“You look so beautiful darling, the world will sing your name today,” Evelyn said to her daughter in the dressing room.
April was dressed in a stunning wedding dress, makeup and hair done to perfection as they helped her to a stand where she looked at her reflection.
“I can’t believe it’s finally come. Everything is working so perfectly.” She said with a smile, “I can’t wait for sister to show up and watch me get married to the man of her dreams.”
At the mention of June, Evelyn’s face was marred with a frown. “I still don’t understand why you had to invite that wench. She is bad luck, I hope she doesn’t show up.”
“Today is a happy occasion. I would not put it behind her to cause a ruckus and drag all the attention to herself!”
April smiled, of course, she had thought things out carefully before taking the liberty to invite that wench to her wedding. In fact, she planned to end her life today. If everything went according to plan, then her life would be ruined.
“Don’t worry mother. I have everything under control.” April spoke assuredly, “She would not escape our hands today. I will make sure of that.”
Evelyn gauged her daughter with a look she couldn’t decipher. These days, her daughter refused to carry her along with any plans of hers. A side that upset her.
“Tell me, what do you have planned? I will help in any way I can.” She pushed, hoping to get her to cave.
April shook her head. “Just leave it to me, Mother. You should worry about the merger while I take care of this business. Things are going to change starting tomorrow and you need to be prepared for it.”
Tongue-tied, Evelyn bit her lips and nodded. “Alright. I will step out and ensure the wedding preparations are fine.” She said, fighting the urge to add – since that is all I am capable of doing these days.
Soon enough, it was time to wed. Ethan stood on the altar, waiting for his bride with the multitude of witnesses that attended the wedding. April was taking so much time.
Ethan felt like he had been stood up!
Not to mention the fact that murmurings had started with the delay of the bride-to-be. Meanwhile, June went to the office space to see the progress of things. It was the launch of JL and there was a lot to put in place.
Following the special invite she received to her sister and Ex-husband’s wedding, she came up with a plan that she hoped would place JL on a higher pedestal and open new doors for her.
After the little pitch she did with the help of her sweet prince, she managed to grab some appointments of people who were looking to work with her. Coupled with Joel’s presence and Lucy overseeing things in her absence, things were going smoothly for their small start-up business.
However, she had bigger plans, hence her reason for scheduling the launch on the same day as her sister’s wedding. She planned to give her a not-so-pleasant surprise and see how things proceeded from there onwards.
“The press has arrived,” Lucy said to June who was busy on her phone.
Luis had been persistent on coming to the launch of the company and after much persuasion, he settled for having a live feed of the event.
“Good. I believe we are set. I will be out soon to cut the place open.” She said, “And Joel?”
“He’s out back with the employees. Ready when you are.”
June nodded. “Great. It’s showtime.”
At the Wedding hall, Olivia couldn’t sit still. “What is this embarrassment? My son has been standing for two hours?! Is this wedding holding or is this an elaborate plan to disgrace our Lontoc family?!”
Ethan who could hear his mother’s pronouncements turned around, hoping to subtly get her to keep her mouth shut while they waited. Shockingly, April walked out with her father at that moment.
Forcing his mother to swallow the next set of words at the tip of her tongue. Including the murmurings in the hall. April managed a smile but inside, she was furious.
That sister of hers had not shown up! How could she show her how much of a loser she was if she wasn’t here to watch her get married? How could she make the last hit if she didn’t show up to receive it?
Ethan felt his heart stable as soon as he saw her. Not because he loved her, but because he didn’t think he could bear the shame of being abandoned at the altar. He needed to save whatever face that he had left.
April joined him on the altar and the priest started the wedding, soon enough, vows were shared and they were pronounced husband and wife. The event which was aired live and watched by the majority of South City was the talk of the town.
Despite the fact June had brought in major news coverage to JL launch, it barely made an impact. April and Ethan soon shared their first dance, and soon, it was time for the speakers to wish the couple a happy marriage.
April was seated with her husband when her mother suddenly came with an odd look on her face.
“Daughter, I need to speak to you.” Her tone was urgent and her countenance serious.
April excused herself from the table, stepping by the side with her mother.
“What is it?” She asked when they were by themselves.
“It’s June. She wants to give a speech.” Evelyn said, “She sent in a video file to be played.”
A frown, “Did you check it’s contents?”
“Yes. It’s a video of her wishing you a happy married life and apologizing for not being able to make it.”
April resisted the urge to laugh out loud. That silly sister of hers must have been too ashamed to show her face. A pity she escaped the trap she set for her but who says she couldn’t mock her anyway?
“Play the video once the speeches end.” She said with a cruel look on her face. “She just gave me ammunition to destroy her face.”
Ethan turned to April as soon as she returned to her seat beside him. “What is going on?”
“None of your business.” She whisper-snapped, then smiled when the camera focused on them. “Try not to embarrass me.”
Ethan felt like he’d been slapped. “Embarrass me? You were the one who left me on the altar for hours! Care to explain what you were doing for so long?”
“And when did I explain my actions to you?”
“My father was seated out there in his condition!” He whisper-yelled. “He had to leave before the wedding could start because he was pressed and you choose to show up late!”
“I know you are not about to argue with me in front of these guests, Ethan. Who cares if a sick man cannot hold his bladder? Besides, I didn’t want my wedding pictures to be spoiled by the presence of a wheelchair.” She seethed.
“You should be happy I let him attend the wedding. Otherwise, your mother would not be making big talks about me in your presence.”
Ethan sensed the threat in his wife’s tone. He knew it was time to retreat as they were approaching dangerous territory. But his anger wouldn’t let him give it up.
“He is my father! Your father-in-law! At least give him some respect.” Ethan gritted.
April was done talking to him. To the outsiders who watched them discuss so closely, it seemed like they were the IT couple. Centre of attraction. Somehow, they managed to attack themselves with smiles on their faces.
“Coming next is the footage from the bride’s sister who couldn’t make it to the wedding.” The host said with a smile and signalled the technicians to play the video on the large screen behind him for all to see.
“My name is June Rivera.” June’s face popped up on the screen, “Today is the wedding of my sister and ex-husband.”
The room suddenly became quiet as everyone’s attention was arrested by the video that played. Suddenly, the video feed had a break in connection, stopping the former video and putting on a new feed.
“What is going on here?” April said when footage from the hospital showed up.
A video of April’s meeting with Lucy with a voice-over of Lucy narrating how she had been threatened by April who wanted information on June and how her father had died on the same day.
“This is fabricated! This is a lie! Turn it off!” April hollered at the workers who tried their best to turn off the video, only to realise that the system had been hacked.
The next video was a shocking one, detailing how Lucy’s father had been pushed down by a nurse who watched him die before alerting the hospital, pretending to have walked in and seen him on the floor.
“That is a lie! She is trying to set me up!” April got on her feet. “Mother! Do something! Tell them this is all a lie!”
The last video shocked the entire people, including the reporters and the general public who followed the event air.
It was a video of June, lying in a comatose state in the hospital, and the very same nurse entering her room to administer drugs.