KALIA
"Kalia, wake up." I overheard the loud and incessant voice of someone calling out to me from outside my bedroom door. Before I could process what was going on, the door flew open and Celyn walked into my room with a beautiful smile on her lit up face.
Flashes of her face laughing and mocking me when I was locked up in that dreadful closet filled my head and I almost found it difficult to breathe. How is she here? Why is she here and not with Callum?
"I just spoke with the secretary at the bridal store and if you don't leave soon, you'll wind up late for your dress fitting appointment." Celyn reminded me with a grin as she sat down on the edge of my bed.
I stared at her with wide and confused eyes as memories of myself being locked away inside that gut wrenching closet by Callum filled my head again. I'm supposed to be dead. Scratch that, I am dead so why am I here? Am I having a bad dream? What on earth is going on?
"Where is this place? What are you d-doing here? What am I doing h-here?" I asked in a stutter after finding my voice that was seemingly stuck inside my throat since she pushed that door open.
"What do you mean by 'what am I doing here?' This is our house so where else would I be if not here?" Celyn asked with knitted brows, her unwavering gaze fixated on mine.
"Did Callum say something to upset you on your dinner date with him last night?" She asked again and I racked my brains for answers but none were forthcoming. She tried to feel my temperature but I grabbed her hands halfway to stop her from touching me.
I don't know what's happening right now but one thing for sure is certain. Celyn is not just my stepsister but also a traitor as well. I died because of her and I won't let her fool me again with her pretence and good girl attitude until I can figure out what's going on by myself and why I caught her sleeping with my husband.
"What day is it today?" I am forced to ask after a moment of grave silence and she tilted her head to look at me as if I've grown a second pair of heads.
"Wednesday." She answered nonchalantly and stood up to her feet.
"I meant the year. What year is it?"
She eyed me curiously. "2020. Today is March 10th, 2020."
"Now that you're done acting like someone who's lost her mind completely, I'd advise that you get dressed and leave for the bridal store immediately. Mom will be back home soon and Callum will be joining us for dinner later this evening. Have fun and don't miss your way to the psych ward!" She waved at me before exiting my room and shutting the door behind her.
"March 2020? It can't be?" I muttered under my haggard breath and pushed myself out of the bed. I found my phone lying on my dresser and I hurriedly picked it up to see the date for myself and there it was on the screen of my phone just as Ceyln had said.
I had even set a reminder for my dress fitting today and it was displayed there as well. With shaky hands, I placed the phone back on my dresser and stared at my reflection in the full length mirror. I realized that my hand that was broken when Callum forcefully locked me up in that closet wasn't broken anymore.
March 2020 was exactly two years ago from when I died. It was the year I married Callum. Did I come back from the dead or did I maybe go back in time? Is this a start over for me?
My hands flew over my stomach and I realized that it was flat which was an indication that I wasn't pregnant yet so it only meant that I went back in time to start over again but this time, no one knew about it, except me.
I still remember what happened today so vividly. I am supposed to meet up with Callum at the bridal store for my gown fitting because our wedding was scheduled to take place in two weeks time. Does this also mean that this was when Callum started cheating on me with my stepsister or have they been having an affair with each other before now?
I swallowed hard at the possibility and slowly sat down on my bed as I tried to process my thoughts and put the broken fragments of my memories together so that I could understand why Callum cheated on me. If he never loved me then why did he ever propose to marry me in the first place? Why choose to hurt me?
Before I died, I remember him talking about my birthright as my father's daughter so it must only mean that Celyn must've told him that I am not my father's child. He was aware that I am a bastard's child and only wanted to take it from me before discarding me like trash. No wonder he went through all this to get married to me.
No wonder he locked me up in that closet to kill me after getting his hands on it. I remember how suffocating it was being there. The air was tight and I could barely breathe.
I remained there without food and water for days until I passed away. With pain in my heart, I remember begging the goddess to spare my life. I remember crying for a second chance at life. Maybe that's the reason why I'm here again. To start from the beginning and correct all my mistakes.
I was a good wife and I made sure to perform all my duties diligently yet Callum still treated me like trash. I loved him so much but he didn't think twice before stabbing me in the back by cheating and killing me. Now, he will pay for everything that he has put me through.
He will pay for all the tears I cried, for all the lies and betrayal. He will pay for hurting me and for making me lose my child in the cruelest way possible. I will not stop until I have taken everything away and rid my future of him permanently. That's a promise I intended to keep.
Wiping a stray tear that had glued itself to my cheeks, I made my way into the bathroom to shower. There was no point dwelling in the past anymore. I finished up with my bath and settled for something suitable to wear.
Just like before, I will be meeting Callum at the bridal store but as a different person and not as the naive woman that fell in love with him so I made sure to look my best before leaving the house.
I took my car and drove off to the store. I arrived in less than thirty minutes and made my way inside for my appointment. I looked around the store filled with beautiful types of bridal dresses.
I had picked this store myself because it was my dream to wear one of their gowns for my wedding. I can't believe that there was a time I wanted this so much. I could remember how happy I was to try one of the gowns back then. It was my dream to be married to Callum, to be his wife but not anymore.
"Are you ready for your fitting ma'am?" One of the workers asked me but I only flashed her a smile and sat down. "The fitting room is this way." She added, pointing towards a path that led to a closed private door.
"Can you hold on for a few more minutes? I want my fiance to be here when I try it on. He's very eager to see me in my wedding dress." I said to her and she nodded before walking away.
Minutes later, just like clockwork, Callum walked into the store looking as dashing as ever. At first, I froze when the picture of him dragging me away flooded my head but I shook it off as quickly as it came.
His dress was ruffled and wrinkled in all the wrong places so I knew that he had just come here after meeting up with my step sister. How come I never noticed it before? The signs were all there in front of me but I chose to ignore them because I was madly in love with him. How foolish of me.
"Where's your wedding dress, babe? And why aren't you putting it on?" He asked in his usual calm and soothing voice that reminded me why I fell in love with him in the first place.
"Oh, I guess you were waiting for me, right?" He said and tried to touch me but I shifted slightly as though his hands would burn me. Bold of him to assume that I even wanted him here. If only he knew what was about to happen right now.
"I'm sorry I'm late. I had to wrap up some documents at the office, not to mention that the traffic was terrible on my way down here. I promise to make it up to you." He lied to me. He was a pretty good liar. How come I never realized it until now?
The old gullible me would've eaten up this excuse but I knew better now.
"Let's not waste any more time and start with the fitting. I'm sure that you'll look beautiful in whatever dress you've chosen. I honestly can't wait to see you in it." He added with an affectionate smile. If only he knew that this marriage wasn't happening anymore.
I smiled at him. "I'm sorry but you'll never see me in a wedding dress because there will be no wedding. I'm calling off our marriage and I only came here to tell you that."
He laughed. "You're really funny, babe. I know that you're angry with me but don't be too harsh. I already apologized, haven't I?"
"Do well to tell your side of the family that the wedding is off. I'll do the same with mine." I went on to say and rose to my feet.
"W-What? Are you serious? Is that some kind of joke?" Callum stuttered with a confused look on his face which was followed by a soft laugh. "What are you talking about, Kalia? This wedding is set to happen in two weeks. Everyone is looking forward to it already." He repeated.
"Great! That means you have plenty of time left to cancel all your plans and do the needful. It's over between us, Callum, officially." I stated firmly and made to leave but he roughly grabbed my arm, stopping me in my tracks.
"You're messing with me right?" His brows creased in a thin line and I noticed his jaw clench in anger.
"Everyone is preparing for this union. What do you want me to tell my parents? My friends? Are you mad or something?" He asked me and I forcefully yanked my hands away from his death grip.
"Well, since you didn't hear me the first time, I'll say it again." I started, without mincing words.
"This marriage is no longer happening, Callum Alexander Zade because I, Kalia Williams Lockwood, reject you as my mate and my future husband, permanently." I deadpanned while he looked at me speechless and at a loss of words.