Present Day
The day finally arrived and everyone I knew was present. As I sat at our reception table and watched the newly weds dancing together on the dance floor.
Everyone here had one connection to me and Markian somehow. And just like that my little self found a place in their hearts.
My eyes drifted from one person to the other as i watched everyone in wonder and silence. I looked at Ava and Austin as they joined the couple on the dance floor and danced happily holding each other. They looked very cute together as people chuckled at the both of them trying to steal the spotlight from the newly weds.
Then my eyes drifted to my mom and Mr Tion Winfrey. Honestly, I can never get used to those two, but on the bright side, if they decide to get married, Heather and Daniel would become my step- brother and sister.
I chuckled at the thought of that happening as my eyes moved towards Daniel and Penelope. She seems very happy and she looks very beautiful tonight. I could see the love in her eyes as they whispered into each other’s ears.
I’m happy that Daniel finally found someone who loves him as much as he loves her and they both looked perfect for each other. But my eyes started to tear up and I began to feel anxious for some reason.
I looked around for Markian, but he was talking with an Italian guest who seems to be in his early thirties maybe. I needed some air, so I got up from the table and went out to get some.
Our babies were taken home by my mom after the church service and they remained with the nannies, while mom returned few minutes ago to join the reception party.
I missed them so I called to ask the nannies how they were doing. Thankfully, they’re both asleep and I was relieved. They get a bit fussy when I’m not around and can be a handful.
I sat by a fountain and tried to take deep breathes slowly. Few seconds later I heard a voice ask,
“Is everything alright?”
I turned my head to my side to look at Markian and nodded with a sad smile.
“just wanted some air.” I replied.
“Feeling crowded in there? Or getting emotional?” He asked plainly as he sat next to me.
“A little bit of both. Maybe I’m emotional because I’m overwhelmed looking at the family you’ve given me.” I replied still smiling.
He took a deep breathe and exhaled loudly. Then he looked around carefully before asking,
“Do you want to run away with me?…” to my surprise, “… we could go somewhere private, where no one would find us,” he added.
He remembered that crowded environment triggers my anxiety, but where could we possibly go? I wanted to ask, rather I just nodded in agreement.
He held my hand as we walked to his car and got in. In no time we were on the highway, and 15mins later we took a turn. Soon the lights of the Castlehill logo reflexed on my window and I knew where we were heading.
Markian drove the car into the company’s car park and we got out. He held my hand and led me to the elevator. When we got in, he pressed the last floor button and pulled me closer to himself.
When we got off, he held my hand as we walked up the remaining stairs and arrived at the rooftop. The night never looked more beautiful than it does from up here.
The last first and last time I was here was with Daniel. It was my engagement night but he had brought me here to shout out my worries and anxiety to the world.
Markian hated me so much back then and I never thought we would make it this far. I can’t believe it’s been 18months already, I thought as I just stood frozen and stared into the night.
“Don’t you want to scream to the world?” He asked to my surprise.
How did he find out?
“Did Daniel tell you we came up here on our engagement night?” I asked amazed.
“He didn’t… I saw you both on the CCTV footage. I was so pissed after watching him comforting you but I didn’t know why then. Somehow I wanted to be the only one who would always be there to comfort you and wipe away your tears.” He replied, and I knew he knew what I was hiding.
For the past 3months I’ve not mentioned Sophia to anyone not even my mom. Markian knew I was hurting and that I didn’t want anyone to know, that’s why he brought me here.
I moved to the side to seat on a ledge and Markian sat beside me.
“Her gun had no bullets left, it was empty.” I said as I reminised on that night.
“I don’t care. Your mother was on the floor in the pool of her own blood while she had the gun pointed at you. I could wait to ask if the gun was loaded or not. I did what I had to do.” He stated sternly.
“No, Markian I’m not blaming you. She wanted to shoot at me but my mom pushed me out of the way and took the shot instead. She said she didn’t want to kill me even though that was her initial plan, she only wanted to grease me so as to force me to say what she wanted to hear from me all these years. It was like she needed an approval from me that she’s bad and evil, she wanted me to tell her that I hated her…” I gritted as I explained to Markian.
“… But I couldn’t say that to my sister. I used to think that I don’t have the right to hate her because I promised my dad to always protect her, but that’s not all. Deep down even without my memories, I knew I was the one who messed up when I choose to forget everything. I left her alone to suffer with the burden of what she did to me while I just hid in the shadow…” I looked up and exhaled.
“… That’s why she tried so hard for years to make me hate her, because she was frustrated. She was right, my love for her blinded me to the fact that she was suffering because I never blamed her or called her out on how she’d hurt me, and that destroyed her. Even now I still can’t hate her, how can I ever hate or blame her? She made mistakes, but even her mistakes brought me to you and I don’t regret meeting you…” I said as I looked at Markian.