THE POWER OF LOVE

Leslie slowly opened her eyes, her head throbbing slightly as she realized she was sleeping on the couch. She had obviously had a bit too much to drink and passed out. As she sat up and looked around, she noticed the silence of the house, indicating that the party had ended and everyone had left.

she glanced at her watch, squinting to see the time. Then, her gaze fell upon the sparkling engagement ring on her finger, and memories of the previous celebration came flooding back. It was her engagement party, and she was finally going to marry the man of her dreams.

Leslie's excitement was palpable as she gazed at the ring, her heart racing with anticipation. But as she looked around the empty room, she couldn't help but wonder where her fiancé was.

Leslie approached the bedroom, the door slightly ajar, and the sounds emanating from the room were making her heart sink. She pushed the door open, and her world came crashing down. Her fiancé, the man she was supposed to marry in just a few hours, was in bed with her cousin, their bodies entwined in a passionate embrace.

Leslie's eyes widened in horror as she struggled to process the scene before her. She felt as though she'd been punched in the gut, her breath knocked out of her. The pain and betrayal she felt were overwhelming, and tears began to stream down her face.

How could he do this to her, on the night before their wedding? She knew her cousin was a bitch, but she didn't expect this from Justin. She couldn't bear to watch any longer. She turned and walked away from the house, the image of them together in bed seared into her mind like a branding iron.

Leslie's mind was reeling with questions as she wandered the streets, unsure of where to go or what to do. Why had Justin proposed to her when he was clearly involved with her cousin? Was their entire relationship a lie? The questions swirled in her head, making her feel dizzy and disoriented. She grabbed her phone. She needed someone to talk to, so she called her friend

"Hello, I can't hear you, Leslie. I'm at the club. Too much noise," Hazel's voice crackled over the phone.

Leslie hung up the phone and called Uber to take her to the club. When she arrived there, Hazel was a little drunk and grooving. She didn't tell her anything she didn't want to bother her with her problems.

"Leslie, what are you doing here?" Hazel asked, swaying slightly to the music. "You should be resting up for tomorrow. It's your big day! But hey, have one last night of fun before your wedding. A wedding is a big step. "

Leslie forced a smile, hiding the pain from her heart. Hazel thought everything was fine between her and her fiance.

They have shots and dance. All Leslie wanted was to get drunk and forget about all her problems, but her reckless drinking led to a night that changed everything. The next moment She finds herself in a private room with a stranger kissing

The guy embraces her by her waist. Her heart was racing uncontrollably. Her heart softened. She was drunk and felt that this was wrong since she was still engaged, but she couldn't bear to push him away.

The guy was somehow not easy to resist. She didn't hesitate to let him take her virginity away. She saved herself for a long time for Justin, but after his betrayal, she let the strange take her virginity away just like that

The next morning. Leslie was in big shock to find herself sleeping in a strange room. Her surroundings revealed a dimly lit. Panic sets in when she discovers her nudity and searches the room looking for her clothing.

Her heart sank when she saw a pair of condoms on the floor. It was final damming evidence of a night she couldn't fully remember. She sat on the bed with a sheet wrapped around her body, grabbing her head. Is this a dream or what? She then wears her dress.

She then saw a handsome man getting into the room. The man she slept with. Regret and shame overwhelmed her. How could she do this to herself? How could she just throw herself to a stranger?

The guy looks cold, uneasy, and serious. He seems like a person who doesn't take a shit. Martin stood beside her and stared at her with his cold, charming eyes

" How much do you want? " he said in his deep, charming voice

Leslie didn't believe it at all. What does this guy think of her? Does he think she is a prostitute or something? She glares at him.

" What do you take me for, a prostitute? Look, I don't need your money, " she said in an angry tone

Martin's lovely face was twisted in shock. He thought she was one of the girls he always met at the club. Sleep with them, give them money, and never meet with them again, but this girl was different.

He is every woman's dream. Many women are dying to wake up on his arm, but there are regrets in this woman's eyes. No woman doesn't want money, so what else does she want?

" What do you want? " his eyes turned icy when he asked her that.

She grabs her shoes with her hands. She glares at him. " Nothing," she repeats herself. "I want nothing from you. You and I didn't meet, and this didn't happen. "

After saying that, she opened the door and walked away from him just like that. It was his first time to meet with a girl like that. Who doesn't give a shit about his money, power, and his status? That makes him want to know who the hell she is.

She then grabbed her phone to see the time. It was around 8 am. She got 20 missed calls from Justin and her uncle

When she arrived at her place, she found everyone there since it was her wedding day. Everyone was relieved to see her. She was so reckless since she drunk last night. It was obvious by her appearance that she was grooving last night.

Her uncle was so angry, how could she embarrass him like that in front of her in-laws, his friends, and family? A wave of intense hatred washed over her, especially when she saw Kelly and Justin together. The scene of them making love was repeatedly on her mind

" Leslie, Where have you been? I called you millions of times, " Her uncle asked her in an angry tone

" I am no longer getting married," she said loudly so that everyone could hear her, and her uncle was so angry.

Upon hearing that, Kelly's face was smirking because she was jealous that Leslie was the one getting married to Justin, not her. She was so jealous of Leslie's relationship for a long time, and that is why she seduced Justin to ruin everything between them

Dorries glares at Leslie. Her son paid a lot of money for her bride price(lobola). How could she just cancel a wedding at the last minute?

" What are you saying, Leslie? Justin paid a lot of money for your bride price (lobola). "

"Yes, Mrs. Dlamini, He paid a lot of money, but he paid it to my uncle right." Before Leslie finished what she was trying to say, Dorries interrupted her in anger

" What are you saying, Leslie? Who should he pay it to since your parents died? "

" What I'm trying to say is. I think my bride price should be transferred to Kelly since Justin loved her so much. She will be the one marrying him today, not me. "

According to South African tradition, the groom should pay the price for his bride before they get married to the bride's parents or her guardian, and the whole process is called lobola.

Justin and Kelly's faces contorted in utter shock as if they had been physically struck. Their eyes widened, and their mouths hung open in stunned silence like they had been punched in the gut.

" What is she saying right now? Does she know that I'm cheating on her with her cousin?" Justin's thoughts raced, and he was a little confused, asking himself how she had found out.

Justin was so scared. If Leslie knew about his affair with Kelly. It will be the end of him, his father won't make him the president of the family company, and that was the only reason for marrying Leslie.

Justin's father and Leslie's father had been close friends. Before Leslie's father passed away, Justin's father made a promise to him that he would look out for Leslie's well-being and keep her safe. As fate would have it, Leslie and Justin eventually started dating. Justin's father saw this as an opportunity to fulfill his promise to his late friend, thinking that having Leslie as his daughter-in-law would make it easier for him to protect and care for her.

"I apologize for the commotion," Leslie's uncle said, his voice calm and measured. "I need to speak with Leslie in private and resolve this situation."

Justin's father nodded in agreement, "Yes, Mr. Makhubele is right. Let's give them some space to resolve this as a family."

But before anyone could respond, Dorris interjected, her voice stern and authoritative, "You better fix this, Mr. Makhubele, because I won't tolerate this nonsense."

Mr. Makhubele ushered Leslie to a quiet corner, his expression stern but concerned. Meanwhile, Justin's father shot his son a withering glance, his anger and disappointment palpable. It was clear to him that something was amiss between Justin and Kelly, and Leslie's accusations hadn't come out of thin air.