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Sometimes it only takes one correct move to beautify every bad thing in your life. And sometimes It only takes one wrong move to destroy every good thing in your life.

If there was still anything good about my life, it would be that no matter how guilty I felt, Carter and I were still talking. It might've got to do everything with the fact that I hadn't told him the reality yet but it was still better than Carter looking at me with hatred in his eyes and not the love that I was used to.

And that good thing was destroyed that day.

It wasn't like I didn't want Carter to know. I wanted him to know. But I was weak. I was scared of him leaving me. As much as I hate to admit it I was being extremely selfish. I was scared of the consequences of telling him the truth. And I hoped that somehow, magically the truth could be told to him and he doesn't get mad at me or change the ways he was with me.

I wanted this guilt to end by telling him, by letting him know the truth but I made wrong choices and things ended up in the most worst ways possible. He needed to know but not the way he got to know it. And I was sure that it had made him hate me completely. I was sure Carter no more wanted to be associated with me. He never wanted to do anything with me. Heck he might've never wanted to see me.

I hadn't told him yet because I had something up my mind. I had planned some way to stay with Carter but before any of it could work out Carter got to know everything. Carter got the wrong picture of things and it was a kind of picture that portrayed me as a lying, cheating, bitchy whore.

I wanted Carter to know the other day but I passed out. I woke up the next day on my bed which did nothing but confuse the hell out of me. How I came to my house was completely out of my mind. I woke up with a terrible headache which had to do with my drinking last night. Rebecca entered my room, offering me a Tylenol and a glass of water. I couldn't be more relieved.

"Rebecca, who bought me here?" I massaged my forehead as I asked.

"There was this guy named Jack, he told me you had been drinking." Rebecca answered sitting beside me on the bed. Even though my head was hurting badly I smiled, knowing that Jack really had changed. "And you were holding this," she showed me the card Josh had given me.

I took it out of her hands. "Where is Josh?"

"He is playing with his friends in the garden. Jack guy brought him home too."

"Oh." My eyes caught the wall clock and I gasped looking at the time. "It's one pm!" Jumping off my bed, I walked towards my closet.

"Yes. And your mother wants you to change into this dress here," Rebecca turned towards me while she gestured to the dress hanging on the door knob. At the mention of my mother I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, calming myself down.

I opened them, staring at a long light-pink 🌏 gown. If it was any other day I would've been dancing like crazies because that dress was perfect. It was beautiful. It had little details, following the neckline while the rest of it was a fancy, glittered fabric.

This dress could only mean my parents had some torturous thing up their sleeves. After a forceful bath I wore that dress and came out of the washroom to find a familiar face watching me. I ran through my memories to place a name to the lady that I met the day my marriage was announced. Maria? Monica?

Melissa. Yes, Melissa. "Hi Melissa!" I greeted her, showing fake enthusiasm because all her presence meant was a clear warning. Warning that my parents were continuing with their sick plans and today was a huge part of it.

If the dress itself hadn't confirmed it, the hairstylist before me had. She made me sit down on the chair that she had set up for me. She started with my makeup and I tried my luck by questioning her. "Do you know, why am I supposed to. . . doll up?"

She chuckled continuing with her actions as she sighed. "I have no idea. Because there isn't anything planned at your house. Maybe you're gonna go somewhere. . . I really don't know. . ." She trailed making me 'hmm' as a response because I didn't want to ruin her efforts by moving.

After she was done she placed a box of jewellery before me and gestured me to wear it while she did my hair. The jewellery inside was beautiful. It was like something I had never seen before. The necklace shone brightly, screaming how expensive it was. It came with a matching pair of earrings that I wore next.

As my sleeves were long enough to stretch till my wrists there really was no need for me to wear anything in my hands. After waiting for almost half an hour I found myself staring at my reflection. The dress hugged me perfectly, like it was made for me only. It made me look pretty and it was only then that I noticed a small slit in that that opened up thill my thigh.

As much as I didn't want to, I looked good. I looked like a princess, minus the frown permanently etched on my face. Melissa was quick to come and stand beside me. "You like it? I gave you a natural look knowing that you don't really like makeup that much."

"You did a good job Melissa. I love it. And you did the hair pretty as well. Thank you." I presented a smile to her. It wasn't her fault my parents sucked. All she did was try to make me look like a doll and she succeeded. I really wanted to snap at someone but she wasn't the one who deserved it.

"You're welcome, love. You look gorgeous!" I nodded with a slight smile as I walked towards my bed where my sandals were waiting to hurt my feet. Those heals scared me because of how painful they were going to be.

After wearing them, I went out of my room and down to where I heard Victoria and Richard were waiting for me. As I reached down to the ground floor I felt my feet already hurting. Sighing I walked towards the living room where I made out a picture of Victoria sitting elegantly while Richard was busy talking on his phone.

I noticed that they were quiet overdressed for a small gathering and it did nothing but increase the anxiety inside me. All it meant was there was something huge due. Maybe it was the marriage itself. Even the thought of it brought shivers down my spine and I felt like throwing up.

I stood there waiting for anyone of them to make a move towards the door but both of them seemed comfortable. I carried myself near them as I cleared my throat making them more aware of my presence. So that they look at me and not act like I'm invisible.

Victoria looked at me and there was something in her eyes that I couldn't catch. But I know something was there. Dad kept typing on his without giving me another glance. "Do I have the right to know why am I so dressed up and sitting amongst you guys when neither of us want to?"

"Of course you do, dear daughter. You're dressed up because today is special for you." My supposed father answered, his unoriginality dripping from his words.

Special your huge ass!

"You guys have given me such huge special surprises that I can't wait to find out what's next in line for me. Could you be a little more specific?"

"No, I can't." Richard opened his mouth to smile gamely at me showing his teeth. Until then I wanted my father to die but after that day, my hatred for him had multiplied. And all I wanted to do all of a sudden was to kill him with my own hands. I looked at Victoria with an expectant gaze gesturing her to explain but she ignored me and went back to admiring her fingernails.

I noted one thing with myself: never question. Always demand. Always.

I made myself comfortable on the sofa millimetres beside my mother where she was at one end of the sofa and I was at the other. At times like that I really wished I was a mobile-lover to kill time. Remembering my phone I messaged Carter, keeping my eyes on both of the monsters.

I waited for his reply which came five minutes later, startling me with its weird sound. Both Victoria and Richard snapped their head towards me and watched me with squinted eyes. Squirming on my seat, I looked down at my phone.

This was the thing about Carter. No matter how much hurtful or painful my life was Carter was always able to make me forget. At that time, even though we were only texting, I forgot everything troubling me.

I forgot that I was sitting with two monsters who wanted me to be married to someone I barely knew because of their stupid money.

I forgot my father was a bag of dicks.

I forgot my mother had no feelings whatsoever and was an ignorant heartless human being and similar to the bag of dicks if not worse.

I forgot this was supposed to be a very special day of my life. Not.

I forgot that I might get married to Lucas today.

I forgot how my heals were hurting me.

I forgot how uncomfortable the dress made me feel.

And I forgot about each and everything around me, but us. Me and him.

I smiled, stifling a laughter at his response and started to type a message to him. But before I was even half way through the message, I heard the living room's door open and Rebecca came in. "They're here," she whispered.

The smile was wiped off from my face as soon as I registered the meaning behind her words. I felt Victoria standing up from the sofa followed by Richard who stood up pushing his iPhone in his pocket. Copying their movements looked like the best thing to do at that time and I stood up, gulping as I felt myself being the centre of attention. I don't know why, but I just felt that way.

The figures started to appear and I could clearly make out who the guests were. I could clearly see them but I didn't want to believe. I didn't want this to happen yet. My eyes teared up looking at an approaching Amber.

I was going to be married today!

The tear left my eyes, followed by some more. If anything was left to be proved, I saw Lucas walking in a navy blue suit looking. . . . Like a groom. A sob left my mouth and not being able to stand there anymore I walked out of the living room.

"Hey! Sophie! You're going to ruin the makeup!" Melissa walked towards me and held my arms tightly. "Don't cry. You'll mess up yourself."

I was going to get married tonight! And all she cared was that my makeup was okay?!

"Please, do not cry." Melissa was very soft this time. The sound of a heals walking towards me made me stiff.

"Sophia, do not create a scene again! If you spill anything as a little drop of your waterworks, I will not hesitate to spill every ounce of blood from Carter's body." I gasped at her, my eyes getting damp again.

"Not even a single one of those!" She warned, wiping my cheek harshly. I blinked back the tears, nodding. I had failed and there was nothing I was able to do. But at least something was comforting– knowing that Carter would be safe was comforting.

"Now come on! And, behave!"

I walked behind her, giving a weak smile to Melissa who looked totally confused. As I walked into the living room I felt arms around me hugging me tight. "Sophie!" By the voice I could recognize it was Angela. I stood there awkwardly patting her back.

"You fainted the last time we were here. How do you feel right now darling?" Her words echoed in the room as she looked at me with something no other women had ever showed to me except Rebecca.

I'm getting married today, to someone I don't even properly know. How do you I will be? Of course, I'm great!

"I'm better." I answered, clenching my jaw. My eyes swarmed around the room to locate Lucas and when I found him, his head was hung down. I waited for him to make eye contact with me but he didn't.

Another presence beside me made me turn my head to it. Amber stood there smiling wildly at me. She was also dressed up like it was a wedding and anger rose throughout my body. "You look lovely Sophia!" She said.

"Thank you." My voice came out cracked, showing how much of a wreck I was.

"Come on! I think the lawn would be the perfect place for photography!" Amber announced, walking outside of the house, followed by everyone but Lucas. I looked up at him to find him walking towards me.

"You knew it, didn't you?" I whispered, trying to make him look up at me. He nodded, his head still dipped. I sighed feeling tears pooling inside my eyes. "You could've told me, Lucas! You could've told me earlier! Why didn't you!?" My voice rose instinctively as I let out all of the anger pilled up inside me. "This wouldn't have happened! Why didn't you tell me, you moron!?"

"Because I was trying to solve this issue myself. I didn't want you involved because you didn't know yet. I wanted you to never know about this deal between our families and continue with your life. And that's why I tried to solve the matter. Before I could do anything, your Dad announced it to the whole goddamn city!"

"Guess what, Lucas? You failed to solve it! Now what? We both get married? I don't like you, you don't like me! I don't even know you properly Lucas!" I cried out, a tear making it's way down my cheek.

"I'm sorry Sophia, I'm so so sor-" before he could complete his sentence Amber walked inside. "Guys, come on! You can have your conversations later on." She chuckled and motioned us to come with her. Wiping my cheek I turned around and started to walk out of the door.

Lucas caught up to me fast and together we made our way to the garden after Amber. I had accepted the reality completely. The marriage was bound to happen someday and the sooner the less it would hurt me and the people around me. With this thought in mind I was ready for whatever was going to be waiting for me in the garden.

There I saw a stranger guy along with a camera in his hands that caught my attention. "So as you fainted that day, we decided to have the pictures session some other day and today seemed like the best day for both of our families." Angela revealed, making me sigh in relief about the fact that I wasn't going to be married to Lucas. Not yet.

I nodded at her. "I'll be taking pictures of Ms. Sophia and Mr. Lucas first. Then there'll be all the family pictures." All of us agreed with him and our families disappeared from the background.

The photographer asked us to stand close to each other and smile at the camera. I wanted to do everything but smile at that point of time. "Come closer!" The photographer asked, more like demanded us as he adjusted his device. Awkward was the only word I could use to describe the position I was in.

I stood there only, not wanting to go any closer to Lucas than I already was but Lucas moved closer. "Try to look a little original Ms. Sophia." I gulped my anger down my throat and smiled at him widely. That was the fake-est smile I had ever pulled.

"Yes, now hold hands for the other one." Could this get anymore awkward?!

I felt Lucas bringing his hand close to mine and I gave in soon, lifting my hands along with his. I smiled widely at the camera which flashed at us after which the guy smiled. "Excellent! Now look at each other along with holding your hands!" He nodded his head.

I sighed, turning my head to look at Lucas who's eyes were fixed on me. "Smile!" The photographer shouted and I smiled at Lucas. He copied my actions and smiled. The only difference was that his smile was real while mine was purposefully fake.

"Now a shot with the ring. Where's the ring?" I closed my eyes telling myself to bear it a little more before it was going to be over. Amber was quick to bring a small jewelry box to us which probably had my engagement ring in it.

I was getting engaged! I was getting engaged! Fucking engaged!

Staring at the ring before my eyes I wondered how I ever wanted myself to be engaged. I had never thought about being engaged and there I was standing with my going-to-be-fiancé who had the ring between his index finger and the thumb.

After catching Lucas mouthing a 'sorry' to me, I brought my gaze to the ring. My vision was too blurry to notice the details of the ring. Without thinking of the consequences, I pulled my hands behind my back, shaking my head lightly.

"Come on, daughter!" Richard's voice echoed inside my head. His voice was scary like a warning. And that moment I knew I had to do this for Carter. For Carter's life. For his safety. "Sophia, you don't want to do this." Victoria came and hissed inside my ear slowly, making me gulp. I nodded at her and forced my hand out.

I presented a forced smile to Lucas as he pushed the ring gently in my ring finger. "Hold it there for a bit Mr. Lucas. And smile at each other!" I kept my pooled eyes on Lucas, smiling as wide as I could. I could no more make out his face clearly because of how faded my vision was. Tears had clouded my eyes and were threatening to spill.

I had never thought my engagement would turn out to be this way. It wouldn't have mattered that much if I hadn't fell in love with Carter. It wouldn't have mattered that much if I hadn't met Carter. But now that I had I couldn't accept the reality even if it was right before me. Keeping that wide smile on my face, I gathered my thoughts and calmed myself down. I stopped the sobs from escaping my lips and held my tears inside my eyes as long as I could.

A few flashes went off after which the photographer spoke, "great! Excellent!" Remembering Victoria's words from earlier, I breathed out of relief, closing my eyes to stop the tears from escaping.

What caught my eyes when I opened them, crumpled my world. I felt my heart sink and a sob escaped my mouth. I started to breath faster as if I was going to die. My knees felt like jellies and I was not able to keep the act anymore. A series of sobs left my mouth as I took in the scene before me.

Carter stood there with a wrapped gift in his hands. His eyes looked like they had witnessed each and every one of the thing going on. Tears could no more remain in my eyes, staring at his hatred filled ones. Carter's eyes moved from me to my hand that was being held by Lucas and had the ring shining on it.