CHAPTER 24: Prenuptial Photoshoot

KATE’s P.O.V.

Mom didn’t stop nagging me about whom I met in the mall the other day. But I chose to remained silent, for I didn’t want to ruin Elijah’s plan. I know he’ll do something just to stop our wedding. So I’m just gonna wait and hold on to that promise of him.

Today is our prenuptial photoshoot. Darren is here with me, but it looks like something is bothering him ever since we arrived in here. Mom often scold his actions, and I just ignore it.

“You’re not yourself.”

Those words are the ones that Mom often told him for how many times now since we arrived in this place. Thankfully, Darren knows how to apologize and he is very patient with my Mom’s attitude.

“Okay, one, two, three, say cheese!” the photographer energetically stated, trying to lighten up the mood in this room.

I bet he saw how Mom treated Darren in this event. I looked down, embarrassed because of my mother’s random rants, but I still try to ignore them. I glared at Mom, who’s now looking like she was about so say something towards Darren again.

A few seconds passed, the photographer requested Darren to fixed his suite but it seems like he didn’t heard it. I was about to nudge him but I was too late. Mom finally open her mouth again just to scold him.

“Darren! Are you interested or not? Please tell us now. ’Cause if you’re not, it’s better not to continue this or the wedding day itself,” my Mom glared at him.

“Mom! Stop it!” I tried to make her stop, but she just glared back at me.

“I’m really sorry, Ma’am. I’m just thinking about something.”

“Something?” She chuckled to herself. “Or maybe it’s someone, huh? Are you still thinking about that girl? My daughter already told you the truth. Why wouldn’t you believe her?!” she madly asked to Darren.

“Mom, please stop bugging Darren,” I almost pleaded, afraid that this could ruin Elijah’s plan in any way it can.

“I’m not bugging him! I’m just stating a fact here, Kate. I don’t want you to be tied to someone who doesn’t love you.”

To proved my mother wrong and just to make her stop, I suddenly clung into Darren’s arm, looking straight at my mother’s eye.

“Mom, please respect my decision. Just trust me on this one...” I stated before averting my eyes towards Darren. “Darren, I know that Claire is still bothering your mind, and believe me, I understand that. You’re just confused, maybe. Once we finished tying a knot with each other, I know you’ll love me back... Am I right?”

I gulped, feeling anxious at my own words. Elijah will probably get hurt if he heard that. Darren didn’t answer, causing my Mom to look more furious than before.

“I hope you would not regret this, Kate,” she firmly stated before looking away from us.

I unconsciously squeezed Darren’s arm, looking at him with an uneasy smile plastered upon my face. He’s looking at me, but he didn’t bother to say any word.

The photographers continued to take some few shots after their short break. We changed clothes several times, and posing in front of the camera is not that easy after our short arguments with Mom. Darren looked like he’s trying to please her, but I know that he’s only doing that for one main reason... Their company, the Herrera Corp.

“Okay, face to the left, please.”

I did as the photographer had requested. I fiercely posed in front of the lenses, looking at Darren with my eyes. I’m trying to send him a secret message. A message that it’s fine with me even if he didn’t continue this marriage. But it seems like he wasn’t getting any of it.

I looked at Mom’s direction, and I saw her staring straight at us. So I made something that will make her think that Darren and I are having a little connection or something. I moved closer just to whisper into his ears... I don’t know if he heard it or not but I hope he didn’t. It was an embarrassment for me.

“I’m gonna be your wife soon enough, Darren. So please be prepared...”

He gulped, feeling uneasy, maybe. I blushed, realizing that he heard it. If only I can turn back the time so that I could change my words, I think my world would be a better place for everyone.

“Kate, someone’s calling you,” Mom stated, holding my phone.

“Who’s that?” I curiously asked her.

“It’s your Dad. I think it’s urgent.”

“I’ll just answered this one, Darren. Please don’t mind my Mom. And Mom, please don’t say anything unnecessary to my fiancee...” I stated before getting my phone from her hands.

I quickly answered the call. It really is Dad. He told me about some things that I need to do in order to make our wedding process faster than expected. Seems like he really wanted this marriage to happen. He also told me that he prepared a lunch for everybody including the crew of our photographers for they came from a long way from here just for our shoot.

When I came back to the room where we were taking some photos for our prenup, I heard voices. I’m pretty sure it was my Mom... And Darren. I hid behind a wall to secretly listen to their conversation.

“What girl?” Darren asked, sounds like he’s trying to be innocent.

“Come on, Darren. Let’s not fool each other anymore. Just tell me the truth. Do you love Claire or whatever that girl name was?” my Mom madly asked.

Darren couldn’t answer that fast. But after a few seconds of thinking about it, he answered, and it wasn’t so surprising at all to hear what it was.

“Yes, Ma’am. I do love that woman,” he surely stated.

My Mom gasped, before I heard her slapped Darren. The impact is loud, and when I tried to look at them, I saw that Darren’s face has reddened because of what happened.

“How can you say that in front of me?! After we let our daughter marry you?”

“You asked me a question, and I just answered it with the truth as you requested. I’m sorry.”

Thankfully, the photographers look like they aren’t paying any attention to my Mom and Darren. They are busy fixing the decorations for another picture set. But surely, they are just pretending that they aren’t hearing any of this drama. I know that they trying to work as professionally as they can.

“Aren’t you ashamed?” my Mom furiously asked to Darren.

I decided to come out, since I don’t want to hear any of their arguments anymore. I already know the truth, so I just pretended like I didn’t heard anything from their conversation.

“What’s happening here?” I tried to act as curious as possible.

“Nothing, dear. Darren and I were just talking,” Mom lied to me.

“Is that true, Darren?” I looked at the man with a reddish face caused by my mother’s aggressiveness.

“Y-yeah.”

“What was that call about?” my Mom interrupted, afraid to let me find out the truth, maybe.

“Dad told me that he prepared a lunch for everyone, together with Darren, of course. And he also invited the photographers to join us...” I smiled widely at the crew.

They just smiled back. We all decided to finished the shoot earlier than scheduled so that we can prepared for the lunch meeting later with my Dad. Darren changed into his normal clothes at the fitting room while my Mom and I are waiting for him outside.

“Kate... Please don’t marry that guy,” Mom started.

“Why, Mom?” I asked, bored. I’m so tired of hearing her nonsense rants. I already know it, so what for?

“He’s still in love with your bestfriend!”

“Mom, she’s not my bestfriend anymore. And even so, how did you know about Darren’s feelings?” I asked, acting ignorant.

“No! Listen to me! He said it himself! He said it earlier when you were gone! He said it in front of my face!” she stated, acting hysterical.

Out of annoyance, I said something that will make her feel mad about mem Something that could bring our argument back to a higher level.

“Mom, please stop inventing things, will you?!”

“Why would I invent a story, Kate? That guy just admitted it in front of my face! He still love that girl! He doesn’t want you!” she exclaimed.

“Mom, stop it.” I sighed. “He’ll eventually learn how to love me as well. I knew it. Just please trust me on this one.” I tried to convince her, but to no avail.

“No, Kate! Don’t marry that man! Listen to me! I don’t want you to be just like me! Your father ignored me after I gave him a child! He just married me for the sake of their bankrupted company!”

“Stop it. Mom...” I covered my ears, not wanting to hear her history with Dad. That wouldn’t happen to me. I know it. Elijah will save me.

“Listen to me! I’m only doing this for you.”

“Stop–” My statement was cut by her. She’s unstoppable, so I decided to raised my voice as well just to make her stop.

“Stop begging for his attention! Find someone who could really love the real you! You know–”

“I said stop it, Mom! Just please stop!” I shouted in front of her face. Mom is undeniably shocked, looking at me with disbelief in her eyes.

“Kate...” she trailed off. Out of frustration, my mouth started to say things without the permission of my brain. I’m now driven by anger, unable to control myself.

“I told you to stop, Mom. Don’t compare me to what happened to you! I know I could do better so stop! I’m not like you and I don’t wanna be like you–”

I heard a loud sound as Mom’s hand flew into my face. She slapped me hard, causing me to come into the verge of crying. It really hurts receiving a slap from my Dad, but coming from my Mom, it hit me differently. It hurts me more knowing that she only did that for my own good. I just can’t accept it to myself.

“I’m s-sorry, d-dear... I really am... Please forgive me... I was shocked and–”

“No, Mom. Stop. I don’t want to hear another thing from you,” I cut her off.

I walked away from my Mom. I came outside of the venue, only to be followed by my her who still looked worried and apologetic to me as well. Until Darren finally came out, looking anxiously at us.

“What took you so long?” I asked sweetly, pretending that nothing happened between me and my Mom. I don’t want Darren to feel uneasy.

“Nothing. I just fixed myself. I’m sorry but I think I couldn’t join you to lunch. I have a very important thing to do. Please do me a favor and just tell it to Mr. Armando Frias, Kate.”

I was about to answer when Mom whispered something very inconsiderate.

“Such a waste of time. We waited for almost five minutes and he’s not gonna come...” I heard those words coming from my mother. I just glared at her direction, still feeling the pain of her slap.

“It’s alright, Darren. I’ll tell it to my Dad. But, before I let you leave, I want to know where you’re going first,” I stated for Mom, for I knew that she’s currently thinking about the same thing. Darren just sighed, looking annoyed.

“I’m going to visit my late mother.”

Mom eyes widen as she heard those words, same as me. We both shoot an apologetic look to Darren before he finally leave and we all decided to came to the address of the known restaurant here for Dad is surely waiting for us there already.

As we all eat while talking about some random stuffs, I can’t help but to think how lucky I am. Claire, Darren, and Elijah had already lost their Moms. While here I am, ignoring my own as she tries to advice me on what should I really do. I should be thankful for having her, though. I know that she’s only doing this for my own good. I just can’t understand why she couldn’t do it for herself.

Why is she letting Dad treat her like a garbage? And why didn’t she left him if she really wanted to? Then I remembered the reason why. The only person that she’s been protecting ever since the very beginning. The reason why she let herself suffer silently in pain. And that person is no other than me, her daughter.