Chapter 3

• Riya’s pov
• I knew it immediately, I was definitely back in my body. Ooh…. Riya and Tasha are going to get it. But I didn't wait, I couldn't. I had a revenge plan forming in my mind.
• I stood in the middle of my dressing room, glancing up at Tasha as she held up the wedding dress, eyes sparkling with excitement. But with the current situation, I couldn't just spark. So, I had to follow my plan to play along with Tasha's presence.
• “Why do we need a wedding dress?” I blurted, my voice barely steady.
• Tasha whipped around, her expression immediately shifting to one of disbelief. “What kind of question is that, Riya? Really? Are you okay?”
• I stammered. “I…. I’m sorry. Forget it. You don’t need to get one.” I turned on my heel, my feet feeling heavy as I attempted to walk away from the situation. But Tasha was so persistent, wasn’t letting it go.
• “Riya, don’t be ridiculous. You need a wedding dress. It's the most important part of the wedding. What’s gotten into you?”
• Her voice was filled with concern, but I ignored it. I didn’t have the patience for this conversation. I haven't had the patience for a lot of things.
• Tasha kept nagging, going on and on about the dress and how crucial it was for the big day. I tuned her out, my mind elsewhere. In the end, I took the dress from her hands, not because I cared about it, but because I wanted to escape her relentless chatter.
• Without another word, I stormed off, leaving Tasha behind, calling out for me to wait.
• But I didn’t wait. I couldn’t. I had a plan forming in my mind.
• I stopped walking when I got to the garden and saw a pile of mud and grabbed a handful, and without thinking twice, poured it all over the pristine, white wedding dress. The fabric soaked it up immediately, the beautiful white ruined by the dirt and the awful look of the mud.
• From behind me, I heard Tasha’s scream. “Riya! What the hell are you doing?”
• She rushed over, snatching the dress from me, her hands shaking as she held up the ruined fabric. Her face twisted in a mixture of anger and confusion.
• “Are you out of your mind?” she demanded, though her voice was quieter now, more controlled.
• I stared at her blankly, shrugging. I didn’t care. This wedding dress meant nothing to me. If anything, it was a symbol of everything I hated right now.
• Tasha didn’t seem to understand though. She was too wrapped up in the excitement, the fairy tale, the lies.
• She marched back to the room and came back after some time, it felt like hours, returning with another dress. This time, she didn’t even offer it to me.
• “Clearly, you’ve lost it,” she muttered under her breath, holding the new dress as if it were sacred, far out of my reach. I let her think I didn’t care. I let her believe that nothing had happened.
• But deep down, I knew. I knew exactly what was going on. I knew exactly what I was doing. And I wasn’t going to let this wedding happen.
• The man I was getting married to, Adrian, the name left a bitter taste in my mouth. The man I was supposed to marry in a few days. The man I loathed with every fibre of my being. There was no way I would let this wedding go through. Not after everything.
• Back in the room, I stood in front of the mirror, the dress laid out on the bed behind me, untouched for now. I took deep breaths, one after the other, trying to calm the storm that was raging inside me.
• This wedding wasn’t going to happen. Not if I had anything to say about it.
• I took a deep breath, forcing a calmness I didn’t feel, and sent for Adrian. The seconds stretched as I waited, a slow burn building inside me, until finally, he walked in, looking cool, collected, completely unbothered.
• "Riya?" he asked, his eyes narrowing as he took me in. "Why did you want to see me?"
• Without a word, I slapped him, my palm cracking against his cheek with a satisfying sound. His head jerked back, surprise freezing his expression.
• “Riya!” he hissed, touching his face. “What the hell was that for?”
• I smirked, tilting my head, enjoying his bewilderment. “Oh, Adrian. That? That was just me testing your reaction. Needed to see how you’d take it,” I said, my voice laced with venomous amusement.
• He raised an eyebrow, half in shock and half in anger. “Does slapping me make you feel better?”
• “Honestly? Yes.” I leaned in, pulling his face toward mine, my lips brushing his in what could’ve been a kiss, until I bit down, hard.
• “Ow!” He jerked back, hand flying to his mouth, glaring at me. “What’s wrong with you?”
• “Oh, sorry,” I replied, voice dripping with fake sweetness. “Guess I got a little too into it.”
• Adrian exhaled sharply, the confusion in his gaze giving way to irritation. “Maybe you should go back to Tasha. She seems to have a calming effect on you.”
• “I’m not going anywhere, Adrian,” I said, standing my ground.
• He folded his arms, exasperation all over his face. “Fine. Then I’ll leave. I have better things to do than play these strange games with you.”
• I laughed, stepping closer. “Oh, I’m sure you’d love that, wouldn’t you? After all, soon we’ll be married, and you won’t have any time for moments with me.”
• “Why aren’t you dressed yet?” he snapped, looking down at the muddy remnants of my dress.
• “Not wearing a wedding dress is going to be the least of your problems soon enough, Adrian,” I whispered, savouring the way his face shifted with unease.
• Just then, a servant entered, bowing slightly. “We’re readying things for the ceremony. Shall we begin preparations for the bride?”
• “Of course,” I answered, flashing Adrian a smile as I took the drink the servant offered. I sipped it slowly, then, with a flick of my wrist, tossed the cup to the floor, shattering it.
• Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Riya, what are you doing? Are you anxious? If it’s the wedding, there’s no need to worry. I’ll take care of everything.”
• “Oh, I’m not scared.” I leaned closer, my voice barely a whisper. “You, however? You should be.”
• “Stop saying nonsense,” he ordered, his voice hardening. “Go. Get dressed.”
• I met his gaze head-on, feeling a surge of defiance that pulsed through me. “And what if I don’t want to?”