by talking.

" No Evan I can't do this. I am sorry. I can't." She stepped down and started walking out, fuelling the murmurs and gossips. I too stepped down after her. Holding her by her arm , I yanked her back.

" Brae what is wrong with you? Why are you doing this?" I was frustrated with her behaviour. She never behaved so irrationally. Whatever she was doing wasn't funny at all.

" Evan-" I cut her off.

" Okay , okay listen, if you're upset with me, tell me what have I done wrong, I will correct it. We can solve it baby. Please don't walk away." I pleaded with her.

" No we can't Evan! It's over. " A wave of shock passed over me at how easily she could say those words.

" How can you say that Brae ? Nothing is over between us. It can't be." The thought alone was causing an immense pain in my heart .

" It is Evan. It is." Struggling her way out of my arms , she started walking out at a faster pace, but I still couldn't give up. I wasn't ready to let her go. She was out of the church when I gripped her wrist. She stopped walking but didn't turn.

" Bella…" I whispered. I felt her freeze at that.

My voice was shaky. It felt like I was in a nightmare and was on the verge of crying.

"I love you." It came out as a plea from my mouth . The thought of living without her was so scary for me that I was ready to beg her.

" I don't." I felt my heart break into a million pieces. How could she even say that?

" You're lying, Bella." My grip on her wrist tightened.

" No I am not." Her response was spontaneous.

" Yes, you are! Look into my eyes and say that you don't love me." I shouted. I was sure that she wouldn't be able to say those words once she would look into my eyes.

" Say it Bella , say that you don't love me. Look at me and say it." A painful second passed before she turned around and looked emotionlessly into my eyes.

" I. Don't. Love. You. Evan. Lewis." She did it. She said those words looking into my eyes and crushed my heart. The hit of the shock caused me to take a step back, my hand leaving her wrist.

" Why?" My voice was full of despair. The agony in my heart was increasing with each passing second, as if someone was gripping my heart and squeezing it. She looked conflicted for a second before composing herself.

" I found someone else." I was horrified at her statement. Someone else ? How could she find someone else when she had always been the only one for me? I felt that I could pinch myself and wake up from this nightmare and it would be my wedding day when Brae would look lovingly at me.

" Someone e-else ?" I gulped painfully.

" Yes and I love him." Extreme anger replaced the pain in me. She just said love? I clenched my jaws and fists , trying not to do something wrong.

" You don't love me but you love him ? Why ? Does he love you more than me ? Tell me does he ?" I took a menacing step towards her. The thought alone made me see red.

"Does he consider you more important than himself? What does he have to give you that I don't?" I shouted the end part with angry tears rolling down my cheeks. I was hurt , extremely hurt. But I knew that even after all this if she says that this wasn't true, I would believe her in a second.

" Money." She spat. I looked at her in disbelief. Did she just say money ?

" What ?" I whispered in a barely audible voice.

" Money, Evan. Your business is in a poor condition and as bad it may sound, it is going to go further down at this rate. Money is important for a secured life and I want to live a peaceful, secured life Evan, one that he can provide. I can't spend my days in uncertainty." This was the last thing I had expected Brae to ever say. Yes , our business was a bit down because of some losses but me and Brae had never talked about this. I thought materialistic things never mattered to her.

" It's not true. It can't be true. You - You were never after money, Brae. This is not you speaking." I was still in denial , in spite of the truth being clear . I couldn't bring myself to believe that she was after my money.

" It's true Evan. '' Her declaration left me devastated.I was angry at everyone around me and mostly at myself for not recognising her, her true self.

" Don't do this to me, Bella, don't do this." Faint whispers left my mouth,my breath shallow. A strange hollowness had filled my heart, replacing every ounce of hope.

I saw her running to her car and driving off, discarding me as if I was the least valuable thing in her life ever.

I didn't know for how long I was staring at the road before I felt a hand on my shoulder. Ryan had a sympathetic look on his face. I looked back at today's incident, my fate and couldn't help the humourless laughter that left my mouth.

" Life's funny isn't it Ryan? Some minutes ago I was about to get married and was excited like a fucking kid on Christmas and now my bride had left me at the altar for someone else with money, lots of money , security, certainty." I bit my lips while tears freely left my eyes.

" Evan, calm down."

" Do you know what she said? She said that marrying me will make her life uncertain. She won't have bloody security in her life." I shouted and pulled my hair in frustration and extreme grief.

Ryan pulled me into a hug. I wrapped my arms around him and hung onto him like he was the last straw , the last hope of life. Clenching my eyes in anguish, I cried but the pain refused to lessen. The feeling of desolation, hurt and bitterness refused to lessen.

End of Flashback

The memories were still as fresh in my mind as if it were just yesterday. I lived in denial for days before finally I made up my mind to move on. I took over my Dad's business. I worked day and night and we were able to claim back all the losses our company had. Ryan and I had worked our asses off and bought new shares, signed many contracts with multiple companies and brought The Lewis Industries to this position.

I channelized all my anger into determination to work harder but the hurt she caused, never seemed to lessen.

Although she shattered my heart into bits , I still hoped that she would call someday and tell me how she never meant any of those words, how much she loved me, I hoped but she never did.

My parents? They never really spoke much about it. My Dad and Mom used to absolutely adore Brae and I am sure they must have been hurt a lot but whatever it is they never expressed a lot. In fact no one spoke much about the incident and the reason was me. I would blow off anytime the topic was addressed. Ryan had tried speaking about it sometimes but eventually gave up.

That unspoken incident remained with me, hurting me, burning me up from inside. Whenever she is around me I get reminded of her betrayal, her ugly mentality but again I never felt the same thing for any girl what I felt for her.

If I wanted I could have destroyed her with a snap of my fingers, left her penniless but I couldn't. I wanted to see her in pain but a teardrop from her eyes was all it took to make me feel guilty of hurting her.

I smacked my lips , annoyed at my own self. I thought I could come and make her life miserable. Instead I was the one left confused and frustrated.

No, I couldn't go soft on her. She wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of my kindness at the first chance she would get. I wouldn't allow that. Not this time.