The D–Day

"Are you both deaf?" Katherine asked angrily.

The stylist didn't hesitate before they began to clean the makeup off her face. After they were done, they styled her hair just as she demanded.

"We are done, Ma'am," the youngest stylist informed her.

She returned her gaze to her reflection in the mirror. A cunning smile made its way to the corner of her lip as she stared at the reflection of herself which was different from that fateful day.

This time, she will make sure not to do anything she did on that day. Today, she will make sure to escape her death.

"Thank you," Katherine said with a faint smile. "Oh, I forget, you must make sure my father doesn't know what happened in here, or you will face my wrath!"

Trembling in their spot, they replied simultaneously. "Yes… yes… ma'am."

Katherine ignored them, then walked into her dressing room. While searching for a dress that she hadn't worn, she recalled the gown Asher gifted her.

'I can't believe I will be wearing this gown on a day like this,' she said inwardly before she wore the gown.

She dressed up by herself before she took her phone and her purse. Just when she was about to head out, her phone beeped.

She checked out the message with a pale facial expression. It is the address of her groom's hotel room.

Even though she looked ridiculous, her curiosity won't let her be. She wants to see what her husband looks like before being pronounced husband and wife.

The ride from Dayton residence to Jaylen Royal Hotel was hectic, but she enjoyed the peaceful breeze that kept her calm until she arrived.

Katherine headed directly to Eric's room since she already knew her way around. She did not bother asking her way through because she was here a day before she died.

When she got to the room, she knocked, but got no response. Katherine decided to check if the room was locked, maybe he might not have gone far since their wedding will begin shortly.

She confirmed the door was not locked, but contemplated entering the room without his permission.

"He is going to be my husband. I have to learn to act like his wife," she reassured herself with a calm smile.

Upon entering the room, her face turned pale.

"What!" She screamed inwardly as her jaw fell in shock at what she was seeing: Her fiancé, Eric and her cousin engaged in a deep kiss.

Eric broke from the kiss the moment he got a glimpse of Katherine, who stood with a smirk on the corner of her lips, and her hands folded across her chest.

"Eric–" Annabella's statement was replaced with a gasp that erupted from her lips at the sight of her sister.

Katherine burst into laughter at the way they acted out like she was going to kill them for indulging in this act.

"Is this a soap opera? Oh… don't tell me that you expect me to start going crazy, and crying or trying to kill you for betraying me? No, for trying to have sex together before my wedding?" She asked with a sense of mockery in her voice.

She took a step closer to Eric who seemed short of words, "Honey, go on with what you were doing. I can wait. We have about thirty minutes left."

Eric, who was brought back to reality by Katherine's voice, directed his anger to Annabella, "Leave now before you regret it! Annabella, leave!"

"Eric… are you really going to choose her over me? Really?" Annabella asked with tears clustered in her eyes.

He ignored her question before he dragged her out of his suite. He turned to face Katherine, who didn't seem to care about what was going on. No, she seemed lost in her thoughts.

'What will I do? Call off our wedding, and get killed by Asher? Or marry this beguiler, and stop my death? It is a win–win for us. Hmm… not as if there is any better man out there, they are all the same. I need the wedding to live and he needs it to fulfill his father's–"

"Katherine, I am sorry, it is not what you think. I can explain everything, please hear me out," he uttered. His voice made her snap out of her thoughts.

She burst into laughter at how apologetic he was. "Mr. Eric Jaylen, what are you sorry for? What explanation do you have to give rather than the fact that I saw you, and my cousin making out? Though I don't care, since we will be getting married," she uttered with a sarcastic smile.

Eric's eyes widened at the way she was reacting, he least expected this.

"I know, but at least hear me out. I did not cheat on you, and I am marrying you because I–"

Before he could complete his statement, she interrupted him. "Honey, there is no need of explaining, or trying to sweet-talk me. Also, I don't like you!"

Eric, who didn't see this coming, smirked before he walked up to her. Closing the gaps between them, he leaned closely, "Are you sure? If you did not like me, why did you come over here instead of the bride's waiting room?"

His question made her swallow the lump in her throat, not knowing what response to give.

"I don't care what you think," she said before she continued, "Honey, I hate you."

Eric's eyes blinked at her words, "Uh? Me? Why?"

'What is wrong with this jerk? Is he a pervert? Why won't he just stop this useless conversation, and let's get going?'

"Oh… honey, let's get going. Aren't they waiting for us?" Katherine asked with a fake smile, trying to change the topic of their conversation.

He chuckled before he took a few steps backward. "Yes. Let's get going, but don't tell me you are going to the wedding hall this way?"

"What about you? We aren't looking bad, though. What matters is that we are going to officially be a couple," she said before she went to pick up her purse which fell down the moment she came in.

Eric let out a deep sigh before he led the way. They both walked to the car lots, pretending like nothing happened.

Just when they got into the car, Katherine's phone began to ring. She forgot to put her phone back on silent after she received the important call she was awaiting.

"Won't you pick the call?" Eric inquired.

She switched off her phone before she replied, "Oh, not an important call. Our wedding is the only thing I am focused on because today is the d–day."

He ignored her and continued driving until they arrived at the wedding hall.

Just as they predicted, there were numerous people waiting for them.

They both alighted from the car and headed their different ways; Eric headed to the wedding hall, while Katherine headed to the bride's waiting room.

In the room, her father was impatiently waiting for her. He gasped at the sight of his daughter, who looked like a normal lady from a poor background, about to be given out to a man as a gift.

"Katherine? What happened? Why are you dressed up like this?" Her father questioned.

"Dad, we are late. Everyone is waiting for us," she informed him.

Mr. Maxwell, who didn't know what else to do, escorted her to the wedding hall and walked her down the aisle. Even though she wasn't putting on makeup and the most expensive bridal gown, she looked beautiful.

After the priest informed everyone about the bride's presence, she walked up to the podium where Eric stood, besides them stood the priest too.

The priest turned to face Eric, and Katherine who were now staring at each other before he began. "With the groom, bride, families, and well–wishers present, the groom and bride may now take the sacred vow."

"On this day, I, Eric Jaylen, vow to cherish, protect, care, and love you, Katherine Dayton, unconditionally," he read the wedding vow with sincerity laced in his voice.

Katherine tried to say her wedding vow, but couldn't. All she could do was let her tears flow freely from her eyes. She never expected this day with another man aside from Asher.

Staring at the vow she was holding, she couldn't bring herself to read it. How can she vow to love a man? How can she vow to stand by his side until her hair turns gray?

"Miss Dayton, why aren't you saying anything?" The priest's question made her jerk off her thoughts.

From the look of things, even the people present are tired of waiting for her vow, and the final part of their wedding. Their murmurs took the hall, but she pretended not to hear. She tried staring at the people seated, maybe she might find the courage to act cool, but she lost it– she lost her cool when she saw Asher seated in the third row, his eyes piercing through hers.

Knowing Asher's present scream nothing aside her death, she asked inwardly. 'Will I be able to escape death today? What if I ended up dying here? I died in my wedding hall, will that happen again?' She took her gaze off Asher before returning it to the wedding vow.