I can’t believe this is really happening to me. Everything feels like a haze. I’ve been trying to keep it together, to stay calm and keep my mind clear, but since last night, ghosts from the past have been haunting me. This time, eerily, everything feels just like it did before, even though I’ve gone to great lengths to make sure it wouldn’t. But...
The same house... my house. The same flowers in the bouquets... my favorites. Even the color of my dress is the same. The same sun... the same warm summer air. The same foggy morning. It’s Sunday again. Once more, hired staff are bustling under the strict direction of the event planner, preparing for the celebration. And, as always, every few minutes, Alya calls to check in. She somehow manages to micromanage even from a distance.
It’s like I’ve been transported back six years. I close my eyes, and I can see it as if it were yesterday—Egor’s dazzling, sexy smile. I can literally feel myself as the happiest bride in the world... And then I remember what came next... and my world turns to ice. Just like it did all those years ago. As if all those therapy sessions were for nothing. As if I haven’t left it all behind.
Shaking my head, I try to push away the intrusive thoughts and focus on overseeing the preparations. I’m a wedding planner myself, so I can’t help but monitor every move of the girl I hired to organize mine. Even though today is just the engagement party, it’s our rehearsal for the main event.
Everything has to be perfect. Don’t I deserve to have a truly wonderful celebration for once? I reassure myself that this time, everything will be fine. Gleb is nothing like Egor. I’ve learned my lesson, drawn my conclusions, and I’ll never go back to the past.
But as I turn toward the voice of one of my staff members, my eyes suddenly lock with a pair of dark, abyss-like eyes. I blink, but the vision doesn’t disappear. And then it hits me—I’m really seeing Egor standing right in front of me. I know it’s him for sure when I hear his voice. Is he waving at me? Just like that? He has the audacity to show up here and act like nothing ever happened?
I can feel the rage boiling inside me. One more second, and I swear I’ll explode like a supernova.
Dragging him away from the others, I stare into those dark eyes with all the contempt and hatred I can muster and hiss, “What the hell are you doing here?! How dare you show up in my life after you destroyed it?!”
“You can’t hold a grudge forever,” he replies casually, as if nothing’s wrong. God! I’ve imagined our reunion so many times, but I never thought it would happen at my engagement party, and definitely not with him acting like a complete idiot.
“What?! What? What did you just say?” I shout, no longer caring who might hear. Holding back my emotions is too hard. “Are you playing games with me? Is your life’s mission to ruin my wedding? It’s not gonna happen this time! Tell me what you want and get out of here!”
“You. I came for you. And you know me—I’m not leaving without you,” he declares.
Oh, so now he needs me? And why didn’t he need me six years ago when I was waiting for him at the courthouse, and he...
I can’t hold back. I slap him across the face with all my strength. It hurts me just as much as it does him.
“Oh no, you’re leaving! Get out of my life right now and don’t you dare come back! Get lost, you hear me?!” I scream.
“Zlata, you can claw my eyes out if you want. I know I deserve it. But I’m telling you, I’m not leaving. I made a terrible mistake six years ago. I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me. I’m an idiot. But you’re making a mistake right now too. Don’t marry him. I know deep down, you still love me, just like I love you.”
I’m shaking because of him. Because of his lying words. Because of this whole damn situation.
“You only love yourself,” I say, my desire to yell fading. I realize he doesn’t even understand what he did to me. How he hurt me, humiliated me... “You’re leaving, Egor. Right now.”
“No, I’m not. Where’s your fiancé? I’d be happy to settle this with him,” the jerk says.
I can just imagine it. Gleb is insanely jealous as it is. Even mentioning one of my exes sets him off. I don’t need a brawl breaking out here. This is supposed to be my happiest day. I’ve had enough drama and tragedy. I’m done!
“You’re not talking to Gleb, and we don’t have any problems! You’re leaving, Egor!”
“And if I don’t?” he says with a smirk. He’s enjoying this—coming back to destroy my life a second time! Unbelievable!
“Then I’ll make you!” I warn him.
“And how exactly are you gonna do that?”
Good question. But just then, I hear voices approaching. I recognize them—my parents and Alya have arrived. They can’t see Egor here.
The only thing that comes to mind is the wine cellar. Grabbing his arm, I drag him along with me. Luckily, the door to the cellar is just a few feet away. I open it and shove Egor inside. Surprisingly, he doesn’t resist much. If anything, he seems to find this amusing?
“You’re staying in here,” I snap, slamming the door shut in his face and taking the key with me.
No one is going to ruin my celebration! I won’t let it happen a second time!