“Amy, do you think your father will be happy just because you agreed to his wish to marry some random guy? When he comes to know that his daughter is not happy with the marriage he arranged for her, he will also become unhappy. Didn’t you say that your father always listened to you and would never ask you to do anything that you did not like? Then why is he forcing you to go through with this marriage? Did he even try to know about your opinion? I am asking you whether he tried to even know once if you want to marry that random guy or not?” Jack shouted.

“He did! He did ask me... He told me, if I do not want to marry him, then I don’t have to… But I still promised him that I will marry the guy he wants me to...” Amy stuttered and stopped in the middle after she noticed the way Jack was looking at her.

“What? Why? I don’t understand! Why would you do that, Amy?” Jack asked her with gloomy eyes.

“I… I…”

She could not say anything more. She was really disappointed with herself. As she knew she had done a grave sin but she also understood that there is no way out of this without hurting the people she loves the most.

“You had a perfect opportunity to let your father know that you are in love with me. If you had only told him that you already love me, then he would have arranged for our marriage now. Tomorrow it would have been our wedding and not yours with some random guy…” He uttered in between his teeth.

Jack held his head and turned away. He was not sure whom he was disappointed with! He never expected that the girl he loves more than his life would come and tell him that she is marrying a random guy whom her father selected.

His heart ached and he struggled to breathe normally. What did he do wrong in his life? Did he commit some sin in his previous life that’s coming back to haunt him now?

“Jack, I am sorry… I am really sorry… Please try to understand me…” Amy begged.

“What do you want me to understand? Can’t you see what you did is wrong! You promised me that you would marry me and we will spend our lives together. We imagined a family for ourselves. We dreamt about walking on the shore holding our hands tightly even when our hair turned grey. Why did you break our promise, Amy? Why did you do that?” He became emotional and dropped down on the ground.

“Jack… Jack.. I… I…” Amy didn’t know how to comfort a guy who was crying like a child.

Tears rolled down her eyes. She extended her hands to touch him. But he stopped her.

“Don’t! Do not touch me! And stop saying my name… I hate you…No… I love you... I love you… I am an idiot… I hate myself for being such a fool! Leave me… leave me alone… Go marry whomever you want… It is not like I can stop you now. Can I?” He mumbled.

“Jack, I am sorry… I am really sorry…” Amy slowly walked away from that place.

She did not turn back and look at him. As she would not be able to hold herself from dashing towards him and hug him tightly. She knew if she did that then she would ask him to run away with her.

She is really a bad person. She broke someone’s heart for her selfishness. She knows she can never forgive herself for what she did to Jack. She remembered his smiles; she remembered their moments together; she remembered how they were happily spending their time leaning against each other just a day before.

She had spoilt it all… She is the reason why he was crying now. She is the reason why he was heartbroken… After running around for a few minutes, she stopped.

She looked around her and found that she had reached her home. She walked towards the backside of her house. The lush green grass covered almost an acre and a pond was located in the middle of it. She squatted near the duck pond. The newly hatched ducklings were following their mother's home.

“I am sorry, Jack. I am really sorry. I know I am a coward. If only I had told my father about our love earlier, then this would have not happened.” She cried until her tears got empty.

The dark sky around her did not frighten her. She was afraid that the day that was going to come would be the end of her happiness. Just thinking about the marriage that’s going to happen tomorrow, she shivered.

When she was immersed in her own world, a hand fell on her shoulder. She jerked and moved back. Looking at her terrified face, Layla felt guilty.

“It’s ok! It’s ok! I am Layla, Jason’s cousin.” Layla said with a smile.

“I know I should have not sneaked from behind. I saw you sitting alone near the pond when I entered the house. So I thought to check on you.” Layla explained and tried to sit down on the grass patch.

As she was already five months into the pregnancy, she had to be careful while sitting down on the ground. She first leaned on the sides and put her hands down, then she tried to sit. As she was not used to sitting down on the floor, she could not understand which side she must turn to sit on the ground.

She somehow ended up in an awkward position and Amy understood that she got stuck in that position.

“Hold my hand and stand up straight,” Amy said after she stood up from the ground.

Amy held one of her hands in front of her while she used her other hand to hold Layla tightly. She helped Layla up and noticed that she was expecting a baby.

“Hi, I am Amy.” She said and let go of Layla’s hand.

“Nice to meet you, Amy. I know it’s a big decision and feeling nervous is actually alright. But please do not cry. We are all here for you…”

Layla took out a napkin from her handbag and wiped the almost dried tears from Amy’s cheeks. She then moved forward and hugged her. Amy wanted to move back but she stopped herself from doing that. First, Layla is pregnant, and second, she did not look like a bad person.

“Now you look like a sweet little girl. I am so happy that I could meet you here. I have lots of things I want to discuss with you about the marriage. I know it’s a sudden marriage and we have lots to do in limited time. My friends are on their way and we will make sure that this event will be unforgettable for you both...”

Layla kept on talking while holding Amy’s hands tightly. When Amy heard the word marriage, she bit her lower lips. Once again she remembered that she is going to get married tomorrow.

“What happened? Why are you so silent? Or am I talking too much?” Layla asked.

Amy shook her head as the words got stuck in her throat and also she did not want to cry in front of a stranger.

“Here you are! I saw your car long back but did not see you come in. So I thought it was someone else…” Julie rushed near Layla and Amy.

“You must be Layla, am I right?” Julie asked excitedly.

“Yes, Mrs. Victor.” Layla nodded her head.

“When is the due date?” Julie pointed at her slightly big tummy and asked.

“I still have four more months left,” Layla said.

“Congratulations. Look at me, making you stand over here instead of inviting you inside the house. Come in, come in…” Julie said and let them walk inside the house.

Layla held Amy’s hand all the way into the house. She did not let go even after they sat on the couch. Amy started to feel uncomfortable. She was the only child and always had been independent. So when someone was trying to get too attached to her, she found it intolerable.

Slowly, she removed her hands from Layla's grip when she found an opportunity. The maids brought some yummy healthy snacks as per Julie’s orders. Once they were placed in front of Layla, she even forgot to notice that Julie did not follow them in.

“I am going to my room to get freshened up. I will be back in a few minutes.” Amy said and escaped from there.

Layla nodded her head and concentrated on eating all the foods placed on the plate in front of her. once she finished everything, she started to examine the house and the decorations around.

Julie went outside the gate and saw Matt standing outside the car impatiently. After he drove near the house, Layla asked him to drop her near the gate.

“Drop me here! Look over there, that must be Amy. I will go and check what she is doing over there at this time. You can go back now. And do not even think about following me inside the house. You promised me you will let me do what I want until Jason’s marriage,” Layla proclaimed.

“I never promised anything like that. I said you can help Mrs. Victor with the marriage arrangements…” Matt tried to argue.

“Stop! If you dare to follow me inside this gate, then I will not talk to you for a week. Also, I will go and stay at my parent’s house until…”

“You are not going anywhere then. Let us go back home… Anyways, your friends are already coming here. So they will help with the preparations. You do not have to stay here.” Matt declared.

“How could you say that? This is my only cousin’s marriage. And you do not want me to participate in that?” Layla asked.

“I am not stopping you from participating in the marriage. All I am asking you is not to stress yourself. I will send you inside the home and then I will leave.” Matt announced.