I headed straight home to the condo, letting out all the pain and resentment that had brewed at the church. Quickly shedding my gown, a bitter smile crossed my face as I crumpled it and tossed it into the trash. Seeking solace, I stepped into the bathroom, allowing the water from the shower to cascade over me, tears mingling with the flow. An hour passed before the thought of changing clothes crossed my mind.

Gradually, I lay down on the bed, thoughts of the church incident causing fresh tears to cascade down my cheeks. The pain in my heart felt unyielding, enveloping me in a shroud of sorrow.

Awakening to the sunlight streaming into my room, I realized I had drifted to sleep with the window open. Despite the previous day’s turmoil, I readied myself for the office, having already filed for leave for the wedding that never occurred.

“Margaux, why are you here? You should take some rest,” Karen, my secretary, expressed shock at seeing me.

“I’ll go crazy if I stay cooped up in my condo. Plus, there's still work to be done. Holidays will come again,” I explained, my sunglasses concealing my weary eyes.

Making my way to the office, Karen voiced her concern, “Are you really okay?”

I mustered a smile as I removed my sunglasses, immersing myself in the tasks on my desk. Resolute in keeping my thoughts occupied, I delved into work, determined to stave off any lingering emotions.

The intercom on my desk stirred with Karen’s voice, “Lester is on the line. Do you want to speak with him?”

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself before answering, “I’ll talk to him.”

Lester's voice pierced through the line, causing my heart to ache. “Margaux, can we talk? I love you, something unforeseen happened that prevented me from making it to our wedding. Please, I need to discuss this with you,” he pleaded. “Babe?”

Gathering my composure, I replied, “Okay. Let’s talk after office hours,” before swiftly ending the call.

The day swept by in a blur as I kept myself occupied.

“It’s Lester again,” Karen’s voice crackled through the intercom.

Responding, I accepted, “Hello?”

“I’m outside your office,” Lester revealed.

“Okay, I’ll come down.”

Without fussing over my appearance as I usually would, I made my way to meet Lester outside. As I emerged from the building, I spotted him leaning against his car. My heart thudded with a mix of emotions. Dressed in a white V-neck shirt, light-colored jeans, and casual shoes, he seemed disheveled yet undeniably handsome. A cigarette lingered between his fingers, betraying signs of fatigue with dark circles under his eyes.

When Lester noticed me, he promptly discarded the cigarette and greeted me with a kiss on the cheek, which I deftly avoided.

"What else do we have to talk about?" I questioned, my irritation palpable.

"Let's discuss this elsewhere," he suggested in a hushed tone, guiding me toward his car.

"No, thank you," I firmly declined. "I prefer to use my own car."

With no alternative, he acquiesced, and we drove to a nearby restaurant in separate cars.

"What would you like to eat?" he inquired as we settled down.

"Just water," I curtly responded, despite my earlier hunger pangs. I desired a swift end to our time together.

"Honestly, Marg, baby..." He reached for my hand resting on the table.

"Do not call me that!" I interjected emphatically, pulling my hand away.

"Margaux... I regret what happened. It was unexpected," he explained with a quiver in his voice.

"Lester, I thought we both desired this ever since I said yes to you. You've discarded what we built over the past three years!" I retorted, disappointment evident in my voice.

"I truly desire a future with you," he murmured softly, kissing my hand gently.

I gazed at him intensely, still finding him physically attractive. His dark eyes, sharp nose, and crimson lips gave him an Adonis-like appeal.

As the pain in my heart transformed, I endeavored not to cry in his presence. Tears threatened to spill, prompting me to question, "Tell me, Les... What transpired between us? Where is the promise to keep me from harm? Our families are hurting because of your actions!" Emotions swelling, tears brimmed in my eyes.

"Shh, please don't cry, babe," he attempted to soothe, wiping away my tears.

"Stop it! It's all nonsense!" I exclaimed, pushing his hand away, drawing the attention of other diners.

"Please, baby, give me one more chance. I can make things right. I promise!" he implored.

"I don't want to hear your excuses for not showing up at our wedding. This marks the end of our relationship. We cannot return to how things were because you shattered us!" I declared, rising abruptly and storming out of the restaurant.

"Margaux!" Lester pursued me, grabbing my arm tightly when he caught up.

"Let go of me!" I demanded, breaking free from his grasp.

"I won't let you go. Please, Margaux, just give me time to set things straight. Trust me, after this, I'll marry you in any church. Please, baby..." he beseeched, his voice laden with urgency.

"There is nothing left between us, Lester! It's over!" I declared coldly.

"I refuse to let you walk away. I'm only asking for some time to fix this situation I'm in. Believe me, I'll marry you in any church after this. Please, baby..." his tone softened, but it failed to sway me. In a fit of frustration, I slapped him hard across the cheek.

"I'm not a puppy you can abandon and retrieve at will!" I exclaimed. "You were my first love, my first boyfriend, the one I envisioned a future with," I continued, undeterred by the onlookers outside the restaurant. "I gave you everything, yet it wasn't enough! It's devastating because you were my first love, but you're also the first to break me.”

Tears streamed down my face, a mix of emotions welling up within me. Regretting the vulnerability of shedding tears in front of him, I swiftly brushed them away and made a beeline for my car, yearning to escape the tumultuous encounter.

I held my palms tightly together in the bridal car, the nerves in my chest refusing to dissipate as I waited. My gaze was fixed intently on the commotion happening inside the church. Eventually, my mother, Letizia, made her way to the limousine I was in, her face filled with anxiety.

"Hija!" she called out as she knocked on the car window.

I rolled down the window slowly for her. "Mother, what's going on?"

She appeared restless and glanced around before addressing me, causing my anxiety to spike. I straightened up and spoke once more. "Mom!"

"Hija, Lester isn't here yet. He should have been here early. He's only an hour late," she said.

"Maybe he got stuck in traffic, or his car broke down on the road. I'll try to call him," I quickly and nervously fished for my phone inside my clutch bag. However, Lester's phone was turned off.

I didn't want to entertain the thought, but one idea entered my mind: he wouldn't show up!

I dropped my phone and immediately stepped out of the car. Ignoring the onlookers in the church, I hurried over to Lester's mom and embraced her tightly.

"Mom, I can't reach Lester," I said between rapid breaths.

She took hold of my hands. "Hija, we can't reach his phone," she said as I shook my head in disbelief.

"He can't do this to us, Maricar. He can't embarrass us here!" declared Don Simon, Lester's dad.

My chest tightened even more. I left the church in tears.

"No. This must be a dream," I whispered. I closed my eyes tightly and pinched my arm, feeling like the weight of the world was crashing down on me. Tears filled my eyes. "You said you love me? Where are you?" I said sadly.

Cindy, my best friend, approached me. She hugged me tightly, shedding tears just as I was. "Margaux, calm down. Maybe Lester is just running late," she said while gently patting my back.

I turned swiftly, wiping away my tears, and extended my hand to her. "Where's your key?"

"Where are you going? Just wait a little longer. Maybe he'll come," she insisted.

"Just give me your key!" I yelled. She sighed before reluctantly speaking. "In the state you're in now, you definitely can't drive properly. I'll drive for you."

"Just give me your car key!" I exclaimed emphatically.

Cindy seemed taken aback by my urgency and bit her lip. Finally, with sorrow in her eyes, she reached for her key.

I heard my dad calling me. "Margaux!"

I just glanced at Dad before rushing towards Cindy's car. I could see them attempting to chase after me, but I sped off in the car. I didn't even know where I was headed.

"I'm so sorry, Mom and Dad," I whispered, wiping away the tears that kept falling. I knew I had disappointed them this time. If only I could turn back time, I wouldn't want to embarrass them in front of so many people.

"Damn you! Bastard!" I shouted.

I was ready. I truly wanted to build a future with him, but his actions... What had I done wrong in our relationship?

It was excruciating. Not only because my family was humiliated in front of so many people, but also because he made me appear foolish.

I couldn't fathom why he had done this to me. Our relationship had been smooth over the three years we'd been together. He often made efforts because I was busy with work. He even proposed marriage, promising to walk me down the aisle. Damn bastard!

I honked loudly at the person who overtook me suddenly.

"Damn you! You damn bastard!" I was startled when the car abruptly stopped in front of me.

"Idiot!" I blurted out before hitting the brakes.

I swiftly got out of the car. Despite wearing a gown, I didn't care! I knocked on the car window.

"Hey, whoever you are, get out of there! You don't own this road, and you have no right to suddenly stop in the middle of the road after overtaking!" I shouted in anger.

I moved away from the car door as it was opened, revealing a man wearing sunglasses. He looked stunning in his white polo shirt and dark pants. However, the horns honking from cars behind us startled me.

"Get married so they stop chasing you on the road!" the driver shouted, grinning at us.

Even the passengers in the jeep laughed, while some trembled with excitement.

Were they serious? They thought this man had abandoned me at our wedding, and I was chasing after him? Someone did leave me, but it wasn't this bastard!

I glared at the spectators and faced the man who negligently opened his car door.

"Mr. Whatever, who do you think you are for stopping in the middle of the road?! What if I hadn't hit the brakes in time?!" I expressed my frustration, even though I acknowledged my own role in the situation.

But he remained silent. What an antipathetic man! I heaved a sigh, narrowing my eyes at him. "Are you deaf or something?"

"I don't see anything wrong with what I did. You're at fault for cursing at me," he retorted, crossing his arms.

"Excuse me? I'm still to blame?" I heard him curse under his breath, jaw clenched as he swallowed visibly. When I looked up at him, I was taken aback, particularly when he took a step closer.

"You're the reason why I'm late, Miss Runaway Bride," he whispered.

I swallowed hard. What did he just say? My cheeks flushed. "You rudely stopped in the middle of the road! And by the way, I'm not a runaway bride!"

He chuckled before continuing, "It seems your car is undamaged. Unless... you want compensation, right?!" He smirked.

Before I could reply, a traffic enforcer intervened. "Excuse me. Is there a problem here?" inquired the uniformed man as he handed us a ticket.

"No, nothing. Just having a chat," confidently responded the man in sunglasses, with his hands now in his pockets.

"Please step aside as you're disrupting traffic flow," the impatient enforcer directed, his gaze briefly flickering towards me.

"Alright, I have a meeting to get to, so I should head out," the antipathetic man remarked before giving the enforcer a pat on the shoulder. He glanced at me and then nonchalantly shrugged. "As for you, Miss, you might be late for your wedding. What a waste of your gown and makeup if you end up running away!" He laughed as he got back into his car.

His words stung, and I winced at the remark. As he pulled away, he extended his hand out the window in farewell.

"Fck you, bstard!" I shouted in frustration, left with no choice but to retreat into my car. "You'll regret this, you arrogant man!”

My eyes widened, anger bubbling within me. "You!" I exclaimed sharply while pushing him away, my gaze narrowed.

"Hey, I had no intention of causing offense," he explained, flashing a charming smile that revealed his white teeth and deep dimple.

"Nice try!" I quipped, raising an eyebrow at him skeptically.

"Listen, I apologize. I was just in a rush for a meeting that day," he responded calmly.

Without a word, I strode to the door and flung it open with force. "You can leave now!" I asserted firmly, avoiding his gaze.

He smirked and made his way toward the open door. Stepping back to allow him to exit, I waited, but he halted right in front of me.

"Thanks for the coffee," he muttered quietly.

Maintaining a neutral expression, I thought back to the embarrassing incident on the road and felt my annoyance resurface.

"Leave," I reiterated with finality, unapologetic for my abruptness.

As he took another step forward, I involuntarily glanced downward. Another step followed, his intense gaze fixed on me, causing my heart to race erratically.

"Your ex-boyfriend will surely regret breaking your heart," he remarked in a composed tone.

I lifted my eyes to meet his, captivated by his gaze. I felt the urge to respond but ultimately remained silent.

"And you know what?" he continued, "We make a better pair than you and your ex-boyfriend."

As days passed, I immersed myself in work and solitude at my condo. On a Sunday morning, Cindy paid me a visit.

"Best friend!" she exclaimed, enveloping me in a tight hug. I chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Margaux, Carrick has finally proposed to me!" she revealed tearfully.

"OMG! I'm thrilled for both of you!" Tears welled in my eyes as I embraced her warmly.

"Margaux, we must celebrate!" she suggested excitedly. However, the elation soon faded from my face as thoughts of Lester and our postponed wedding clouded my mind.

"Hey, bestie, are you alright?"

"Of course. I'm fine, and I'm genuinely happy for you. Let's celebrate!" I replied, trying to maintain my cheerfulness.

"Are you sure? You seem a little off," she observed, grasping my hand and raising an eyebrow in concern.

"I want to celebrate your engagement with Carrick," I shared a warm smile with Cindy.

We decided to head to the mall and catch a movie. Cindy was deeply moved by Popoy and Basha's story, shedding tears throughout the film. Her compassionate nature and lively storytelling never failed to bring laughter and joy.

"The movie was fantastic!" I remarked as we entered the shopping mall to browse for dresses and bags.

Cindy treated me to dinner at a renowned restaurant, where I indulged in an array of exquisite dishes. Somehow, the act of feasting seemed to provide solace for my pent-up frustrations, acting as a release valve for my stress.

Our cheerful dinner took a turn when a couple caught my attention entering the restaurant. Observing them from afar, a range of emotions stirred within me, prompting me to rise from my seat, much to Cindy's surprise.

"Hey, bestie, are you finished already? You barely touched your food," Cindy remarked, puzzled by my behavior.

But I remained fixated on the couple engrossed in their conversation. Cindy's exclamation drew my focus to them, revealing the tender exchange between them.

"Margaux, what are you planning?" Cindy's cautious voice halted me mid-stride.

Ignoring her warning, I approached the pair. Lester's expression drained of color upon seeing me, subtly distancing himself from the woman seated beside him, who leveled a puzzled frown in my direction.

"Is there an issue, Miss?" the woman raised an eyebrow.

"Not with you, but with him," I curtly replied, casting them a stern gaze filled with anger.

"Margaux, please calm down," Cindy intervened, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder.

"Let's talk," I declared, striding out of the restaurant, aiming a sarcastic glance back at them.

"Margaux!" Lester grabbed my arm as we reached the parking area.

"Is she the one who replaced me in your heart?!" I demanded indignantly.

He remained silent, head bowed in remorse.

"So, it's true? You b*stard!" I exclaimed, delivering a resounding slap to his face.

"I am truly sorry," he murmured, reaching for my hand, but I swiftly evaded his touch.

"Can an apology change anything? I doubt it," I asserted boldly, turning back towards the restaurant.

"She's pregnant," he disclosed.

His words struck me like a thunderclap, freezing me in place, unable to process the revelation.

"She's carrying my son," he continued.

Closing my eyes tightly, emotions swirling within me, a solitary tear traced down my cheek.

"I'm sorry, Margaux," he expressed softly, extending a hand towards me. "I regret not telling you earlier." His voice wavered. "She is Mr. Mondragon's daughter, our family's business partner. Upon learning of the situation, her father insisted I take responsibility for the child, threatening to severe all ties if I didn't comply.”

Cindy drove me back to my condo in silence, the weight of heartache heavy in the air as I gazed out the window, consumed by pain.

As we traveled, Cindy turned to me, breaking the quiet with a gentle, "Margaux..."

"Why, Cindy? What did I do wrong in our relationship? Why am I the one left in anguish like this?" Tears pooled in my eyes, the ache of betrayal weighing heavily on my heart.

"No. You've done nothing wrong. If anyone is to blame, it's him!" Cindy's voice quivered with righteous anger. "He's the one who's lost, not you. You deserve far better than someone like him. It's good that you know the truth now."

I let out a sigh, nodding in acknowledgment.

Hours passed since Cindy departed from my condo, yet sleep eluded me. The haunting scene at the restaurant lingered in my thoughts, etched into my memory. From this moment forward, I vowed there would be no more tears shed over the same heartache. I made a promise to myself that it would be the last time I allowed myself to be hurt in such a manner.