Next day....

Reed woke up with a start as she heard someone banging on the door loudly.

"Open this door right now Reed." Her mother yelled from behind the door.

Her heart skipped a beat, she thought her parents would have realized that Lita was gone.

She hurriedly got down from the bed and rushed to open the door.

On opening the door, she was welcomed with Helen's hateful glares.

"G.. good morning mother." She stuttered.

Instead of replying to her greetings, Helen rewarded her with a slap. "Are you forgetting what day today is?"

"Today is your younger sister's wedding? She should be getting ready already, and instead of you waking her up and helping, you are busy sleeping." Helen yelled.

Oh no, mother has no idea about Lita fleeing. Reed thought. What should I do? She panicked.

"Go prepare breakfast, then go get Lita and help her get ready." Helen said, then turned to leave.

Oh no, I have to break the news to mother, we have to leave this morning. Reed ran after Helen. "Mother."

She called when she got to her parents room.

"What is it you want huh? Haven't I told you what to do? Don't bother me right now, just go do what you have to and help your sister. I have no time for you right now." Helen spat, her back turned to Reed.

Reed almost felt like crying, but she managed to control herself, it's not like her mother has ever had time for her.

"Good morning dad." Reed greeted after seeing him, but he ignored her greeting as always.

"I have something important to tell you mother." Reed said, then she took in a deep breath.

Helen turned to face her, and eyed Reed dangerously.

"Didn't I tell you this before, I have no time for you, whatever you have to say can wait, just get out already, your ugly face irritates me. Had I known you would have been this ugly, I would have aborted you, it would have been better than giving birth to a disgrace like you." Helen cussed.

Reed shut her eyes tightly, and when she reopened them, they were filled with unshed tears, "I never asked to be born in the first place." She muttered.

"What did you say?" Helen asked.

"It's nothing, mother."

"Good, then get lost."

"I can't mother, I must tell you this, Lita has eloped with her boyfriend." Reed finally broke the news.

Helen and Thomas both felt like a bucket of ice was poured on them.

"W w what?" Helen stuttered.

Thomas stood up. "What do you mean?"

"Yes father, what I'm saying is the truth, Lita has eloped with her boyfriend, she doesn't want to get married to Dave, and she says her boyfriend is rich too, hence she eloped with him last night."

"What rubbish is this, what nonsense are you saying Reed." Thomas' voice boomed.

He sounded so angry, and his voice sent cold shivers down Reed's spine.

"This is nonsense, you're talking rubbish, Lita is in her room and I'm going to prove it right now." Helen said, then she and Thomas hurriedly left for Lita's room.

Reed followed behind them in despair.

Lita's bed was still neatly arranged, and that's because she didn't sleep on it. Mrs. Helen and Mr. Thomas stared in shock.

Both turned to face Reed, and she swallowed hard, she just knew she was done for.

"Where's Lita?" Helen asked softly.

Reed went quiet, she couldn't find her voice.

"Answer me." Helen screamed.

Reed flinched,"She left mom." Reed said.

"W.. what? Left for where?" Helen asked in shock.

"I have no idea mom."

"You helped your sister elope with another man?"

"I'm sorry mother, Lita wasn't happy with this marriage." Reed said.

Thomas slowly walked up to Reed, and he slapped her hard.

"What have you done?" Helen asked as she slapped Reed across the face too.

"What have you done?" Helen's voice boomed and the next thing Reed felt was another hot slap on her cheek.

"I'm sorry mother." Reed cried as she fell to her knees.

"You're sorry?" Helen scoffed. She looked at Reed with so much hate in her eyes, one wouldn't believe she gave birth to her.

"Sorry won't solve this problem, you've made the biggest mistake of your life and now you'll have to pay for that mistake you useless girl" Helen screamed,

Thomas, Reed's father couldn't do anything else, he only stood there, watching the whole scenario. He felt like killing Reed but he held himself back.

"Please mom, I’ll accept any punishment you give to me, just please forgive me mother, I made a mistake, I'm sorry. We have to leave as soon as possible" Reed cried.

"You're right Reed, you caused this, so you'll suffer the consequences of your foolishness." Helen said.

Reed raised her head to look at Helen.

"What's the punishment mother?"

Helen stared deeply into Reed's eyes, and the next thing she said broke Reed. "You'll have to get married to Dave Mitaka."

"W.. what?" Reed stuttered, then she stood up.

"N.. no mother, please, you can't do this, l can't get married to him, please mother, reconsider this, he'll kill me if he finds out."

"And that's your problem, I don't care what happens to you, you made the mistake, so you'll have to pay for it. You'll be getting married in place of Lita, and there's nothing you can do about this, if you do anything to ruin this, then I swear to God I'll be the one killing you instead. I won't think twice about piercing your heart with a knife, mark my words." Helen said through gritted teeth.

She eyed Reed dangerously, then she left.

Thomas stared at Reed, his eyes held so much hate and disappointment in them. "You're a mistake and a disappointment, you should never have been born, you've ruined everything, and you'll pay for it." Thomas spat, then he left also.

Reed dropped to her knees, she now regrets ever helping Lita to elope, just for this mistake, she'll suffer the consequences for the rest of her life.

The thought of a miserable future flashed through her eyes, and she wept bitterly.

Dave was staring at his bride from the corner of his eyes, he was glad that he'll be getting married to the most beautiful lady in town.

"Do you, Lita Defiant, take Dave Mitaka to be your husband?" The priest asked in a loud voice.

Reed didn't answer, her heart was beating so fast and she was sweating profusely.

Her mother has strictly warned her not to take her veil off until she gets to Dave's home.

She was already imagining what Dave will do when he finds out the truth, what will happen to her when he finds out he was married to her, the ugly one and not her beautiful sister.

Dave frowned deeply, his bride was taking so much time to answer and it was getting on his nerves, he was a man with little patience.

The priest cleared his throat loudly, then he repeated his question.

"Do you, Lita Defiant, take Dave Mitaka to be your husband?"

Dave nudged her arm, bringing her back to reality.

"I I do." Reed stuttered.

A small smile appeared on Dave's lips.

"Do you, Dave Mitaka, take Lita Defiant to be your wife?."

"I do." Dave said hastily.

"Do you vow to be with each other for the rest of your lives, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish each other, until death do you both part?"

"I do." Dave answered.

"I do." Reed answered.

The priest smiled.

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss the bride." The priest said, and the congregation began cheering and clapping so loud

"You may kiss the bride." The word kept on ringing in Reed's ears as she slowly turned to face Dave.

"Oh no, I can't let this happen, Dave must not see my face, not yet." She panicked.

Dave's face was void of any emotions, one couldn't tell what was going on in his mind.

He slowly took the hem of Reed's veil and was about to lift her veil up when Reed held his hand, stopping him from lifting her veil any further.

Dave furrowed his brow in confusion, isn't she supposed to let him lift her veil, why is she stopping him.

"P please." Reed stuttered.

"What's wrong with you?" Dave said softly.

His voice was deep and calm, but you could still note the authority his voice carries.

"The new bride must be so shy." Someone yelled from the crowd.

"Is that why you're preventing me from lifting your veil? Because you're shy?" Dave asked.

Reed nodded.

He sighed, then he let go of her veil.

Dave then bent to whisper something in her ear. "You can stop me from lifting your veil now, but you won't be able to stop me from claiming you when the time comes." He said, then he stood straight.

Reed's heart skipped a beat, she couldn't tell what he meant by those words.

She wasn't in the right frame of mind at the moment, she was wishing she could turn back the hands of time, she wouldn't have helped Lita in the first place.

Her mother and father didn't even come to the wedding, but she must have guessed Dave didn't care.

Maybe he didn't notice, because he didn't ask her anything about them, or even if he had noticed, maybe he didn't just want to ask, after all, he must be thinking he's got what he wanted, so there's no need to bother himself about asking for her parents.

Sadly, he got what he wanted, but not who he wanted.

.........................

Reed paced around the room, she was still in her wedding dress, and she hadn't taken off her veil either.

She wasn't at rest, she knew Dave would be there at any moment, and she dreads what he'll do to her.

The door opened, and she flinched, she turned to see Dave, who stood at the door, staring at her quizzically.

He must be wondering why she's still in her wedding dress.

Dave came in, then he closed the door, he made sure to lock it.

He took slow strides towards her, and Reed moved back in fear.

"What's this, are you afraid of me now?" He asked as he slowly approached her.

"Weren't you the one who was flirting with me the last time we met, you even let me romance your body."

"What!!" Reed yelled, surprising Dave.

She stopped moving backwards, and Dave rushed to stand in front of her.

"Don't act like you don't remember."

The last time he met Lita, they had both done some things, he had asked to make love to her, and she consented.

He wasn't surprised when he saw she wasn't a virgin.

He was a bit pained by that fact, but he didn't seem to mind, after all, he'll be getting married to her, and he'll be the only man she ever sees.

But he was surprised she didn't let him kiss her at the altar, and he was still surprised to see that she's still in her wedding dress.

He was expecting her to have showered and be ready for him.

"Why are you still in your wedding dress?" He questioned with a frown.

Reed toyed with her fingers nervously.

Dave sighed when she didn't answer, he swiftly grabbed her veil and made a pull for it, but Reed immediately grabbed his hand.

"What is wrong again? You've got to stop doing this, don't forget, we made love the last time we saw each other, stop acting like this will be the first time you'll be seeing me."

Reed couldn't believe her ears.

Lita claims to be madly in love with Michael, but why did she sleep with Dave if she was in love with Michael?

"I'm taking off this veil like it or not." Dave said, and before Reed could do or say anything else, he pulled off her veil, exposing her face.

The veil fell from Dave's hand when he saw Reed's face.

"W.. who are you?" He asked in shock as he moved back a bit.

Reed bit the bottom of her lips nervously. She raised her head to look at Dave, and he looked like he'd just seen a ghost, or rather, he'd just seen the most ugliest looking person ever.

"I asked you a question, who are you?" He barked, causing Reed to let out a fearful yelp.

"Where is Lita? Why are you here instead of her?"

"I... I'm her elder sister." Reed stuttered.

"What?" Dave said in shock.

Reed wasn't surprised that he didn't know her, after all, her parents never allowed her to meet him whenever he comes by.

They believe if he sees her, it'll bring them bad luck, so whenever Dave comes to see Lita, Reed was asked to stay in her room and not come out.

"S s sister?"

"Lita has no sister, who the fuck are you?"

"I told you, I'm her elder sister, Reed Defiant."

"This is crazy, I can't believe this."

"Where's Lita? Why are you here instead of her?" Dave asked once more.

Reed was busy contemplating on what she should do. She didn't know if she should tell him the truth or not.

"Speak up!" Dave barked.

"L... Lita isn't here." She stuttered.

"And what do you mean by that?"

"She eloped."

"What?"

Reed sighed, then she explained everything to Dave.

"You're lying, I won't believe this, this is impossible. Your family wouldn't dare to cheat me. They know too well who I am and what I'm capable of doing. They wouldn't dare to pull a dirty stunt like this. How dare you tell me that Lita eloped with her so called boyfriend and you were forced to take her place? Do I look like a joke to you?" Dave barked.

"Believe me, I'm telling you the truth, please believe me." Reed pleaded, her voice quivering with unshed tears.

"Look here, I have nothing to say to you right now. I'll go to your home and find out what the hell is going on myself, and your parents had better be ready to bring Lita to me, otherwise I'll make you and their lives a living hell, I'll ruin all of you."

"You guys have messed with the wrong person, you should have known better than to dare to cheat me." Dave said in a dark menacing voice which sent cold shivers down Reed's spine.

"I am Dave Mitaka, you shouldn't have messed with me." Dave said, then he left, slamming the door behind him.

Reed rushed to the door in tears, she tried opening the door, but it was locked.

"Please, open the door." She cried, banging the door with her fists.

"Let me out of here." She screamed.

.....................

Dave's car pulled up in front of Reed's home, he had come alone.

He got down from his car, slammed the door behind him and rushed to their doorstep.

He banged his fists on the door, but no one answer. He tried turning the door knob and he noticed it was unlocked.

He pushed open the door and went in.

His eyes scanned the room but everywhere was so dark and quiet, it didn't seem to him like anybody was there.

"Helen, Thomas." He yelled and instead of being attended to, he was welcomed with the echoes of his own voice.

"Lita." He yelled, but still, he got no reply. He didn't want to believe that they'd all disappeared.

He ran upstairs to check the whole rooms, and when he came back downstairs, his face was red with anger, his fists balled in rage.

This only means one thing, Reed was telling the truth. They've all disappeared.

Lita has eloped with another man, and her parents must have left the city already.

.........................

Reed sat on the bed, crying her eyes out when the door suddenly opened and Dave walked in.

Reed hurriedly stood up, and she swallowed nothing when she saw the angry look on his face.

He looked so pissed that he could literally kill someone, and maybe he was going to kill her.

Dave walked up to Reed and he grabbed her neck, slowly choking her.

Reed kept on tapping his hand, as she was struggling to breath.

"Mr.. Mi.. Mi.. Mitaka." She choked.

"You and your family deceived me, your sister eloped with another man and now your parents have fled the city." Dave growled.

The news of her parents fleeing from the city hit Reed hard, she couldn't believe her ears, she wanted to say something but Dave's grip on her neck was too strong.

She slowly felt her life leaving her.

Dave tightened his grip even more, he felt like killing her right there and right now, but he managed to stop himself at the last moment. •

"Urggg." He screamed as he pushed Reed onto the bed with a great force.

Reed fell to the bed, coughing loudly, tears streaming down her cheeks.

She used her right palm to massage her neck which was already red.

"You'll pay for this Reed, mark my words. You got married to me through deception? You'll suffer the consequences for you and your entire family's mistake." Dave said.

Reed managed to catch her breath, then she stood up to face him. "D.. Dave." She called, but she was rewarded with a slap on her cheek.

The force he had used to slap her gave her a cut on her lip, blood oozed out from the cut.

"Don't you dare say my name. You have no right to call me by my name you bitch."

"I wanted to get married to your sister, not you." He barked.

Reed bowed her head, then she wept silently.

Dave raised her chin up with his fingers, making sure her eyes met his.

Reed shuddered at the hatred his eyes held for her.

His eyes were cold and emotionless, they held nothing but hate for her.

"If you think I'll ever accept you as my wife then you must be sick in the head."

Reed wasn't the least surprised to hear this, she wasn't expecting him to accept her, after all, all her life, no one has ever accepted her.

"I'll never accept you as my wife and I'll never love you." He said, his words cut deep into her heart.

Dave let go of her chin. "I should divorce you and send you away right this instant, but no, I can't do that, not when I haven't made you suffer. You'll pay the price!" He said with an evil smirk on his face.

"And now, you'll face your first punishment."

"You want to be my wife huh, you'll face what happens to them on their wedding night." He chuckled, but it was one filled with bitterness.