His last minute bride

72

-Eri Jones-

This was the most traumatizing moment of my life. I couldn't sleep overnight.

The thought of Hane being a betrayal scared me. Who knew who else was working with June in this house where tons of workers were.

Don walked in with a cup of what I assumed to be hot tea in his hand.

He handed it to me which I received in gratitude, cupping it with both hands.

He sat on the cushion beside me who was wrapped in a thick coat even though the heater was turned on.

The thought of everything that happened yesterday made me feel really chilly.

“I'm sorry.” Don's apologetic tone had hit me surprisingly.

I stared at him with a raised brow, taking a sip of the tea which was very satisfactory considering how hot it was. “Why?”

“It's all my fault this is happening to you.” He sighed, staring at his thigh. “If you hadn't been involved with me, you wouldn't have faced death three times.”

He turned to me. “Did you know Hane was the one who pushed you down the pool in Australia?”

I sighed, feeling my heart hurt a lot at that reality. “How did you find me?”

“Well, a man from Australia called. He said he was the one investigating how you were pushed and although the CCTV was destroyed, they were able to fix it and find out who did it.

“That was when they noticed Hane secretly following you till you reached the pool and she pushed you off the ground to the pool.”

He sighed before continuing. “Also, her real name isn't Hane. It's Frinsley.”

“Frinsley?”

He nodded. “Yep, Frinsley Gregory.”

Woah, that was weird.

“Well, when I heard that, I remembered you saying you were going to her sister's wedding and I immediately realized she was probably trying to kill you, so I called the cops.

“Then I called the driver who'd dropped you and he told me where you'd said he should drop you, also that he didn't find any wedding hall where she'd told him to go.

“Then I called the cops and went in search of you.” He placed his hand on my thigh which was really comforting. “I'm really sorry.”

“It's alright. I'm okay now.”

“I'm just a little worried since June wasn't found.” He looked as worried as he sounded and I couldn't help but feel bad that he was in such shape.

We heard a muffled noise, and soon, Suzy and Rose were scurrying into the second parlor.

“Eri!” Suzy wrapped her arms round my neck.

“What? How did you two get in?” I asked when Suzy released me from her grip.

“Not important. So how're you feeling? You must be so scared.” It was obvious how afraid Rose had been.

“Well, what can I say, June's a psycho and doesn't want to leave me alone.”

“How the fuck did the cops think she was in Australia?” She snorted, placing her hands on her hips.

“Hey Don.” It was like Suzy just registered his presence.

He smiled. “Hey girls, it's nice to see you.”

Rose scanned him head to toe, a frown plastered on her face. “Hello.” It had come out colder than the normal Rose.

“You guys didn't need to stress yourself, I'm alright and the cops are out searching for her for real this time.” I hoped that was going to ease their worry which I guessed worked for Suzy but not Rose.

“Why don't we go to my room and talk.” It was certain Don's presence was making things awkward.

“Okay.” Suzy tugged a few strands of hair off her face.

The three of us went to my room. Not the one I stayed in with Don but my previous room.

“June is very scary.” Rose started when we'd each taken a position on the bed. “She wants to kill you and will use all means to do that.”

“If Hane was a betrayal, who knows how far she can go to get you.” Suzy added.

“Everything makes sense now,” I started, “June wasn't stalking me. Hane was the one giving her all the information.”

Every place June had sent me messages, Hane was always close by or missing, maybe hiding.

I sighed. “The girl's creepy.”

“And she's going to do worse Eri, you know that, we both know that.” Her voice had become serious, it readied me for what she planned on saying next.

“I know and now, I'd be very careful.” I sounded far more confident than I felt.

“Careful isn't the solution, she's very cunning.” She sounded like she was choosing her words really wisely.

“Yes, but now the cops are in search of her.”

“But they were also in search of her before and even she outsmarted the cops to think she was in Dubai.”

I had no patience for the beating around the bush game. “Okay, so? What should I do?”

“You might think I'm being mean or something,” she sounded like she was talking to a four-year-old, “but I think the best thing to do right now is to leave Don so you can live.”

I clutched to the bedsheet of the room. “What are you saying?” I asked through gritted teeth.

Leave Don? What the fuck. I wasn't doing that ever. He was my life and I wouldn't leave him for anything.

“Snap out of this dreamworld Eri.” She no longer sounded like she was talking to a four-year-old. Now it sounded like she was scolding her sixteen-year-old child.

“You have a family. If you die, you lose for Christ's sake.” Her tone was getting louder at each word which infuriated me. What if Don heard her.

“June is crazy about Don, she'd never do a thing to harm him and you're the obstacle stopping her from reaching the goal she's determined to reach Eri.” Frustration seemed to be blooming in her.

“If you stay, she'd hurt and possibly kill you.” She scoffed. “You know what'd happen if you die? Don would mourn for a while then move on with his fucking life, but who'd suffer. Suzy and Rose would suffer. We would be the one to mourn over you and you will never come back.”

No matter how stinging each words came out of her mouth was, I couldn't deny its truth.

She stared at me with what looked like tears in her eyes. “Leave him Eri. Just get a divorce.”

I didn't want to die, neither did I want Suzy and Rose to suffer and mourn for the rest of their lives.

I'd already almost died three times since I'd met Don and it hadn't even been up to a year.