"Where the hell is he?"

Her voice booms in the hallway .As she walks into the Reed estate. Looking around to find everyone sitting in the drawing room.

They get up not expecting her there.

" Ezra?"

Mrs Reed was the first one to come to her. With everyone following.

Motherly love evident in her eyes as she hugs Ezra. Who stands still. Not returning the hug. Clenching her fists instead.

" I never expected this from you Mrs Reed."

" You all support his decision? You have forgiven him already? "

" Forgotten what he did to me!!"

" No child no-"

" Please Mrs Reed. I don't need an explanation when I can see with my own eyes."

" You all proved...I never meant anything to you. All this love? My child? Our daughter?"

" It was all fake! You will always take his side! He is your son after all! Who am I ?"

" Huh? Who am I?"

" Just a girl you picked from a dumpster?"

Mr Reed , Stel and everyone else had a deep pain in their eyes. But Ezra was ignorant of it

" Where is he Mrs Reed?"

Mrs Reed opens and closes her mouth. Not able to say anything. Lowering her eyes.

While Ezra is so blinded by rage that she is unable to see those dried tears in Mrs Reed's eyes. Or rather the sadness in everyone's eyes.

" Ezra child listen to me."

" No! I have had enough of this! Tell me! Where is he?"

" He is...not here."

Stel speaks. Getting up. And Ezra furrows her brows. Not buying it.

" Stop lying to me Stel. I know he is here."

" I will find him myself!"

Not caring about anything. She starts searching in the rooms. Banging the doors open while everyone follows her. Asking her to stop.

" Ezra he is not here. What has gotten into you?"

Stel screams this time. But Ezra turns a deaf ear to her.

" Child please calm down"

Mrs Reed tries again. But all invain. The girl was seeing red. She wanted to see him at all costs.

Pushing forward the door to his room. Her footsteps stop as she sees Neil looking at her in shock.

" Prin-cess?

He speaks getting up. But her eyes were fixed on the figure that stood behind Neil.

He was wearing a white shirt and had his back on her. His one elbows placed on the glass. And his other hand in his pocket.

As if on cue. He turns around looking at her over his shoulder.

And that's when those calm grey eyes meet her chaotic brown ones.

And he stood stunned. Blinking to believe it was really her.

Her eyes travel to his face. To immediately look at that bandage in the corner of his forehead. Concern floods in. But she keeps it in.

Clenching her fists. Trying not to soften her stare.

" Cupcake atleast listen to m-"

Aaron holds Neil's arm from behind. Asking him not to say anything. And Neil shuts up looking back at him in helplessness.

Moving closer to him ,Ezra stands in front of Aaron. While Neil couldn't help move aside.

Everyone else stood at the door. Looking at them in fear and anxiousness of what is going to happen.

Hoping Ezra doesn't regret it later.

" What are you doing here Ezra?"

He speaks. And she looks at him in disbelief. Scoffing , running her hand through her hair.

When suddenly the sound of a loud smack is heard and everyone gasps.

She has slapped him. Hard.

His head moves to a side and he bites his lip. Daring to look back into her eyes.

And she does it again.

Smacking harder this time. Her hand burning with the pain.

While her heart felt content.

As she seethes at him.

" This. I was here for this"

He gulps not saying anything. And no one interfered.

" Well and also congratulations on convincing your family as well."

" I can see everyone is happy with you. Supporting your decision."

" So how are the celebrations going?"

" Excited to welcome your new daughter in law, mom?"

She speaks sarcastically.

And Mrs Reed moves her head in a no. Tears falling down her eyes as others lower their head. But Aaron?

He continues to stare at those burning orbs. Not stopping her.

" Are you content now? Happy?"

" Tell me!"

She grabs his collar shaking him. And he still continues to stare at her with those emotionless eyes.

His hands still by his side.

" This game of sleeping with me. Showing you cared. Pretending you loved. Is over now. Speak up. Tell me."

" Why? Dammit why?"

He doesn't say anything. Just looks at her having a breakdown.

Mrs Reed and Stel move forward to support her. But she screams at them. Asking them not to come closer.

" No. Stay right there. No one will interfere this time."

Taking a deep breath. With her grip on his collar tight. She looks back at him again.

" Tell me Aaron. I need to know the reasons. Why you did it?"

" Fuc*ing Why!"

No answer. Nothing. Just silence.

And she got more agitated. With every passing second. Hitting her fists on his chest.

She pushes him back. Trying to hurt him like he has hurt her.

But he again does nothing. Those dead grey orbs just staring.

She continued till she felt tired. A head ache rising in her forehead.

When she felt the world spinning. Her grip on his collar loosening.

She was going to fall back and he tries to hold her. Those dead eyes getting filled by fear and anxious.

But his hands stay in the air.

Before he could even touch her. Someone holds her from behind.

His arms wrapping around her torso pulling her to him.

" Shh Cupcake. Calm down Relax."

She looks back into Ben's brown eyes. And she turns around. Hugging him like her life was dependent on it.

" B-en...I hate him. I hate him so much!"

" Shhh everything will be fine. Calm down"

She breathes heavily. Wrapping her arms around Ben and he kisses her head. Pulling her more closer to him.

Rubbing his hand on her back.

" Come on breathe. It's fine. No one will hurt you"

Aaron just stands there looking helpless. The hatred in her eyes for him was evident. It will remain now.

Forever.

Why was he feeling like this. Wasn't this what he wanted. For her to hate him like she has never hated anyone.

Why does he feel this emptiness inside.

" I...I want to go away. Take me away Ben."

" We will go away Cupcake. Don't worry. No one will hurt you from now."

Looking into Aaron's helpless eyes with his cold eyes. Ben pulls her along.

Others try to convince Ezra. But they stop themselves. This was necessary.

It had to be done.

Aaron has spent months to bring their story to this. They can't ruin this.

With hands tied and eyes moist. They all see Ben take their Ezra away from them.

And she stops at the threshold. Looking back at him one last time.

Her eyes burning in hate.

While he stared back. Ready to get burned in them. Ready to take it all till there is nothing left of him inside her.

Nothing.

Not even the ashes of her selfless love.

She turns around. Going out of his life forever. And he doesn't stop her.

Letting her.

......

The day of the wedding 10:20 am

The place was decorated with beautiful pink and white roses. Resembling her dress which had a flower print on it.

Walking down the stalls. She looks around at the guests with cold eyes. Who were pointing fingers at her and gossiping something among themselves.

Ignoring them.

She kept her head high. Sitting in a corner where not many will be able to see her. Eating her food peacefully.

Finally away from their stares.

Her mouth was stuffed with the delicacy when she hears a chuckle behind her. And couldn't help look up at the intruder.

" Isn't it a sight."

" My cupcake have a cupcake?"

Ezra rolls her eyes at Ben. Continuing to eat. Waiting for the ceremony to begin like everyone else.

And Ben just sighs. Sitting beside her

Trying to look past that fascade that was successfully fooling everyone with.

" On a serious note Cupcake. You shouldn't be here."

" It's...not right."

She ignores his words. Continuing to stare at her food. Thinking of which delicacy to have next.

" Umm which should I have next?"

And Ben was loosing his patience now. Moving closer his chair to her. He holds her wrist. Stopping her.

" Stop this pretence Cupcake. I know how you are feeling"

She pulls back her hand from his grip. Ignoring his words once again.

" Tiramisu is a must try. Don't you think so?"

" Ezra"

" Ben"

" Ezraaa! Please stop!"

" Stop what? I am good can't you see."

And Ben sighs looking at her in disbelief

" Good huh? Can you tell me which sane ex wife would come to her husband's wedding and enjoy delicacies as if it's her best friends wedding?"

" Me"

Ezra blankly says. And Ben literally wanted to bang his head on the table.

This girl is impossible.

Was she bipolar or what?

Day before yesterday she was crying buckets whole day over her lost love. And look at her now.

Attending the wedding of her ex husband and cousin sister with a big irritating smile on her lips.

She was going to return back to eating. When Ben pulls her plate to him.

Warning him.

" Enough of this childishness now. We are leaving now."

He says getting up. To only find her gaze hardened at him. That smile vanishing from her lips.

" I am not."

Ben was way frustrated. Running his hand through his hair. He was going to put some sense into her brain when the announcement is made of the welcome of the groom and bride.

He sees her clench her fists.

He sees everyone shouting in excitement rushing to the entrance.

And he again curses.

Fuc*! Why does she even want to see him marry her!

Hasn't he hurt her enough?

He sees Albert and the Reed's looking over at her in concern. But she keeps on that cold fascade of indifference.

Damn!

He turns around to see Aaron and Andriana coming on the stage to begin the ceremony.

And he was feeling suffocated. He wondered how she must be feeling.

Staring at the couple getting on the stage. She looks at their smiling faces blankly.

Aaron was giving a small smile to the crowd. Acknowledging their presence when suddenly his grey orbs stop on those brown ones hidden in a corner.

And that smile from his lips drop.

Andriana places her hand on his arm. Bringing him out of his trance. And he breaks eye contact with those beautiful brown orbs.

She says something in his ear and he nods.

Ezra still continues to stare at him. She needed to see this. To see the truth with her own eyes.

But he doesn't look back at her again.

Not even once. Ignoring her like she didn't even exist there

They are made to sign some papers and they do it without hesitation. Andriana looked too excited jumping at small things while Aaron was indecipherable.

His usual cold self.

" Ezra please let's leave"

Ben pleads her this time. But she doesn't pay heed. Her eyes fixed at them. Unfazed. Not even blinking.

When the final ceremony started.

" Welcome everyone for this auspicious wedding occassion of Aaron Reed and our beautiful Andriana Richardson."

" Now starting with the wedding vows-"

Ezra was lost to what the priest said next. The image of her standing there with him. Him saying those words to her, echo in her mind.

She imagines that day. And her strong front starts breaking.

"Do you Andriana Richardson take Aaron Reed as your husband in name of God, and promise to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish him until you are parted by death."

It was her who said these words to him. And she wanted to laugh at it's irony.

Lies. They were all lies for him.

Just words. He spoke because he was obliged to.

" I do"

Andriana speaks and a chorus of cheers echo. Making Ezra to gulp. It was happening. It was finally happening.

He was hers now.

She had no rights on him.

This was a goodbye.

"Do you Andriana Aaron Reed take Andriana Richardson as your wife in name of God, and promise to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish him until you are parted by death."

Her heart thuds in her chest. She didn't had it in her to look up this time.

Clenching her dress material tightly.

There is silence for next few seconds. And she finally dated to look up feeling someone's stare on her.

And there it was.

His hands were held in Andriana's. Yet his eyes. They were looking at her.

Not caring if everyone was waiting.

Not caring that he was drawing everyone's attention to her.

And people stopped to look back at her. Gossiping about what his ex wife was doing here.

Making her anxiousness to worsen.

Yet no matter what, she didn't let those tears to fall this time.

With head held high, fists clenched and eyes set in determination.

She gets up from the seat. To finally escape from here.

To let him complete and have his happy ever after.

Breaking Aaron eye contact. She turns her back on the crowd and walks away, not caring about anything anymore.

Making whispering to erupt and gossips to follow.

She makes her way out of the church. To finally breathe.

Calming her racing heart.

When suddenly a hand muffled her mouth from behind and pulls her behind a pillar.

" Ummphhh"

She tries to break free. Kicking. But no use. The person was way stronger.

And the strong scent of something on the cloth near her mouth. Made her feel dizzy suddenly.

" Breathe bitc*! Breathe!"

The attacker curses from behind her. And she tries to hold her breath again.

She sees Ben following her looking around here and there.

" Ezra?"

Calling her but she couldn't tell him. She was there. Behind him. Held captive.

" Ummm"

Her screams slowly die down as she finally had to breathe. And she doesn't know when her vision goes dark.

And she falls back into the arms of her attacker. Unconscious.