"While I fell in love with Michael and his kind nature hidden behind his steel walls, Hayley was discovering Darren's cruel side thatno one knew about. She somehow managed to convince me for years that she was happy with him, that everything was perfect. I was so lost in my own happy bubble, I didn't realise the lies she was spewing to me." She takes a deep breath, shaking her head. "When the twins were eight, Jaylen had woken up in the night and heard her screaming, so he went to see if she was okay, and he walked in on Darren beating her."
Tears drip down her cheeks, and she swipes them away quickly.
My heart stutters in my chest, and I move towards her, wrapping my arms around her, wanting to offer some comfort as she continues telling me the horrific tale.
"When Darren saw him, he chased after him, and that was the moment when Hayley realised she needed to get help. She called me, crying and screaming as she was stumbling through the house in search of them both. Michael and I rushed over there, and as we got to the door, the heartbreaking sound of a gunshot echoed through the phone. By the time we got inside and found them, it was too late. She was bleeding out, Jaylen was wrapped around her, covered in her blood, and Darren was stood there, his gun still pointing at them."
She sniffles against my shoulder, her tears dripping onto my skin.
"Michael thought he was going to shoot Jaylen next, so he shot Darren before he could cause any more devastation. We called an ambulance, but they didn't get there in time. Since that day, I've taken care of Jessica and Jaylen. Raised them as if they were my own."
"I'm so sorry, Louise," I whisper, holding her close.
"Me too," she says, squeezing me before pulling away and wiping at her face. "This is your wedding day, and here I am telling you a story filled with horror."
She shakes her head, and I rub my hand along her arm.
"It's okay, honestly. It's not like this is a happy day, anyway. Besides, I was the one who asked, and I'm sorry for that. I think you're an admirable woman, and although I'm not thrilled about this marriage, I am glad I've had the honour of meeting you."
Knocking at the door interrupts us, and we both jump slightly at the loud noise vibrating through the room.
"It's time,mija," my father says through the door.
Louise grabs my hands, holding them in hers as she stares at me with so many emotions swirling around in her eyes.
"Keep your chin up, and enjoy this day. If my son continues with his grumpiness, feel free to come and find me, Jess, Sophia, or Rory. We know what he's like, and we'll happily put him in his place, just as I assume you would, too. We're all here for you, okay?"
I nod as warmth fills my chest.
"Thank you."
With one last squeeze of my hands, she moves towards the door, opening it and letting my father inside as she walks down the hall.
Chapter Eleven
Dominic
Standing at the altar, I glance down at my watch, seeing we're running behind by a few minutes, and I grumble in frustration, which causes Jaylen to chuckle from where he's standing behind me.
"It's two minutes, man. Loosen up and forget about the schedule," he says, grabbing my shoulders and jostling me slightly.
"I have shit to do."
He tuts, and I watch him shake his head out of the corner of my eye.
"It's your wedding day, and your mum told you that you'd be here until the end of the night. You have nowhere else to be, you idiot."
He moves away, taking his seat beside Rory, who's watching me with caution as she always does, before she turns to my sister beside her and whispers something.
Sophia's eyes connect with mine, and she smiles at me reassuringly while she rubs a hand over her rounded stomach, along with Kaleb, who's seated beside her, staring at her as if he's scared she's going to disappear if he looks anywhere else.
Rolling my eyes at them, I glance across to my mother and father, seated at the end of the row, closest to the aisle. I watch as they speak to each other quietly, with intertwined fingers and toothy grins on their faces.
An irritating feeling shoots through my chest at the sight, and I look away as I begin twisting the rings on my fingers.
Looking down at my hands, I try to imagine what my left hand will look like when I have another ring added to it in a few moments' time, and I grimace at the thought.
I huff, just as music starts up in the room, and a groan rumbles through my chest as I watch everyone begin to stand as the doors at the end of the hall open, ready for Alicia and her father to walk around the corner.
