Chase POV:
I saw her. My heartbeat got out of control, and the world around me disappeared. I felt the same weakness in my knees that I felt in my dream. I wondered if I was still dreaming. It scared me-what if it was just a dream again? I didn't want to check. Even if it was a dream, let it be. I didn't want her to disappear again. I couldn't bear to see her disappear again.
She was wearing a red gown, just like in my dream. I remembered Maya bought it when we went wedding dress shopping. She looked stunning, more beautiful than I could have ever imagined. The way the dress hugged her curves, the way it flowed as she moved-it was mesmerizing. My heart ached with longing and fear, torn between wanting to reach out and touch her, and fearing that doing so would make her vanish.
Flashback:
"And pack that too," Maya said, pointing at the mannequin wearing the red gown.
"Mam, this is not your size. We can customize it if you want," the worker said.
It took my attention.
"It's not for me," Maya said with a knowing smile.
"Then who?" I asked, puzzled.
"Someone special," Maya replied, her eyes sparkling with a secret she refused to share.
End of flashback::
---
She was wearing no makeup, but she didn't need any. Her hair was down, cascading flawlessly over her milky skin. Our eyes met. Even without makeup, her eyes were the most mesmerizing and captivating I had ever seen. "PLEASE, NO," I literally begged when she lowered her head after a single glance at me. She looked so innocent, so pure. Her dad said something to her, and she looked around and smiled. Her smile made my heart skip a beat. She seemed a bit nervous.
Our eyes met again, and this time she didn't look away. The way she was coming toward me, her dad leading her, made it feel like he was walking her down the aisle for our wedding. If she were wearing white, it would look exactly like I imagined the best moment of my life would be-marrying the love of my life.
End of Chase POV:;
......
Her dad got a call.
"Wait, Petal," he said, getting his phone out as it was ringing.
Petal released his arm.
"I need to take this, Petal," her dad said, checking the number. "You go to your mom," he said.
She just nodded her head, and her dad left to take the call.
She didn't know where the bride was.
"Excuse me," she called to a waitress who was passing by.
"Yes, ma'am?" the waitress asked.
"Where is the bride's room?" she asked her.
The waitress told her the direction.
"Thank you," she said with a warm smile.
"Mention not, ma'am," the waitress said before leaving.
.........
Chase's POV:
She asked the waitress something, her voice as soft as I remembered. She hadn't changed, not even a bit. She was exactly the same.
At the end of their conversation, she gave the waitress a warm smile and headed somewhere.
"Where is she going?" I asked myself.
I followed her. Her gown was heavy at the bottom, and she was holding it up. How badly I wanted to hold it for her so she could walk comfortably.
I imagined myself holding her gown as she walked ahead, treating her like the queen she deserved to be.
I saw many men and boys looking at her with lustful eyes, which boiled my blood. I wanted to snatch their dirty eyes away. The ladies and girls gave her jealous looks, angry because she had all the men's attention in the hall.
But she was unbothered, as if she didn't see anyone. She was too focused on handling her gown to walk comfortably.
The bride's room was a bit farther away, and I had an idea of where she was headed. I was following her when one of my business partners called me, distracting me.
"Mr. Chase, congratulations on your wedding," he said.
I looked at him for a moment before turning my attention back to my girl, but she had disappeared. "Where did she go so quickly?" I asked myself.
"Mr. Chase," my partner called again.
"Thank you very much," I said, shaking his hand while still trying to find her. A doubt crept into my mind-was she a dream? The thought scared me.
"What happened, Mr. Chase? You look tense," he asked.
"Actually, I have an emergency. We will talk later. Excuse me," I said, making an excuse and running to find my girl. The only mantra I was chanting was, "Please don't be a dream, please."
I headed toward the bride's room, hoping to find her there.
"Chase, where are you going?" my friend stopped me on the way.
"The priest is calling you," he said.
"I saw her," I said.
"Who?" he asked.
"I saw Petal," I replied.
"What? You must have hallucinated," he said.
"No, she was here with her dad. I think she is someone important to Maya. She must have gone to Maya. I need to meet her," I said.
"She's not here. How can she be?" he said.
"We'll check," I said, attempting to move toward Maya's room.
"Chase, stop," he said, holding my hand. I looked at him. "It's not good to see the bride before the wedding," he explained.
"Do you think I care about that right now?" I said, making him realize how serious I was.
"Still, Chase," he said, but I ignored him and made my way toward Maya's room.
"Chase, stop!" he called out, holding me back. "Why are you getting in my way?" I asked, my anger rising.
"So what if you saw her? What will you do if you find her in Maya's room?" he asked.
"I'll ask her where she was and why she left me when she promised she wouldn't," I said, my anger boiling. I was about to say more when a voice melted all my anger away.
"Excuse me," she said. My heart sank. I glanced at my friend; his widened eyes were confirmation it was her.
I turned, and my heart stopped at the sight of her. Her eyes locked with mine. We didn't speak for a moment until she broke the silence. "Do you know where the bride's room is?" she asked me. I didn't reply, just continued to look at her, unable to believe my eyes.
She glanced at my friend, looking confused. I followed her gaze, my heart sinking. I had missed her so much my eyes felt like they might overflow with tears. When she looked at me again, I saw concern on her face. She must have noticed my tears.
"Petal," we heard. Petal turned around.
It was her dad.
"Dad," she said, her voice a mix of relief and surprise.
"What are you doing here?" he asked her.
"Looking for Mom," she replied.
"You still haven't found her?" he asked, his concern evident.
She shook her head. His gaze shifted to me.
"Mr. Chase, nice to meet you. How are you?" he asked, extending his hand.
"Same to you, Mr. William. I'm fine, and you?" I asked, more out of formality.
"I'm well, too. Congratulations on your marriage," he said.
"Thank you," I replied, still looking at Petal.
He must have noticed my gaze.
"She is my daughter, Petal," he said, introducing her to me.
"She is beautiful," I replied, my voice filled with genuine admiration.
"Petal, this is Mr. Chase, your stepdad," her father said, introducing me.
"Oh, nice to meet you," she said softly.
"Nice to meet you too," I replied.
"Sir," a servant approached. "The priest is calling for you."
My gaze remained fixed on Petal.
"Let's go, Chase," my friend urged. I didn't move.
He grabbed my arm and started dragging me, fully aware that I wanted to stay and keep looking at her.
"Let's go to your mom," her dad said gently.
Petal nodded, and they started to leave. Before I lost sight of her, she glanced back once.
---
Petal met her mom, who scolded her a bit for being late. Despite the reprimand, the love between them was undeniable; she couldn't stay mad at her daughter for long.
---
As the wedding ceremony approached, Maya had requested that Petal walk down the aisle beside her. Petal stood next to Maya, ready for the moment.
"Shall we go, Mom?" Petal asked.
Maya nodded, her eyes shimmering with tears of joy. As the bridal march began, Petal felt immense happiness for her mom. The congregation rose, watching as Maya made her way down the aisle. Her white gown flowed gracefully, a vision of purity and elegance.
Chase stood at the altar, his gaze locked on Petal as she walked beside Maya. His eyes were more focused on her than on Maya. Each step Petal took seemed to echo in his heart, amplifying a profound sense of love and guilt.
He took a deep breath, struggling to steady himself as emotions surged within him. The resemblance between Petal and Maya was strikingly evident now, and the realization hit him hard. He had been so absorbed in his own world, he failed to connect the dots sooner. Maya had mentioned her daughter in passing, but Chase had never thought to inquire further or see a picture. If he had only paid closer attention, he might have recognized the qualities Maya had described-qualities that mirrored the very essence of his love, Petal.
The regret gnawed at him, making his heart ache. He wondered how things might have been different if he had known sooner. As Petal approached, the weight of missed opportunities and unspoken connections pressed heavily on him.
As they reached him, Chase gently took maya's hand, and they turned to face the priest.
The priest smiled warmly. "Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today in the sight of God and these witnesses to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony. This is an honorable estate, instituted of God, signifying unto us the mystical union that is between Christ and His Church. Therefore, it is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, discreetly, and in the fear of God."
He paused, allowing the gravity of his words to sink in.
Chase, however, was not focused on the priest's words. His eyes remained locked on Petal, standing behind her mother. The intensity of his gaze seemed to make her uncomfortable. She could sense his distress and sadness, yet she couldn't understand why he was looking at her like this, as if trying to piece together a forgotten memory.
On one hand, Chase felt a deep sadness; on the other, confusion gnawed at him. He wondered why Petal didn't recognize him. Despite the fact that her father had encountered him years ago, only Petal had seen his face. He had shown himself to her and no one else, as she was not a victim in the traditional sense-he hadn't treated her as one, at least in his own distorted view. This complexity added to his emotional turmoil, leaving him both heartbroken and bewildered.
The priest continued, "Into this holy estate, these two persons present come now to be joined. If any man can show just cause why they may not lawfully be joined together, let him now speak, or else hereafter forever hold his peace."
The room fell silent, the air heavy with anticipation. Chase felt a deep, aching urge to stop the wedding, to cry out and reveal the truth. But he was powerless to do so now. His heart raced with a mix of desperation and regret, knowing that the moment to intervene had passed. As he stood there, the weight of his silence felt almost unbearable, leaving him to grapple with his emotions and the lost chance to change the course of events.
Flashback::
"What do you mean?" his friend asked, bewildered.
"I can't marry Maya, not after finding her," Chase said firmly.
"Are you out of your mind?" his friend responded incredulously.
"I don't care," Chase insisted. "I told you I wouldn't let her go if I found her. Now that I have, how can I marry anyone else? She is only mine, and I am only hers. I can't marry anyone but her."
"Chase, come to your senses. You can't do this now," his friend argued. "Everyone is waiting for you, and you're saying you can't get married?"
"I WILL only marry her," Chase declared.
"And what about her? Will she marry you?" his friend asked.
A flicker of fear crossed Chase's face. Little did he know she might not agree. "She will, no matter what it takes. I need to make her," he said, determination in his voice.
"Just like that time," his friend pointed out, referencing the past.
Chase shot him a look, silent but intense.
"You're a businessman now, not just any masked man. Have you considered how this decision will impact your reputation?" his friend asked.
"I don't care about that. All I care about is her," Chase replied, resolute.
"She lost her memories," his friend said suddenly.
"I heard her dad talking to Dr. Smith. She lost her memories of that time," he explained.
"That's why she doesn't recognize me," Chase thought to himself.
"She may have forgotten, but her heart hasn't," his friend said.
Chase looked at him, seeking further explanation.
"Her heart remembers those memories as pain. She's been having nightmares since she lost her memories. You are her nightmare," his friend said, his voice breaking with sympathy.
"Chase, don't make this mistake again. Marry Maya, forget about her, and let her be," his friend urged.
"I can't forget her," Chase said, a hint of anguish in his voice.
"You have to," his friend insisted. "Otherwise, you'll hurt her again, and it might be worse this time. The rest is up to you," he said, leaving Chase alone to make his decision.
End of flashback::
He didn't know what to do, but for now, he decided to go through with the wedding. His friend had been right-if he acted on his impulses now, he might end up hurting Petal again. The wedding was already underway; there was no turning back or postponing it. So, Chase resolved to follow through with it for the time being.
The priest nodded and continued, "I require and charge you both, as you will answer at the dreadful day of judgment when the secrets of all hearts shall be disclosed, that if either of you know any impediment why you may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, you do now confess it."
Chase and Maya exchanged glances, but the priest moved on. "Chase, do you take Maya to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto her, so long as you both shall live?"
Though the priest was addressing Maya, Chase's focus remained on Petal, who stood behind her mother. His heart ached with a desire to give her everything.
"I do," Chase said, his voice steady but his eyes fixed on Petal. Petal lowered her gaze, uncomfortable under his intense stare, her face flushed with a mix of emotions.
The priest turned to Maya. "Maya, do you take Chase to be your lawfully wedded husband, to live together in the holy estate of matrimony? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, and, forsaking all others, keep only unto him, so long as you both shall live?"
"I do," Maya replied, her voice trembling with emotion.
The priest took their hands and joined them together. "Let us pray. Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of all life, Author of salvation, Giver of all grace: Bless and sanctify with your Holy Spirit Chase and Maya, who come now to join in marriage. Grant that they may give their vows to each other in the strength of your steadfast love. Enable them to grow in love and peace with you and with one another all their days, that they may reach out in concern and service to the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
The priest then asked, "May I have the rings?"
Chase's friend stepped forward, handing over the simple, elegant bands. The priest blessed them and then handed one to Chase.
"Repeat after me," the priest instructed. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
Chase slid the ring onto Maya's finger, his voice full of conflicting emotions. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Even as he placed the ring on Maya's finger, he was consumed by thoughts of Petal, feeling as if he was doing this for her.
Maya, her hands trembling slightly, repeated the vows as she placed the ring on Chase's finger. "With this ring, I thee wed, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
The priest raised his hands in blessing. "Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder. By the power vested in me by the Church and the state, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
As their lips met, the congregation erupted in applause, the organ bursting into a triumphant melody. Although he was kissing Maya, Chase's eyes was fixed on Petal. The kiss became rougher as Petal turned away, for a moment, he felt as if she was rejecting him. But it was merely her discomfort with witnessing a kiss.
Hand in hand, Chase and Maya walked down the aisle, their futures now intertwined. Outside, the sky was a perfect blue, symbolizing the start of their new life together. Yet, as Chase walked beside Maya, he felt emotionally detached. The future seemed uncertain. Would he be able to forget Petal as his friend suggested? The question loomed large in his mind, casting a shadow over the bright promise of the day.
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