ZING

As far as I know, the wedding is something magical, insanely beautiful, and a million dreams coming true. But for me, it felt wrong, painful, and sinful.

Dressed in a beautiful white gown, I am glowing, beaming ... for them! But inside, I am dying inch by inch.

With the shattering hopes, my eyes blurred again, but I couldn't let tears spill and raise suspicion for them. Who am I kidding? They knew—they all knew.

I would have been the happiest bride in the whole world, only if he accepted me, but no, he had to be adamant, leaving me suffocating.

Sitting in front of the mirror, instead of my beautiful appearance, I am seeing the real me, who is broken, slumped in defeat, hopeless, and utterly lost.

I knew this wasn't easy but never thought it would hurt like this either. The dreamy bubble I was living in burst, throwing me down on the hard reality.

It's hell!

When there was no option left, I agreed to this marriage, killing my soul.

I do love the man I am about to marry, but just not the way a woman should love her man. He is my best friend, Dilan. I can lay down my life for him, but just not my heart. And what's worse, he knows.

The world I am living in is cruel. When my existence became a beacon to the trouble, when they wanted me to ally just to become powerful, Papa decided to write my fate, or it was him who did it!

Papa was terrified and not ready to send me anywhere else. There isn't love here. Surprisingly, this wedding isn't about love either. But Papa's begging eyes tied me. How can I reject him? World's best Papa.

But Dil loves me, so I accepted. He knows my heart still beats for his brother, but I convinced him, saying I am ready. Just because I can't have my happily ever after, I don't want him to sacrifice his.

The hard part is, the moment I say I do, I have to let go of my only wish and only dream I ever had. Can I? What if I can't? Isn't that wrong? Some memories you cannot forget; it's a curse.

I was happy with just his thoughts and dreams and ready to live my life with them, but this world won't let me live that way.

'Dare...!' Can I erase his name from my heart and live? Those beautiful moments I shared with him these past few weeks made it even harder for me to move on. Especially when I have glimpsed the small pain in his eyes, the tiny affection I craved all these years.

But he declined to accept me. Or we both did, and I accepted this fate for me. Because I know how it feels when you burn in love, you can never have it. and I don't want that pain for my bestie, the sweetest soul on this earth... Dil.

Every time his eyes lit up when he saw me, the beautiful blush coating his ears. I always cursed myself. Why couldn't I fall for him instead of his brother? But no; I had to crave this one forbidden fruit I couldn't have!

How many times I made up my mind to move on, but the next moment, my thoughts would take a U-turn and come back to him, to Dare… Darian Creed.

He will be present there. I was begging all the power above to give me strength to get over with this disaster. Neither my eyes nor my heart should wander off to him. I was already shrinking from the weight, thinking I was about to sin, and I didn't want to worsen it for everyone.

But also there is a tiny hope; I and Dil love each other to the point that I am sure it's more than enough for us to live happily. But I had to lock that secret door of treasure in my heart and throw the key away for the rest of my life.

Never to visit again!

"Abby …!" Triton called.

I straightened myself, plastered the biggest smile I could muster, and glanced at him. Triton, my god-sent brother, is walking me down the aisle. He crouched down, turning me to him.

"Baby, are you sure you want to do this? I mean…" He was worried, even at this last moment.

I nodded, even though my heart was getting heavier every passing second.

"Yes, I am ready…!!