Chapter 1

• SELENA'S POV.
• "Fetch your sister; we have company," Mother commanded loudly. I heaved a sigh, set down my coffee, and strode from my room with a sense of resignation.
• Mother's enthusiasm for this marriage, as if she's struck gold, grates on my nerves.
• At last, Gabriella will be gone, escaping Mother's outbursts, leaving me to endure them alone.
• I entered Gabriella's room unannounced. She stood there, adorned in an elegant white lace dress that accentuated her figure, a veil draped over her hair, perusing a magazine.
• "The guests have arrived," I informed her. Looking up, I noticed tears glistening in her eyes.
• "What's the matter?" I inquired, my voice tinged with worry as I took the magazine from her, scanning the wedding news.
• Gabriella exhaled deeply, her attention fixed on the scene beyond the window. "I'm not sure I can go through with this," she confessed softly.
• "You must," I insisted, holding her hands for reassurance. "That's easy for you to say; you're not in my shoes," she retorted sharply.
• "Gabriella, it'll all work out. Mother wouldn't have agreed if they weren't decent folks," I reassured her quietly.
• "Come on! You know Mother would do anything for money," Gabriella countered, rising from the bed, hands defiantly on her hips.
• "Do you really think money is her motive?" I questioned, skepticism creasing my brow.
• "What other reason could there be? I don't buy the story about settling Father's debts after his death," she argued.
• "We both know Father left a substantial debt to the Evans family," I said, pausing to catch my breath, "and Mother would not have pursued this if they weren't insistent on repayment."
• "I just can't do this," Gabriella exclaimed, her frustration echoing as she slammed her hands on the desk.
• "Gabby, our entire future lies on this. If you reject this marriage, we'll be ruined. Is that what you want?" I pressed.
• "If you're so concerned, why don't you marry him?" She challenged me. My frustration mounted
• "I would if I weren't committed to Derrick," I replied, turning away to hide my turmoil.
• "You can't even face me because you know you wouldn't dare," she said softly, and I felt a pang of sympathy for her.
• "Gabby, you didn't hesitate to sign the deal with the Evans family. What's changed now?"
• "I'm pregnant," she blurted out, stopping me mid-sentence.
• "Pregnant? How? With whom?" I bombarded her with questions, her eyes downcast.
• "I can't marry him; I'm pregnant with another man's child," she affirmed, cradling her belly.
• "Who's the father?" I demanded, still reeling from the shock. She retreated, silent, as I approached.
• "Say it," I urged. "Nate," she finally admitted.
• "Nate Williams?" I sought confirmation. "Yes, who else?" she replied, sinking onto the bed.
• "I can't believe you disregarded Mother's warnings about him," I said, disbelief evident in my tone.
• "I love him, Selena. I can't marry that ruthless man that I don't know, especially carrying Nate's child," she declared.
• "Nate is no saint either," I countered.
• "But at least I love him. I need to leave, to protect my child from this sham of a marriage," she reasoned.
• "Seriously, Gabby? How do you plan to pull that off?" I questioned, unable to hide my skepticism at her naive statement.
• "As long as you're here, it'll be easier," Gabriella said, her gaze averted.
• "I'm lost," I admitted, trying to grasp what Gabriella was implying.
• "Just let Mom know I'll be down shortly," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
• "Really?" I brightened up at her assurance.
• "Yes, now go before I reconsider," she urged, and I enveloped her in a warm embrace.
• "You're amazing. I'll be waiting for you," I said, planting a kiss on her forehead before leaving her room.
• I spotted Mom downstairs with a couple of men, likely guests. "She'll be down soon," I murmured to her before stepping out of the living room.
• *******************
• "Selena, where on earth is your sister?" Mom demanded as she entered the kitchen.
• "She's not downstairs?" I asked, surprised by Mom's question.
• "If she were, I wouldn't be asking. Didn't you say she was coming? So where is she?" Mom's voice rose with urgency.
• "Mom, please, take a deep breath," I pleaded as I hopped off the kitchen counter.
• "Don't tell me to relax. The guests and the priests are waiting. Find your sister now; the whispers are starting, and you know how I hate that," she ordered, gesturing towards the door.
• "You need to learn some patience," I muttered, but Mom was already on her way out.
• It's always been this way. I'm the one who ends up running errands. Unbelievable.
• "Gabby!" I called out as I entered her room. "Gabby, where are you?" I looked around, but she was nowhere to be found. I dreaded the worst.
• My heart pounded as I checked the bathroom, only to be met with emptiness.
• This can't be happening.
• "Gabriella, don't do this to us. Gabby!" I cried out, rushing to the window, but she was gone.
• I approached her wardrobe, and my breath caught at the sight of her wedding dress still hanging there.
• "No, Gabby, you can't have..." I trailed off, disbelief washing over me as I clutched the dress.
• I reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and dialed her number, only to hear her phone ring from the desk.
• She left her phone behind. I realized, spotting it on the desk. Then my eyes caught sight of a note.
• "I'm sorry, but I had no choice. Take care of Mom and yourself. Love, Gabriella." I felt tears sting in my eyes as I read her words.
• "This can't be happening—"
• "What's all this?" Mom barged in and I turned to face her with the note in hand.
• "She left," I said softly.
• "Gabriella?" Mom took the note from me as she sat on the bed.
• "How could she do this? We had a deal with the Evans. She can't just leave us like this," Mom said, her voice tinged with frustration.
• "It's clear Gabriella never wanted any part of this," I pointed out. "Nobody does, but it was necessary to protect us," Mom snapped back.
• "Now that she's gone, we have no choice. Call off the wedding; she won't be back anytime soon," I suggested, my mind racing to Nate Williams.
• She might have fled with him.
• "Do you know anything about your sister's disappearance?" Mom grilled me, her eyes locked on mine.
• "Absolutely not, Mom. How could I possibly know? I only mentioned it because her phone was left behind," I said, rising to pick up the phone and show it to her.
• "She wouldn't have left it if she planned to return," I continued.
• After a brief silence, I spoke again, "Mom, please, let's put an end to this chaos. Cancel the wedding now."
• "Never!" she exclaimed, pacing in my room.
• "So, what's your plan?" I asked, unaware that my own freedom was about to be compromised.
• "You will marry Aiden Evans in replace of your sister," she commanded.
• "Never! It's not possible," I protested.
• "Nothing is impossible. Either you marry Aiden Evans to save our family's reputation, or you let it be tarnished even further," she said sternly.
• "I just can't," I responded.
• "You must," she insisted, looking me straight in the eye.
• The thought of betraying Derrick was unbearable. He has my heart.
• I understand the importance of family, but how can I possibly explain this to Derrick?