I sighed deeply while using my phone, not interested in the dresses in front of me.

"Rebecca!" Marianne called me angrily.

"Tell me which one do you like?" She asked motioning to the trail of wedding dresses.

"Do you guys have a black wedding dress? " I asked nonchalantly. They nodded and left.

"What- Black?!" she asked in disbelief.

"Marianne, do not forget how I am getting married. It's nothing but a day of mourn for me." I said taking a deep breath which left her speechless because I am right. My words are sour but they are the actuality.

"Here you go Ma'am. " A girl said and I replied without even looking at it,

"We will take it." Another gasp escaped Marianne lips as she said exasperated,

"At least look at it."

"It's black, right?" I asked.

"Yeah." She replied.

"Then I'll take it." I said standing up.

We left the shop and sat in the car as she complained,

"What was that?"

"I bought my sacrificial dress." I said still using my phone.

"I know it's hard-"

"Hard? It's not hard. It's unbearable." I said finally looking at her.

"I told you we can run away but no."

"Can you even face that show of defiled dignity in court again like in Egypt?" I said angrily.

"It was because of you." she said biting her lips.

"I saved you from your fucking abusive boyfriend!" I said, raising my voice which startled her and I continued, "And if you are ready to face it again then okay, we will part ways, I run far away and never return." I said, stressed. She remained silent and looked down, "Tell me Marianne, if you are ready to let the world know that you killed your boyfriend and your sister who is apparently an introvert, helped you to win the case as you never got arrested for taking a life." I said in a fit of rage which caused tears to brimmed in her eyes. I immediately calmed down and engulfed her in a hug.

"I am doing this for you. Don't ruin your life. Please..." I said gently.

"And you..? " She asked.

"Please stop this. Our secrets will haunt us forever. We are nothing but puppets whose strings are attached to him. " I said, rubbing her back.

"You could have become the master of your puppet." She said.

"Don't start with this now.. " I said, pulling away.

"You are deliberately pushing yourself in the darkness. " She said.

"Yes! I am pushing myself, In fact I want to remain there because the darkness that fall upon the brightest sky is deadly."

"and what about the morning after that brings new hope."

"My morning got lost is someone else's night and never came back to me."

We went home as I went to Papa studies.

"Cancel this marriage, there's a guy willing to marry me." I announced.

"Marry you? " He asked in his usual mocking tone.

"Tell me your answer." I said coldly.

"I don't care about that guy. You are getting married to Ryan. You could have told me about this before." he said turning his attention back to his laptop.

"He wants to marry me."

"I have given my words to Mr Xavier." Father said. I opened my mouth to say so something but he continued first,

"If both of you want to get married together then I don't mind. Ryan will get the woman he wants and you will get your love."

"And Marianne happiness? " I asked.

"The marriage with Ryan won't be cancelled. You will marry him." he declared. I cursed under my breath and turned to leave but he began to say,

"If you are thinking of running away then don't forget about Marianne because she has to bear the outcome of your action."

My walk came to a halt as I turned to him and said in disbelief,

"You truly are a bastard." I said and left.

Fate is so cruel...