An hour earlier,
"So.... uh and Cara huh? What's that about? I know you two said the two of you are marrying out of love, but based on dinner I had with your family, it seems otherwise."
" It's complicated between us, but I am serious about her. She's not like anyone I've met."
" Present company.... included? We spend so much time together."
He laughs. " That was the past! Come on, Anna. We were both young and fooling around back then. But what I have with Cara? It feels right."
" It's been a while since I have heard that nickname." she says
He drinks one more glass.
" I'm really sorry about your wedding, but I'm actually happy for you that it didn't work out."
" Really? You're happy, that I didn't get married? Is it because - "
" I really hope you'll marry someone who loves you for you. Someone who will see you the way I see Cara. I really hope you're feeling better. I have to get home to her.... I really didn't like how we left things off." but when he stood up he is not in position to stand properly.
"Are you okay? You don't look well enough to drive yourself home."
" Yeah I think I'll get Smith, drive for me." he calls him.
" Augh, I forgot he's getting Cara home. " he says.
" I can send you home. " she says.
"No. Cara didn't seem too happy when she saw two of us at hospital today, and I don't want anymore misunderstanding between us. On the bright side, she's finally jealous." he gives a winning hymn.
" I'll get an Uber."
Adrianna is bit upset, " Get some rest first, you don't look too good. I'll call you when your Uber is here."
" Yeah that sounds like a great idea. " he says.
He sleeps on the couch as he is too much drunk and tired.
FLASHBACK
Eight years ago.
Gideon walking besides the sea shore. He comes and stands besides Cara.
"Rough day?"
"Have you heard of the story about the loneliest whale in the world? It sings a unique song, it's so unlike others that the other whales can't hear it. So it wanders in the vast ocean alone. It cries for help silent to everyone around."
They both stand in silence.
" I don't see what's wrong with being different from the rest." he says.
" The other whales can't hear her. She's all alone. Isn't that sad?"
" Whales aren't the only sea creature in the ocean. It's the other whales loss for missing out on her beautiful voice, but she can choose to befriend other animals, no? Aren't there schools of small fishes swimming around them? She's never alone. She can be friend with them instead. Maybe she'll meet a cute sea shell and they'll have seawhale babies together." he says.
" Sea..... whales..... babies? What in the world - ?" she laughs. " Meet a cute seal and have babies?!"
He also laughs.
GIDEON'S POV
When I asked you if you were having a. rough day, to be honest, I wasn't having a easy one either. I felt helpless then, as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders. Why couldn't I have a normal childhood like everyone else? I wanted to he carefree 16 years old hitting on a cute girl at the beach too. But I can't.
But I made you smile. Damn, if it wasn't the most beautiful one I saw.
Your smile gave me strength that day.
.....
And he then kisses Adrianna thinking of him as Cara.
"Cara....." he groan's.
"Gideon, I miss this." she says.
He freezes.
This isn't Cara.
"F*CK! I'm so sorry Adrianna. I thought you were Cara and I - F*ck. I have to go!" he says and runs away.
At home,
Cara is sitting by the pool. Her legs dipped into the water.
"You're looking a little deflated." she says looking to the float.
And besides enters Gideon.
"Gideon! You're back! I - "
CARA'S POV
I was stopped dead in my tracks. There was something wrong about him.
Gideon has always excuded confidence, but as he took long strides towards me, he looked defeated. Guilty.
His gaze was lowered and his hair looked as if it had been tousled mindlessly.
"Clack, clack, clack..." the drumming of my heart seemed to match his heavy footsteps that echoed throughout the room. Then it stopped.
"Cara."
I could have sworn his voice broke as he whispered my name.
I stared dumbly ahead as he wrapped his hands around me, enveloping in his tight embrace. I waited, braced myself, as he buried his face in my neck.
"I'm sorry."
I placed my hand on his chest and gave him a light push. He sighed, before taking a step back.
"I'm sorry I left you alone at the hospital. My dad called for an emergency meeting back at the office with the board. I had to leave."
" You could have told me before you left without a word." says Cara.
" I.....I....I... needed some time to calm down so i thought it was for the best. I can't lie and say I'm completely okay with what happened with Sana, but I didn't want to say anything I would come to regret, Cara. I was upset and confused. I drank a little at the office. I wanted to come home to you, I really did. But I was little dizzy so I took a quick nap before my ride arrived. I swore I was dreaming about you, but the next thing I know....
I was kissing Adrianna."
My world stopped.
...
" I am so sorry, Cara, I was drunk, and I could have sworn it was you. I pushed her off immediately and apologised. I just drove straight back home. I know I f*cked up so bad and I have no right to beg for your forgiveness but I am so sorry. Cara....."
" So I screw up a deal and you go around kissing some other girl?"
" Cara..."
" What kind of deal should I screw for you to f*ck someone then?"
" That.....hurts, Cara."
" You don't have any right to feel hurt here! I don't even know how to feel about this because I was the one who said I would be okay with you screwing behind my back."
" You know I never took that seriously, right? The moment I met you, no one else mattered. I wanted you and you only." Gideon says.
" Yet you kissed another women tonight. This is how it is with you rich people isn't it? Girls come and go as you please. It doesn't matter if you go around kissing other girls as long as you come home to me.....right? That's the whole point of our marriage in the first place. Cinderella my ass. I can't believe I thought you were different." says Cara.
" Cara....." he says hugging her tightly.
" Don't touch me." she says.
"No, Cara. Please, don't. Please don't go."
" I won't. I can't. I have to marry you this weekend."
She goes and shuts the door.
" Cara...." Gideon is saying knocking on the door.
At night he also sleeps there. He is sleeping besides the door.
At morning.
Cara opens the door and enters kitchen.
At the table Gideon left pancakes for her.
But instead of eating it she ignores and leaves.
After sometime, Gideon comes and sees the pancakes as it is. He is now feeling more guilty.
.....
At somewhere it the cafe,
"I asked for strawberry ice cream without the strawberry bits in it. I hate strawberries."
" But you asked for strawberry ice cream.... " says the shopkeeper to Adrianna.
" Take the bits out!" Adrianna shouts at her.
" Adrianna? You're back from Hong Kong?"
"Nadiya!" she hug's her.
" Still demanding as ever, huh?" says Nadiya.
" You know me. I always get what I want."
....
The day of the wedding.
" Thank you for coming. The wedding ceremony is out at the courtyard." Maisha says to everyone.
From behind her enters CARA'S mom and dad.
"Black's! You made it! Big day for both of us families!"
They both nods at her response.
" This place is amazing!" says Jiuen, CARA'S mom.
" Yes! Princess Sofia doesn't just rent out her summer palace to everyone. Cara must be so excited."
uh,uh,
But that's not the truth.
At Cara's room.
Cara looking in front of the mirror.
"Cara?" Ian comes walking towards her.
"Ian? What are you doing here? I mean I would have loved to invite you but Maisha took charge of the guest list and....."
" Calm down! I get it. I would have expected you to not have much say in this wedding. But it's your big day, and I wouldn't miss it for the world. You look beautiful."
She giggles shyly.
" Really though, how did you get in here? Security isn't going to have to haul your ass out of here in the middle of the ceremony, are they?"
" Your fiance invited me. He must have figured you'd want me around or something." he says.
She deep breaths.
" But I do have my personal reason for coming here today. I bought you a wedding gift and I really wanted you to have it. I'm here to tell you what really happened at the beach eight years ago."
She is shocked.
CARA'S POV
It's been a few days since I saw Gideon us close. We've been avoiding each other; well technically I've been avoiding him with a vengeance.
He looked tired. His eyes were red and slightly swollen. This used to shine with such brilliance and arrogance, yet they seem to have lost their spark.
But of course, to the unspecting public, he still looked the very much glorious, impeccable Gideon Clemonte that he should be. Especially on his wedding day.
I could feel his intense gaze on me as we stood in front of everyone. His back straighten a little when he realized I return to it - this was our first contact in days.
In that moment, everything else faded away. There was just the two of us, staring at each other in silence.
No words were said but his glance told me everything - the pain, the longing, the regret, I didn't know I had such power over him.
"I do."
I used to think it was fictitious to say a heart would ache. But I felt that pull when he said those words.
Because I only knew the true meaning behind his promise.
This wasn't a wedding for show, anymore. What started off as a sham has turned into something more.
To Gideon, this was real. We are real.
This was his promise to me.
"And do you, Cara Black, take Gideon Alexander Clemonte as your lawfully wedded husband?"
" No."
" I don't."