At Brian's House
"Take it easy, Guy, and allow this to pass. It is just for a few hours, and she will be in the past," Leonard advised his twenty-five-year-old moody friend, Brian Garfield, as they dressed up for his forced wedding that morning.
He sniffed his nose and blinked his eyes several times to fight back his tears and prevent them from spilling.
"I am aware of that, Leonard but I have a concern," he informed him with an emotional voice.
Leonard was touched by his sad voice and asked him immediately, "What is that? You can share it with me."
Brian looked into his eyes and tried to explain, but his overburdened heart failed him,im and the words could not come out. Now, he was too weak to hold back his tears and allowed them to flow freely.
Leonard hugged him tightly, made him rest on his shoulders, and consoled him, "Allow the tears to flow. It may give you some relief."
"Don't keep the registrar and my guests waiting, Brian," Mr. Fredrick Garfield, Brian's father thundered from the corridor.
They disengaged quickly and began to dress up. Leonard, as the Best Man, picked up the suit from the wardrobe and began to unbutton it.
"I got you, Dad," Brian answered with a heavy heart from the room.
His father was aware of the reason for the heaviness of his heart but he ignored him and walked back to his room. After unbuttoning the jacket, he lifted it and Brian slid his hands inside the armholes. Afterward, he raised his hands above his head and let the jacket slide down his arms.
"You were about to say something, Brian," Leonard reminded him when he was helping him do the same with his jacket.
"Yes. I'm considering what to do when the officiant calls for the big smooch. I doubt if I can let that bitch come close to me, let alone kiss her."
His words hit Leonard, who hated Jane, the bride, with passion like a sledgehammer, and he sat on the couch. Brian noticed his pains and sat beside him. They were calm while figuring out the appropriate thing to do.
"I have an idea," Leonard declared while still looking down.
Nevertheless, Brian was lost in thought and could not hear him. He tapped his back and drew his attention.
"I said I have an idea," he repeated when he looked up.
"Share it. I will do anything that will take me out of this Godforsaken marriage. Dad just refused to reason with me," he declared.
"We can disappear as soon as we leave the estate and your father will have no choice but to call off the marriage," Leonard proposed.
Brian looked up and faced him with a curious demeanor before he asked, "How? What about our initial plans to kill her after the wedding and how will you handle my security team?"
"You have a good point. I prefer our initial plans but the sight of you kissing her is nauseating already."
"I'm glad that you got my point. How do we disappear from the estate?"
"I will drive us," he promised him and allayed his fear.
Brian could not respond but stared at the wall and many thoughts tumbled in and out of his mind.
At Jane's House
Jane's father, Paschal Miller, and her only brother, Sean stopped relating with her and her mother, Magdalene. They believed that she killed her stepsister, Valerie - Brian's true lover just to have him. She was in high spirits that morning while getting ready to tie the nuptial knot and her mother was not left out.
Previously, she blackmailed Brian before his father by informing him that he was connected with the disappearance of her step-sister, who went missing three years ago.
His father was intimidated and tried to cover it up by offering to give her whatever she asked for just to shut her mouth. To Mr. Garfield's chagrin, she turned down the offer and asked for a simple but life-threatening reward.
"Thank you, Mr. Garfield, for your offer but I don't want anything from you. I have forgiven Brian and wished to push everything behind us."
Mr. Garfield gave her a searching look and asked, "I don't get you. What do you mean, please?"
"I am not surprised that you are not aware. We were lovers and fell apart due to the disappearance of my lovely stepsister," she explained.
Mr. Garfield was bewildered and exclaimed, "What?"
Jane laughed softly and explained, "Yes, Mr. Garfield. We were about to get married but I had to put it off in honor of her."
"Oh, my goodness! Everyone in your shoes will do the same. Thank you for forgiving my son."
"It is my pleasure, Mr. Garfield," she responded with a feigned emotion and Mr. Garfield was touched.
"I understand how you feel, Jane. Thank you for putting everything behind you."
"Consider it as nothing, Mr. Garfield. True love forgives," she made clear.
"That is true."
"I beg to take my leave," she said and got up.
"It is all right. You will hear from me, shortly," he promised her.
After that meeting, Mr. Garfield invited Brian for a meeting.
When he arrived, he complimented him cheerfully, "Congratulations, Son."
Brian hoped that they had won an award for the Outstanding Cosmetic Company of the Year and smiled happily, too.
Before he could ask questions, his father continued, "She has forgiven you. She has a good heart," he made clear to him.
At that point, many thoughts ran through his mind because he could not comprehend his father's stand.
He grimaced his face and asked, "If I may ask, Dad, who is she?"
His father expected that and smiled broadly. He gave him a sympathetic look and encouraged him, "You must have gone through a lot alone. You did not even carry your mother and me along."
Brian was lost the more and gazed intently at him. Now, Mr. Garfield felt that his son was in pain and took a deep breath.
"I can feel your pain, Son but it has come to an end. Jane was here a few hours ago and said that she had forgiven you. She no longer begrudged you over the disappearance of her stepsister."
At that point, Brian was disoriented. He got up at once and shouted, "Jane? Did she have the courage to come here again? Did you give her an audience?"
His father thought that he was surprised at her bold steps. He smiled softly and persuaded him, "Yes. It was a difficult decision for her to take but she still loves you and wishes to let go."
"Love? No, Dad. It is not what you think. I fired her three years ago and she is to be avoided. You must not allow her anywhere near you," he advised him with his eyes wide open as though they would pop out of their sockets.
"Calm down and sit down, Son," he instructed him with a calm demeanor.
Now, Brian was breathing heavily, but he sat down all the same while his father continued, "I agree that she wronged you by accusing you falsely, but she has learned her lesson."
"Dad, you have to believe me. She is not …"
"Enough of that. How dare you argue with me," his father interrupted him and yelled when he assumed that he was being unreasonable.
Brian locked eyes with him and apologized after a while, "I'm sorry, Dad."
"That is more like it. Get ready to continue with your marriage plans," he declared dismissively.