CHAPTER 38: Prenuptial Photoshoot

DARREN’s P.O.V.

“You’re not yourself.”

Those words are the ones that Mrs. Katheryn Frias told me for how many times now since I arrived here. Today is the day that we’re going to shoot our prenuptial photoshoot. Again, I’m with Kate and I still couldn’t decide whether or not to continue this wedding.

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

I bet he saw how Mrs. Frias treated me in this event. Kate looked embarrassed because of her mother’s random rants, but I didn’t mind them. They just continue to fired some words towards each other while Kate is glaring towards her mother’s direction.

My heart and mind was now fully occupied by the love and doubts I’m feeling for Claire. I’m still hesitating to fight for her because I don’t want to suffer in pain again. But now, she already won more than half of my heart.

“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,” Mrs. Frias glared at me.

“Mom! Stop it!” It was Kate.

“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.

“Mom, please stop bugging Darren,” Kate almost pleaded.

“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.”

Kate suddenly clung into my arm, looking at her mother straight in the eye.

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

I couldn’t find my tongue anymore. I can’t speak because I’m not sure either. And also, I don’t want to promise anything to her. I’m avoiding to hurt another woman for the sake of my broken heart, just like Elijah had told to me before.

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

I felt Kate lightly squeezed my arm, looking at me with a hurtful smile plastered on her face. I couldn’t say anything, for I know that maybe I’ll just made things worst. Mrs. Frias wasn’t that fond to me ever since she found out about Claire. And I know that I couldn’t gain her trust back that easily as that even if I marry her daughter very soon.

The photographers continued to take some few shots after their short break. We changed clothes several times, and even though posing in front of the camera is not my cup of tea, I tried my best to make Mrs. Frias happy. I don’t want to make her mad for it could reflect to our company, specially now that Mr. Armando Frias just came back to Herrera Corp. after their short misunderstanding of my Dad.

“Okay, face to the left, please.”

Kate did the photographer’s request. She fiercely posed in front of the lenses, looking at me with her seducing eyes. She moved closer towards me, simply massaging my arms.

“I’m going to be your wife soon enough, Darren. So please be prepared,” she whispered.

I gulped, not wanting to look at her. Claire is the only woman I want to make love with, and I’m not planning to change that decision even after this marriage. I vowed to never touch another woman after she surrendered herself to me.

“Kate, someone’s calling you,” Mrs. Frias stated holding her phone.

“Who’s that?” she curiously asked her mother.

“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 fiancée.”

She just nodded before passing the phone to her daughter’s hand. Kate vanished inside the room, and the only person that’s left inside was me, Mrs. Frias, and some of the paid photographers. Kate’s mother is obviously glaring at me, and I couldn’t bare it anymore. Though, I still try my best to smile and stop myself from showing any disrespectful act towards her.

“Darren, would you mind if I talk to you for a second?” she asked, raising one of her brows.

“Sure, Ma’am.”

“Spare the formality. Though that doesn’t mean that I like you, and I already forgive you for canceling your wedding with my daughter last time. I just wanted to ask you one question, and I hope that you’re willing to answer it.”

“Fine. You can ask me anything.”

“Do you love that girl?” she asked, very straightforward.

I was amused at her fast pace conversation. She doesn’t want to waste any time. She just wanted to know the truth. Though I don’t know what to say to her even if I’m pretty sure that the girl she’s talking about is Claire.

“What girl?” I asked, 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?” she madly asked.

I was debating with myself if should I tell her the truth or not. But I guess I need to, in order to not prolong our argument anymore.

“Yes, Ma’am. I do love that woman.”

She gasped, before she looked at me in disbelief. She slapped my face, really hard. I felt it sting for a moment, but after a while it also vanished. She covered her mouth with her hands, surprised that I didn’t bulge or even blinked at what she have done.

“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 wasn’t paying any attention to us. They are busy fixing the decorations for another picture set. But I know that they’re just doing that to pretend that they weren’t interested to our topic, but the truth is they are listening very carefully to us using nothing but their ears.

“Aren’t you ashamed?” she furiously asked, too eager to get the answer that she wanted.

Before I could say anything, Kate entered into the room, making her mother stopped talking.

“What’s happening here?” she curiously asked.

“Nothing, dear. Darren and I were just talking,” Mrs. Frias lied to her daughter.

“Is that true, Darren?” Kate looked at me.

“Y-yeah.”

“What was that call about?” Mrs. Frias interrupted, afraid to let her daughter find out the truth.

“Dad told me that he prepared a lunch for everyone, together with Darren, of course. And he also invited the photographers to join us...” She 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 with Mr. Frias. I gladly changed into my normal clothes before leaving the comfort room. I was about to open the door when I heard some noises. It was as if someone is arguing.

“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!”

“Mom, stop it. He’ll eventually learn how to love me as well. I knew it. Just please trust me on this one.”

“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.”

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

“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!” she shouted. Mrs. Frias is undeniably shocked, looking at her daughter with disbelief in her eyes.

“Kate...”

“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 want to be like you–”

I heard a loud sound coming from the collision of Mrs. Frias’ hand and Kate’s cheeks. She slapped her daughter very hard, making her come on the verge of crying.

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

“No, Mom. Stop. I don’t want to here another thing from you.”

Kate walked away from her mother, vanishing on our sight. Mrs. Frias wiped her tears away before leaving the room. When she’s gone, I finally got the chance to get outside of the comfort room.

I forced to kick those things that I’d just heard earlier. I came outside of the venue, only seeing Mrs. Frias, Kate, and the whole crew waiting for me. After what I’ve heard earlier, I felt uneasy going onto lunch with them. That’s why I decided to just excuse myself and find a good enough reason for them to let me leave.

“What took you so long?” Kate asked sweetly, like nothing happened to her and to her mother earlier.

“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.”

“Such a waste of time. We waited for almost five minutes and he’s not going to come,” I heard Mrs. Frias whispered. I saw how Kate glared at her.

“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 just sighed.

She’s really watching my every move. I can’t stay like this forever. Mrs. Frias widen her eyes apologetically at me as soon as I told them my reason, and thankfully, they didn’t bother me anymore and they finally let me go.

“I’m going to visit my late mother.”