Chapter 3 Another Red Flag

Flashback Continues

It's been months since the earring incident. And he has left me for that woman countless times.

But this time was the longest. Dustin had left saying he had a business trip. It's been a month since he left.

As I was sitting at home knitting a scarf, I got a call.

"Adriana?" A smile spread on my face as I recalled her. Adriana was my childhood friend.

"Hey!" Her voice was like a sweet melody in my ears. Get dressed. I'm picking you up. It's my cousin's wedding. The theme is pink for the ladies."

With that she disconnected. As a laugh came out of my mouth, I realized it's been ages since I laughed naturally, let alone laugh.

I knew it's no use objecting as she never took 'no' for an answer. So I got dressed.

"Wow! You look so pretty!" Adrian said with a diamond smile. "But then, when are you not beautiful? No wonder all the boys envy Dustin, he's also okay, but you are the moon goddess's blessing."

Being a royal bloodline, I had golden eyes, and long brown hair that were straight and flew like a silk blanket in the wind. Everyone used to say, my face is like it was sculpted by the moon goddess. But the reality is, my parents were both beautiful, so being their daughter, it's only obvious.

Finally we arrived at the venue. As we entered, I found a lot of my friends from college, which made it easy for me to attend the wedding.

I wouldn't be too alone.

Finally the moment came, the bride arrived.

"Jenna, she's my cousin." Adriana whispered. "I'm going over. As soon as my aunt comes on stage, I'll come back."

I smiled to assure her I was fine. She knew it's been a month since he left for a business trip.

Though I don't really have the habit of looking around, for some odd reason, tonight I began to look around.

If I was alone, my eyes would have shot wide open in shock, but since it was a hall full of known and unknown people, staying composed was the best.

Dustin was seated a little further from us with that woman. I was at a loss for words. This was his business trip.

Just then Dustin also looked towards my side and saw me seated. He instantly got up.

Seeing him, I also got up and exited the hall. As I was walking towards the washroom, a hand pulled me and made me hit my back against the wall.

I winced from the pain.

"Sorry, did I hurt you?" His voice was laced with worry, but for the first time his worry felt fake to me.

"What? What are you doing here?"

"Shouldn't I be the one to ask you?" I snarled at him with a burning breath. "Weren't you on a--"

"Yes, and I am." He began to spin his lie. "Julia is actually the co-ordinator of our client. I met her and the bride, she's her friend. Her friend insisted she attend, but her boss didn't want her to come as it's a long way. A girl, alone, on a long trip, so he told me to come along. Jenna, I'm coming back tomorrow. Please don't think anything about us. I love you."

"I didn't say a word." I spoke in a frank voice. "Matter of fact, I even pretended I didn't see you. What more do you want?"

"Don't...don't say that." His voice was cracking. "You're all I want. She's just my client, and..."

Then he went quiet for a few seconds.

"The truth is, her father died saving me, so I have an obligation to protect her. But that's all."

I could see guilt in his eyes, that made my heart weak once again.

"Okay, just tell her to keep her distance and --"

"Dustin, why are you here?" Julia came running over and put her arm around Dustin's arm. "Come on, the wedding is over. She's going to throw the bouquet."

With that Julia pulled Dusitn away.

As I came back, I saw Adriana was also back.

"Hey, where were you?" She asked enthusiastically. "The bride is going to throw the bouquet!"

"So what?" I said in a cold tone.

"So what?" Adriana says scolding. "So come on, let's go."

Adriana pushed me towards the other girls standing to catch the bouquet.

"Catch it, and Dustin will marry you faster!" She chirped like a bird in my ear.

Unexpectedly, the bouquet landed in my hands. But before this fact set inside me, it was yanked away from me.

"You came in my way. It fell in my hand."

I was not the only one shocked at her behaviour as another girl spoke up. "Hey, the bouquet belongs to the girl it falls to. It's her's. The wedding blessing is her's now."

"Dustin, they're scolding me!" She begins to pretend like a little girl.

"Look, it's just a bouquet, can't you be more sensible?" I said, looking with worried eyes towards Julia. "And, weddings are blessed by god, not some bouquet."

I was shocked at his words. As he walked away, the pain was unbearable, I felt like my heart was being ripped apart.

As we were on our way back. I saw Adriana was way too quiet.

"Adriana--"

"Jenna, I'm truly sorry." She spoke up with guilt in her voice. "I didn't know that girl was my cousin's friend and he would be with her. Or else, but wasn't he--"

"She's his client. Her boss didn't want to send her alone so he made Dustin accompany."

As I sighed after my line, I kept wondering if I was convincing her or myself with that line.

As I came home, it was the same, empty, cold.

I went to the kitchen and made a cup of coffee.

Then I came to the living room and put on a movie, hoping it would divert my mind from today's events.

But a call got my attention.

"Hello?" I spoke questioningly as I didn't see who the caller was.

"Hello, your husband is hurt. Come over soon. I've sent you the location and we've called the ambulance. In case you're late, we called the Desmont Hospital."

I dropped the cup on the floor. Pieces of the porcelain cut my feet. But I didn't care and ran towards my car and drove off to the location.

As I got out I couldn't see anyone, or any sign of an accident.

I was going to go back when a car came hurling towards me. It didn't hit me, but made me fall a few feet back.

As I landed on the ground, my back hit on a rock, making me cry out in pain.

I don't know what happened as I woke up in the hospital.

"Nurse?" I asked a question.