I stared steadily at my diamond wedding ring wondering if this is how being married feels like. I have no idea the perfect emotions to describe this but happy... nah it was far from how I'm feeling right now.
I am nothing but a pawn in a billion-dollar merger between our families and to worsen it all, my best friend and maid of honor couldn't make it. I called her number severally but after the first ring wasn't answered, her number was completely switched off.
Jasmine isn't the type to do this to me. Especially not today of all days when she knows very much well that I needed her emotional support. She couldn't have abandoned me on my wedding day in fact she was with me even yesterday and only went home earlier this morning to freshen up and get herself ready.
"Mrs Axel? Please we need to get a perfect picture of you and your husband. "
."ohhh" I faked a smile and walked down to were he stood. if this is all it would take to make father happy and make him to love me once again.
"Perfect!" The photographer said.
"Congratulations Zendaya. You look so much like a sad bride . I had no idea your husband would be this wealthy. I would have persisted with my father to marry me to him instead" my elder sister said.
Truth be told, they would have looked better together.
Both in age and heartlessness
" Sis, If you had suggested this a little bit earlier, Maybe even earlier this morning, you would have been the one to walk down the aisle with him. You know father would do everything you want, you just need to ask. " I blurted looking at her damn eyeballs like I've never done before.
Her palm landed hard across my cheek, making me stagger. Not that I was surprised. Public humiliation from Bianca was almost tradition by now.
"Did she just slap the bride?" someone whispered.
Bianca caught on quickly, playing it off like nothing happened. She gave an awkward smile and brushed her hand over my cheek, ruining what was left of my makeup.
"You should be careful, Zendayaa," she mocked. "A fly on your face on your wedding day? Might mean your marriage will be filled with bad luck and your sad face would never brighten up."
I scoffed. "I'm going to clean up," I muttered, glancing around.
My father. My husband. Both of them had seen it happen. Neither lifted a finger.
My vision blurred with unshed tears as I walked away.
Jasmine's house wasn't far from the reception hall. I didn't go to the bathroom. I wanted to see her. She was the only one who could salvage what was left of this day.
After waiting for a split second to calm my nerves, I entered Jasmine's duplex apartment at eus sixteenth street. I called out her name gently and in that same moment I heard her voice scream "Don't! Please!" And then a gunshot followed.
My breath hitched, and my chest tightened as a cold shiver raced down my spine. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might break through my ribs.
I gasped, but the air stuck in my throat, choking me.
I was dead sure it was Jasmine's voice that I heard. My legs suddenly became wobbly and refused to move..
My hands trembled, and a wave of icy dread crawled over my skin. Every muscle locked in place and I couldn't think, couldn't breathe. The world around me blurred, as my mind struggled to catch up with the terror gripping me.
The sound of an approaching thick quick paced footstep made me understand that this was fucking real. It snapped me out of my semi- conscious state.
I was faced with a split second decision to either run or to hide.
My wedding gown was all over the place. So running could be a death trap.
I quickly hid in Jasmine's closet, not having enough time to cover up and wrap my gown properly before a black curly messed- up hair guy on a black leather jacket hurried off.
I could see his face so clearly, his blood shot eyes and his satisfying smirk. I could swear I have seen this face before just a few minutes ago, my expression turned colder.
Damn it!
He was at my wedding. Was he watching me all along and could my being here be just a mere coincidence or falling for a perfectly laid trap?
To avoid unconsciously screaming, I held my mouth tightly with my eyeballs almost losing place from it's socket , as I watch him walk past the door with a pistol on his left hand.
He suddenly stopped in his tracks as if remembering that whoever had come inside and screamed his victim's name was still in there.
Panicked surged through me.
I tried to act fast and rushed out of the closet to close the door behind him.
But at that instant, He turned around at the sound of my footsteps and our eyes locked.
I froze immediately. A knot grew in my stomach and I swallowed hard as he smirked dangerously like someone who just escaped a mental hospital. A psychopath.
His eyes were the coldest eyes I've ever seen and it was void of emotions. The man threw himself at the door but I got held of my self fast enough to snap the bolt and the clicking sound of the door confirmed it's been locked.
My heart was racing. I leaned against the door panting heavily. Atleast it was bullet proof. Tears slowly crawled out of my weak eyes. My head was spinning and I could barely think straight.
I had to call 911!
I searched my phone carelessly and in panic. I know I needed to get help somehow before my mind completely shuts down
But then her faint voice called out my name. " Zen "
I immediately put everything to a stop and froze to ascertain that I heard right.
Was she still alive? Oh my God!
I threw my bag and it scattered on the floor and without picking up anything including my phone, I raced through the tiled stairs past the all white a sitting room decor where at the past weeks I have sited comfortably with Jasmine while she had told me repeatedly that the recent death of her boyfriend wasn't just an accident like the police concluded.
There she was, in her room and on the floor with blood oozing out of her stomach I quickly held a towel over her stomach to hold the bleeding a little. I might not be a doctor but i sure know that losing a lot of blood would get her killed.
I couldn't behold the helpless sight as I dropped to my knee. I could only weep out her name in pain
"jasmine. You will be fine I promise " I stuttered and breathed in. One of us had to be strong after all. It would have been jasmine. She's good at acting tough but not now since she's fucking dying!
But she still managed to smile.
" Just hang in there for a little while love, once that psychopath leaves, I will get you to hospital immediately. Do you know why he did this ? Or who he is? "I asked. I wasn't expecting a dying woman to be able to talk.
Jasmine managed to nod and then started to point at her vanity table.
"What's in there Jasmine?"
"Journ.... " She could only manage to say before her eyes widened in terror and closed in death.
A hand touched my shoulder and when I turned slowly, fidgeting, the killer was behind me, his mouth wide with smiles. He seemed to be so excited at our misery.
Who the hell was he? And why would anyone want Jasmine dead? She was just a sweet girl.
It was too late to find out. , I could see that for he pointed the pistol at my forehead and squeezed the trigger!