Chapter 1

Shit!

Jessica's wedding ring!

Oh no! It's her wedding day and she had just forgotten the most important asset to her. Those pairs of diamond rings were passed down to her by her late mum, to be used as her wedding rings.

" Stop the car," she yelled, knowing how important those rings were to her.

" Ma'am everyone is waiting for you in the church," the driver said.

The wind gushing from the car's window softly blew the bride's veil, revealing her beautiful tensed face. Her face was captivating, her smooth complexion olive-toned, the bare minimum of make-up enhancing her natural beauty. She had perfect cheekbones, slightly slanting eyes, straight nose and that sensual, irresistible mouth with luscious, dusky- rose lips, any guy would find himself longing to taste.

Tense, she thought of what to do, her arms folded across her chest, even white teeth worrying the sensual curve of her lower lip. His breath caught. Glossy brown hair, the color of polished walnut, fell to her shoulders in a satiny curtain.

She looked younger than her twenty six years. Above average height, she was dressed in a long white gown, possessing diamonds around its collar and sleeves.

The wedding would be incomplete without those beautiful generational rings.

She picked up her phone and called her aunt, Sandra Lisandro.

" Where are you? " the cold voice of Sandra drawled in her ear. " We have been waiting for you and your groom. The priest is worried! "

Groom!

The howling wind intensified and caused coldness in the air.

The thought of her groom not in the church caused a strong shudder run down her spine.

" The guests will soon get impatient and might get angry as well, " Sandra said slowly, yet sharply.

" I'm on my way to church, " Jessica snapped. " But I have to make sure Carlos is on his way as well. Don't worry, I will do my best to be there as soon as possible. "

" Okay Jessica. Whatever you do, do it quickly. It's not good to keep the guest and Priest waiting, " Sandra said hastily. " Come quick. Goodbye. "

Jessica's hands had suddenly turned cold and her beautiful face had turned pale. Where could Carlos be?

She called his line. He didn't answer.

" Please pick! Carlos, don't do this to me. Please answer my call, " she pleaded restlessly, as she dialed his number over and over again.

" Turn the car around, " a pale Jessica snarled.

This time around, the driver didn't utter a single word. He just did as she had instructed.

" We are going home, " she said in a low pitched tone.

Tears pricked her lids and she sobbed at one point. She leaned her back on the chair and fell in tears. Sobbing and crying as she hit the auto dial button again.

The car came to an abrupt stop.

In a hurry, she opened the car's door and came out of the car. She grabbed her flowing wedding gown up as she walked her way into the mansion.

" Carlos, " she screamed but no answer came forth. She was getting furious and paler and hopeless.

She climbed the stairs and walked through the corridor.

" Your bride must be waiting for you, " a voice Jessica recognized to be Veronica's, her best friend, said plainly from a room.

" I don't care. If you hadn't come up with this stupid plan of me getting married to your best friend Jessica and creating a way to get into her father's will, I would be marrying you today and not her. I had big dreams for us, " Carlos snapped.

" Are you out of your mind Carlos? There are a lot of men out there wishing and wanting to be in your shoes. If you don't marry her today, another lowlife guy will. And he will certainly secure a good life for himself forever, so be wise Carlos baby. Open your eyes Carlos. This is a chance you can't afford to miss, " Veronica said toughly.

" But what about us? What if it doesn't turn out as planned or expected? What if Jessica figures this out? " Carlos asked.

" Can you shut up Carlos? Don't be negative. I know Jessica, she loves you a lot. And just like the saying goes, love is blind. She is ready to do anything for you. Remember how she gave you three million dollars to clear up a bill you lied to her about? Well, that's enough to prove that she isn't smart. Just keep pretending to love her, keep pretending to care for her and surely everything is going to turn out as planned and expected, " Veronica reassured him.

Inwardly paled, Jessica clenched her fists around her gown.

If she wasn't finished, what was she?

Broken! Torn apart! Depressed! Damned! In a terribly shocking state! But she held on to one thing, not to cry now. Not to make a sound. She held back the tears in her eyes.

The warning and advice of her late mother alerted her. Being the daughter of a billionaire, you don't expect to get a normal life.

Being the daughter and the heiress of your dad's wealth you will have to beware of guys who only want you because of your money.

They will claim they love you, Jessica. Everyone loves a rich woman.

And this was the main reason I kept you away from your dad since you were a child. I wanted you to get married before I could introduce you to your father.

But now you know your father, beware of men. Especially men that love your wealth more than they love you.

She took a step back, as the warnings of her mother violently buzzed in her head. The eerie words of Carlos and Veronica filled the atmosphere.

Fighting down the fear and nausea, Jessica tried to blank everything out and do what needed to be done.

If she could find the courage. But no she couldn't.

Without a second second thought, she ran away from there in tears.

Why? Why? Why her? She screamed in head as hot tears flow freely down her eyes. If only she listened to her mother but no love made her blind now look where it brought her to. Ignoring the voice of the driver, she ran out knowing where to ran to or whom cry on but she has to leave there.

Emotions rooting through her, Jessica realised she was wringing her hands, her movements revealing her tumultuous, panicky thoughts. She fought the unnerving feeling of being mercilessly backed into a corner, herded into a situation she could never control.

Nevertheless, she was glad of the emotion because it's banished, temporarily, the darkness of betrayal.

And was stupid, because if she had known right from the start that his love meant nothing then maybe.......

Unable to run not stand in heels anymore, she pulled off her perfect white shoes and held them in her hands.

She looked like a mad woman. Her tears had washed off her makeup, her hair was now messy, walking on bare foot but nothing is compared to the pains she feels in her heart.

What will people think of her?

She ran away from her own wedding because she knows that they would pin the blame on her?

Should she go back?

Not ever going to happen, she thought, cold with something horribly close to desolation. She was the enemy, the intruder, the scoundrelly unwanted alien. Feeling more alone than she'd ever felt in her life, she resisted the temptation to stay stubbornly put; she wouldn't put it past him to leave her there.

Or to haul her out.

And that sent a honeyed, surreptitious shiver through her that warned her of her susceptibility. Gritting her teeth, she walked down not minding the gossip of the people about her.

She got tired and sat down on a rock to catch her breath. Hour's later, Dark clouds threatened but no rain fell. Jessica smiled sadly, and stood up, she sighted a hotel not far away from her. She strolled down there.

MERCYLAND HOTEL.

One of the biggest hotel in the country. A place where she planned for her honeymoon but now she coming here to run away from everyone just to find peace and courage that she has lost.

She walked into the hotel and scanned the place, she smiled unknowingly.

Walking up to the receptionist.

" Hi. Can I book a room please?" She said tonelessly, she lost her voice crying all day.

" Of course ma'am. With cash or transfer?" The receptionist asked, trying to find shock on her face.

Why would a newly married woman be doing here by this time or maybe something bad happened?

On hearing what that, Jessica searched for her purse or phone and realized that she didn't come with any one.

She needed a room badly and she can't go back home now, what to do?

Of course her precious diamond ring.

" I don't have money on me but I can give you this diamond ring am sure it will be able to offset the debt. Please I really need this room" She begged trying to take off her rings.

" There is no need for that, I will pay her debts" a deep muscle voice from behind.

Are her eyes deceiving her? Or has she started hearing things? No she wasn't. She turned to see an unfamiliar handsome stranger.

" What?" She asked to be sure of what she heard.

" I will pay her bills" he repeated not sparing her a glance.

" Ok sir" the receptionist replied with a smile.

" Thank you so much" she said blinking back her tears.

" Here is the key to your room" the receptionist handed the key over to her.

" Thank you" she turned to him and smiled.

" Thank you so much" she said with a slight bow, walking off before he could ask her any further questions.

He stared at her restraining figure with smile before turning to the receptionist with an icy look.

" Send her bills to my office"

" Yes sir" she bowed.

What relationship does she have with the C. E .O of this hotel. Davis Miller.

Jessica managed to find her room with the help of a worker there.

She walked into the room tiredly and slumped on the bed. Remembering that today was her wedding day, she bursted into another round of tears.

Slowly she cried herself to sleep.