Day 1

"It's so pretty," I sigh, looking at myself in the large mirror. After trying five gowns, I finally felt like this one was the one.It just really calls to me, you know? It's the pearls, girl!

THE PEARLS!

When I first walked in here, I didn't have anything in mind at all; I just wanted to pick up the first thing they shoved at me and walk out of this place, but I just couldn't!

Weddings are something special, and this is my first, so I really want to nail this one. I was looking for something more on the mermaid train, even though it's not my style. I wanted to look glam since I'm getting married to an asshole who seemingly is of importance.

That would have been the fourth dress I tried on; it was a mermaid gown with a corset bodice and lace embellishment. It was a truly beautiful gown, but it was...

How should I say this? tight, and it just didn't feel right? I'm not a picky person, so I don't know where all of this is coming from.

Besides, we were looking for the perfect go-to gown because the wedding is tomorrow!

What bride goes dress shopping the day before her wedding? I'm that bride. Like I said, the pearl-encrusted bodice on this tulle ball gown just had me swooning—the way it extended on the skirt and the intricate sleeve detail on the spaghetti strap, OMFG!

If I have never felt beautiful before in my life, I am definitely feeling it now; just look at these sleeves! And the open back adds a coy little peek-a-boo effect to this gown.

I love it!

I just love it!

I've got to show Bernice!

"I'm ready," I say to the attendant, who was helping me get ready as I came out of the stall.

"Wow, ma'am, you look breathtaking," she gasps.

"Thank you; I just want to see what my friend out there has to say about it," I chuckle.

When I finally stepped out to see Bernice, she was busy munching on a pile of cupcakes they had brought for both of us. I haven't even had a bite yet!

"Woahh!" she says as she stops midway from taking another bite.

"Yeah? You like?" I ask with enthusiasm, and she nods at me.

"I knew you'd like it because I'm already in love with it myself!"

"It just... really compliments you, like it was made for you and your love for pearls; it's the best one I've seen so far." Bernice finally says:

"Right? Right!!! Exactly what I was saying to myself, it just screams, "

"YOU"

"You look beautiful, darling," she says again.

"Mum..." I finally muster

"You couldn't tell me you were finally picking a gown? I had to find out from Bernice here. You should know that's a bad thing to deprive your mother of getting a chance to pick a dress with you." She smiles as she leaves the rack of wedding gowns her fingers were examining and comes to join Bernice on the couch.

"I apologise; I was planning on coming home right after we were done here." I sigh.

"It is beautiful, dear; it is indeed a fine gown, and I would love to see you in it."

"Remember, it's Sele," I say midway. I'm the one getting married.

"Where is Father? We need to discuss something of great importance, so please don't act like all is already well between us when you know it's far from it."

"Calm down; your father went to sort out some hotel bills, and I came here to pay for the wedding dress."

"With what money? And I don't remember telling you I needed help with bills; I can pay for this myself," I huffed.

She walks towards me and holds my dress. "This one costs over five hundred thousand; how are you going to cover those smart pants?" She eyerolls at me before going back to take her seat.Shit! What should I do? I only have a hundred thousand won. 

"I guess I'll have to look for something within my budget," I smirked.

"Nonsense! Not when Reiss wants nothing but the best for you; you have chosen, and that is that!"

"I don't want his money!" I yell

"That's no longer an option, darling." She smiles as the cashier comes out of nowhere and hands her a black card.

"You paid without my permission!"

"Courtesy from your husband to be"

"Gosh, you just have to make everything about you guys again!" I groan while pulling on my hair.

They're just after the money and nothing more; it's like they left their self-pride at the hands of that wizard called Reiss. Now it's looking more obvious than ever; they have become more shameless by the day, and I haven't even told them my decision, and they're already squandering his money.

"Trust me, this is in your best interest. I would never do something to harm or question you."

"Then why is it looking like I'm being sold off?" I sigh before taking the dress in my hands and scurrying away into one of those stalls I used to change in.It's the bitter truth, but it still hurts just thinking about it. There's no other way; it's tomorrow, and I just have to do it.

…

"Are you okay?" Bernice asks from outside the stall.

"Kinda, let me just take the dress off." I sigh. Well, so much for that.

"Your mom is kind of... not good? She's crying"

"Pfft, between us, who is meant to be shedding tears?" I utter.

"According to her, she feels like you suddenly formed hatred for her, and it's all your dad's fault, blah blah blah," she says, and I chuckle. Even in the midst of a crisis, she still makes jokes.

"It's not like I just suddenly hate her; it just pisses me off that she couldn't have my back, and we've been through a lot, you know. I thought she would disagree with this mad idea, but it seems like the wealth of the Sukunas has blinded her honest judgement.

Honestly, if I could even get out of this, I would just take a trip because I am emotionally a mess right now and I just need time to cry it all out till I feel okay. That's what I genuinely want, but it can't happen, so why should I waste another strong emotion on anyone? I don't hate her; I possibly couldn't.They have already failed me, and it's too late to make amends. Besides, I want to take your advice and start to look on the bright side; I'm getting married tomorrow, and he's a total mess.

—a freaking hot mess if you ask me." I smirk at the thought of Reiss stretching in my lobby.

"But he is disrespectful, so I don't like him; at least he has money, but that doesn't matter to me. Just as long as my dad is alive and we aren't begging for loans, I'm cool with this. I can do this. I can do this." Yeah, right, as if repeating it would make the situation any better.

I pull the curtain back and step out in my jeans and white crop top.

"I will survive." I smile rather awkwardly.

"You will survive," Bernice sings, and I laugh. Together, we walk out to see my mom.

"Let's go see dad," I smile.….

"I know you guys haven't been looking for Selena, so don't start with the excuses. There's no search party, or at least there was on Day 1.

Don't deny it, because Bernice's mom tells us everything that is going on.Selena is long gone by now, and there's no changing that. I just wanted to let you know that my resolve to fight against this marriage is dead.

So don't waste your time thinking of a way to convince me; I've saved you the trouble." I see my father's eyes lit up a little, maybe from relief that he's not going to die or that he's going to be in-laws with a rich man.

"As of now, Michel and I are no longer together, not because I broke it off, but because he now thinks I'm a cheat and a dirty tramp who has always been after money and marriage.

Thanks for breaking us up and for making my life miserable; thank you for your overly wise decisions that led us to this dire situation; thank you for trading my happiness for your personal exploits."

"Freya," my mom starts, but I cut her off. I could see the tears already forming in her eyes.

"No, no, I'm almost done. Thank you for not loving me enough to get me out of this; thank you for not supporting me; and thank you for making me and all my efforts look like fools in front of people. Most of all, thank you for ruining my life.Gosh, I don't even know what he's going to do to me once we get married. He might be a psychopath or, worse, an abuser; he's going to lock me up in his big house and force me to do illicit things! He might even take my company away from me.

And guess what?

You just sold me to him! A man whom you have close to no knowledge of, and you're happy about it? I'm truly honoured to have you as my parents, and I hope you get all the money in the world so much that it suffocates you, but one thing's for sure: I don't hate you; no, I could never; I am just... disappointed."

"Freya!" my dad yells at me.

"Don't … Just don't, okay? I've had it up to here with you, so I don't think you're in the right. I've said what I wanted to say; let's leave it at that."

"We're sorry," my mom says in mid-tears, but honestly, I didn't want to hear their apology.

Tomorrow I get married to Reiss Sukuna. I can't wait...