Rachael slid down on the floor slowly. Christina squatted next to her, comforting her in her sad moment.
It pained Charles to see Rachael crying. He wanted to start crying too, but he had to be strong for all of them. If he did break down, now, Vivian would think they are weak and she is the strong one here.
The priest announced that people may start leaving, and wait for further updates from the two— Rachael and Charles— when Charles instructed him to do so. People started leaving the church, ushered out by securities.
The whole place became empty like it hadn't been occupied minutes ago. It was only the families of the bride and the bridegroom still watching Rachael cry on the floor. Her mom went next to her and embraced her.
"This is what you wanted, right?" Charles asked, turning to Vivian who stood with little or no conscience. "You are happy that millions of dollars have been wasted, aren't you?"
The nerve Charles had to pretend like he felt bad for Rachael. He had allowed Vivian to stop the wedding, now he wanted to act like he was one of the victims. It pissed Steve. "I'm sure she's not the only one who is happy, Charles. You're also happy that you succeeded in shaming our family." Steve was held back by Edward and Thomas, his little brother from taking another step closer to Charles, though he wasn't trying to attack him.
The seventeen-year-old resembled their mother. He had her brown hair, black eyes and many of her features.
"It's better we resolve this than start pointing fingers," Charles mother, Linda Diggs commented, holding her husband's arm.
"What is there to be resolved, Linda?" The senator asked. "You son is the one with hidden agendas, not our daughter, so I don't mind fingers being pointed."
"I'm flabbergasted to hear that coming from a leader, senator," she emphasized on the last word, senator. "With that, I don't think you will take better care of the position of presidency if you happen to be elected."
"What makes you think I will be capable of taking care of a whole nation when I can't even take care of the people around me?" The senator asked with furrowed brows. He sounded very calm. He had had conversations more difficult than this. It's nothing to make him angry.
"Our common enemy is the one who made this wedding stop, let me remind you guys," Charles father, Daniel Diggs said, nudging Linda unnoticeably. "I'd rather ask this young lady what she wants from our family than fight others."
Vivian couldn't believe that she was being blamed for what just happened. It wasn't her fault, to be honest. If only Charles had dealth with the matter properly, they wouldn't've been going through all of the stress. But he chose violence over peace.
Everyone gave Vivian that look of disgust. She didn't believe she was in one room with so many powerful people. See them fight was like a miracle. They were always joyous on the papers and TVs.
"I know many of you are blaming me for what happened," Vivian began saying in a low tone. "I actually don't care. Just so you know, there are more loss to come if dear Charles tries to play a fool of me, again. He should be the one to be blamed here!"
"What is it that Charles did that you are blackmailing him?" Linda asked, keeping her eyes on Charles as she spoke.
"Charles already played his part. It's my turn to keep my part of the deal. Let's go, now, Charles," She said, turning to walk away.
"Where do you think you're taking him?" Rachael got up, her rage evident. "You are very brave to think I will leave him because of what you did!" Her lip was wet with spit as she spoke; they trembled.
"You already succeeded, Vivian, you can leave now," Charles spoke to her, holding Rachael back. He knew Rachael wouldn't hesitate slapping the hell out of Vivian because there weren't cameras before them. But paparazzi could be anywhere.
Vivian stared at all of them one-by-one. "How stupid do you think I am?" She asked all of them, knowing they all wanted her to leave. "I'm not that stupid to leave you guys alone in this church, and you are wise people to know why."
"So you want to imprison him?" Christina asked, standing next to Rachael. "Is that it?"
"If that is what it takes to stop these two from getting married today," Vivian retorted. "It's hot in here. Let's go Charles, or..."
"Or what?" Charles asked, yelling. "Or you are going to tell them? Do you think they would give half of a fuck?"
Vivian darted her eyes around. "The walls have ears, darling; anyone could be eavesdropping, or worse, recording." Vivian sat on the first bench. "I will sit here until you're ready to get going." She started throwing the two boxes up, whistling.
It was right there. He could just reach to her, take it and destroy it, then her one and only evidence would be destroyed. That, however, couldn't be her one and only evidence. Vivian was smart enough to have a few of them hidden somewhere. She could even be working with someone.
The question is "who was she working with?"
Charles didn't expect anyone else other than the three participants to know the secret.
Rachael mom received a call immediately. She walked to the door to let the others fix the matter at hand. She excused herself. It was unbearable for her to watch her daughter go through such pain without being able to do anything helpful. Thanks to the caller she was able to get away.
"We should get going now, Charles. I have a headache," Rachael informed them. "I need a bed." She ,actually, still thought she was dreaming. Maybe if she would sleep again, she would get up in the real life, and it would be the morning of her wedding. Nothing had happened. It was just a bad dream.
She had to stop fooling herself because she wasn't dreaming at all. Charles just decided to call off their wedding because a stupid woman wearing black showed up and ordered him to— because of some stupid secret.
Charles carried Rachael out, helped by his mom, and accompanied by the others. The senator and Mr. Diggs stayed to have few words with the priest while the other left.
"OK...bye," she finished the conversation on the phone and put her phone back into her black leather handbag. She was about to walk out the door when a voice called her. "Daniel."
He smiled at her shortly. He was old, but he was still handsome. "I was hoping to talk to you before you leave."
"And your hope turned into a reality," she said, smirking. "What is it that you want to talk about?" She asked him, breaking the long silence between them.
"I hope this doesn't be the reincarnation of the past, Harriet. I can see through you. You are hurt at the moment that your daughter has to go through similar fate as you did." He sighed, browsing for the right words. "I want you to know that this is going to be over very soon. I'll have a word with Vivian, and see if I can shut her up for the rest of her life."
Harriet rolled her eyes, a little bit annoyed. "Is that the only thing you're good at, Daniel, shutting people up?"
That was one of the reason he decided to talk to her before leaving. He knew what she was capable of when she got angry. He didn't want her to.
"I didn't mean to sound like that. I'm sorry," he apologized quickly before she could say much. "All I want is for the family to be united and at peace. I am willing to do anything for the sake of peace, Harriet."
"Indeed you have," she said as he took few steps out the door, turning to face him. "Isn't that what you have been doing over the years? Once more, your family has done it, again..."
"Done what, again?" Another voice came from behind her. She turned around to see the senator staring back at her with curiosity.