Tides of Destiny

Prologue: The Matrimony

PROLOGUE

The Matrimony

Alfina Guerrero

Marriage is said to be the happiest day of your life. It is a union of two people who are bound together by love. I was ecstatic as any bride would be. Everything was in place, the decorations, the flowers, the guests, and all that was needed for the wedding.

"Do you, Claude Hege take the Marchioness Alfina Guerrero as your lawfully wedded wife?" the priest asked and pointed the microphone to his direction. I looked at Claude, he let out a sigh and gave me a weak smile.

Is he hesitating?

"The wedding is off. I apologize for the commotion but I'm not ready for this Alfina. I'm in love with someone else." my soon-to-be-husband, or was, announced. Gasps echoed throughout the beauty of Tønsberg Cathedral.

I didn't know how to react. I knew that he would never love someone like me. It was too good to be true that one of Norway's most eligible bachelors would fall for a broke heiress who loved art and doing crafts instead of mingling with society.

I didn't have enough time to process Claude's announcement as I only watched him race down the aisle and run towards his Rolls-Royce with one of the pretty guests. The car was parked in front of the gigantic entrance and photographers from the media were already taking pictures of them. Everyone in the church was still in a state of shock and disbelief at what happened.

I quickly left the altar and ran to the bathroom. My assistant, Olivia Herrera, followed me and tried to comfort me.

"I want to go home, Olive. Take me back to Spain." I pleaded with my assistant. "We can't, we're considered as fugitives in our home remember? Your Tia (Auntie) already sacrificed a lot just by bringing us here in Norway." Olive said as she comforted me by patting my back and soothing it.

Claude Hege falling in love with me was a surprise to everyone, especially me. I felt like I was Rapunzel who was locked in a tower for a long time and he was Flynn Rider who saved me from my misery. Mother Gothel was the press who wanted a news scoop and any information about the Marchioness who was recently sent to prison for attempted murder, assault, gambling, corruption, and money laundering. Claude did his very best in protecting me.

I knew that woman who left with Claude all too well. She was one of my cousins from our late father's side, Zahria Guerrero. Zahria was everything that a woman could offer to a man like Claude. She was fun, outgoing, pretty, and very rich. Unlike me, I was bankrupt, I consider myself ugly, introverted, and I was the sole heir of the Guerrero Country Clubs around the world, my father's will states that he will hand me everything of his properties and the clubs once I am married. Although my marriage with Claude would have been advantageous for me, I didn't care about getting my father's money or the ownership of the clubs. I loved Claude with all of my heart.

Madre didn't like that she was omitted from Padre's (Father's) will. My last encounter with her was when she tried to shoot me with a gun. She wanted to have all of my father's assets and she thought that getting rid of me was the only way she could get her hands on everything my father left for me.

"Olive, I don't know what to do anymore. Madre is in prison, and I have no relatives except Zahria but she stole my fiancé, I am bankrupt because the government seized our assets and my only way of retrieving the Guerrero Country Clubs is by marrying someone. I am a hundred percent sure that once Madre is released from prison, she will kill me" I shivered at the thought of my own mother killing me.

The sound of glass shattering made me stop crying. The priest quickly ran to us and stopped to catch his breath. "Run! The press is going insane, people are fighting, and everything is chaotic!" the priest exclaimed.

Olivia grabbed my hand and quickly led me to the stairs of the church which leads directly to the parking lot. There were a lot of reporters waiting outside and they clamored around us.

Olivia led me to the white Honda Civic that was supposed to be the bridal car. Olivia sat in front and I sat in the passenger seat. The car quickly drove off once we were inside.

"They're still following us! We need to lose them!" Olivia said to the driver. The driver stepped on the gas pedal and the car quickly accelerated.

There were cars still following us.

The driver took a hard right turn which led us to the tunnel. Wrong move, the tunnel was really dark and we couldn't see a thing.

"We're going too fast! We might get into an accident!" Olivia screamed, my heart was racing as I watched the speedometer go from 140 to 180 in a matter of seconds.

I closed my eyes, trying to drown everything. I wanted this to be over with. I didn't want to be in this situation anymore. I wanted to go back home to Spain.

I'd rather be labeled as a fugitive back in my hometown than be chased by the paparazzi every second of my life here in Norway. At least I'd still be back in my old room painting or reading a book.

I didn't know if we already lost the paparazzi who were following us. We were passing through a highway that was near the sea and greenery of the little town of Tønsberg.

"Shit shit! The brakes aren't working!" were the last things I heard before our car crashed.

"Olive?" I called out in a weak tone. There was no response. My forehead was bleeding and I looked over at my surroundings. It was peaceful yet dreadful.

I slowly got out of the car and saw that our car crashed into one of the lamposts in the street. I yelled in pain as I saw a huge shard of glass that punctured my leg. I cried out loud for help but nobody answered.

Despite being in tremendous amounts of pain, I decided to drag myself to the nearby shores to ask for help, hoping that someone may be fishing there.

I was feeling dizzy. I could no longer walk properly. I was basically dragging my body to someplace near the shores hoping that there were some fishermen who'd see me.

I could hear the sound of the waves hitting the shore, I felt at peace.

Am I going to die here? That would be great instead of facing the problems that I have now. But I can't die here, I want to continue my father's legacy and clean the Guerrero name.

I fell down on the ground and lost consciousness.