"I object to this nnion." Bailey shot up to her feet, unable to hold back her anger as Derek kept ignoring her.
Wild gasps echoed across the church auditorium as every pair of eyes turned to look at her,
Ruby's icy gaze narrowed at Bailey, her hands coiling into a fist.
Even though she felt relieved that someone had stopped her, she hated the fact that it was her two-timing cousin.
Derek stood frozen in horror, panic seizing his heart.
"Bailey! What has come over you? Sit down this minute!" Her mother's angry voice chided.
"No mother, I won't. I can't watch him marry her. He doesn't love her. It is me he loves."
"Is this some kind of a sick joke?" Derek's father snapped.
"Bailey!" Ruby's father –Jonathan– angry voice boomed like a thunderclap. "What is the meaning of this nonsense? Have you lost your senses? Sit down before I come down there and make you do."
"Uncle, I'm very sorry but I can't let Derek marry Ruby. He belongs to m...."
"Shut that stinking mouth of yours, your little rat." Donna shot up to her feet, waving her finger threateningly at her. "How dare you cough out such nonsense on your cousin's wedding day? Have you gone mad?"
"No aunty." Bailey stood her ground, earning herself ridiculing comments and nasty glares.
"Monica..." Ruby's mother, Agnes, rose like a firestorm about to unleash mayhem. "...if you know what is good for you, drag that lunatic you call a daughter out of this church before I strangle her with my bare hands."
"Derek, say something." Bailey cried out. "Tell everyone how much you love me." She pleaded running to the altar.
Derek's face twisted with horror and rage as he glared dangerously at Bailey, infuriated by her stubbornness.
"Derek what is the meaning of this rubbish?!" Ruby demanded angrily, pretending not to be aware of their affair.
"I don't know what she is talking about, sweetheart." Derek's voice trembled as he took Ruby's hands. "You are the only one I love."
"Lies! Tell her the truth, Derek or I will." Bailey threatened.
"Shut up, Bailey!" Derek roared. "Get out of here."
"You won't say anything? Fine..." Bailey turned to Ruby. "Dear cousin, Derek and I have..."
"Bailey...." Derek growled, stepping forward to shut her up but Ruby stopped him, her voice sharp and final.
"Let her speak."
"But baby..."
"I'm listening, Bailey." Ruby rudely cut him off, whipping her icy gaze to her cousin.
A sly smile curled up Bailey's lips as she tilted her mocking gaze to Ruby.
"I'm sorry you have to find out this way, cousin, but Derek and I have been together for the past three years. We even made love last night, and he confided in me how he wishes I were his bride."
"Ah..."
Wild gasps echoed across the room, with murmurs rising as every judgmental eye flickered to the groom.
Even the parents were too frozen to react.
"Three years!" Ruby's shimmering eyes flared up. "You've been cheating on me with her for three years?
"No..." Derek shook his head, his voice cracking as he fell on his knees before his bride. "Baby....please. Don't listen to anything she's saying. She's lying."
"I'm not lying." Bailey quickly dug her hand into her side pocket as she observed Agnes marching towards her. She yanked out some printed sheets which she waved in the air for everyone to see. "I have proof of four abortions and a..."
Smack!
The sound of a reverberating slap echoed in the auditorium as Agnes's hand connected with Bailey's cheek, cutting off her words.
Bailey's head whipped to the side, her shriek of despair filling the entire church, causing a deafening hush to fall across the room.
The report sheet in her hand fell, fluttering like a wingless butterfly–some landing on the floor and others caught by curious guests eager to know the truth.
One of the report sheets fell close to Donna's feet and she slowly picked it up with trembling hands.
It was a recent pregnancy test report which showed that Bailey was seven weeks pregnant.
"Oh God!" Donna gasped.
"Get out of this place right now, you shameless girl," Agnes yelled at the top of her voice.
"I'm sorry, Aunty..." Bailey cried bitterly holding her burning cheeks,
"Out!" Agnes screamed, and Bailey's parents hurriedly dragged their daughter out of the church in shame while apologising to Agnes.
"Four abortions! Really Derek." Ruby's voice cracked like a whip.
"Baby, please...I can explain."
"Explain what!"
Tears of betrayal and rage clouded Ruby's eyes. But she refused to let it fall.
"I saw you, Derek. I saw both of you on our bed five week ago."
"What?!" Donna's jaw dropped.
"No!" Agnes froze mid-step.
Elena's grip tightened around the bouquet, her inflamed gaze shooting daggers at Derek
"Baby, please.... Don't do this here." Derek tried to hold Ruby but got a fierce slap across the cheek.
"Don't you dare touch me," Ruby screamed at the top of her voice. "I was willing to go through this wedding because of the love I had for you and our family. But this...is too much."
Derek ignored the humiliation and the burning sting on his cheek as he continued to beg Ruby.
"This marriage is over." Ruby spat out between clenched teeth. "I'm done." She turned around and took to her heels.
Blinding tears fell down Ruby's misty eyes as she ran as fast as her legs could carry her, kicking off her heels while ignoring everyone's pleading calls.
She didn't know where she was going as she ran out of the church, holding up her wedding gown, her heart breaking with every revelation.
All she wanted to do right now was get as far away as possible from everyone and everything.
As if on cue, a black sleek sports car pulled up in front of her, forcing her to halt.
Ruby's brow furrowed, thinking it was one of Derek's overseas friends.
But the moment her teary eyes met his, smiling genuinely and beckoning her to get into the car, she instantly knew there was no other place you would rather be than with him.
"Come with me, beautiful." Kia popped his head from the driver's door, while revving the car's engine, promising her the thrill of a lifetime.
"Ruby!" Her parents' and family's voices echo behind her, each one of them running to stop her.
Without giving it a second thought, Ruby quickly got into the car, gathering her flowing wedding gown in her hands.
"Ruby, don't you dare," Jonathan growled, his threatening gaze narrowing at her.
But she slammed the door shut before he could reach the car, and it sped off into the sunset.