Chapter 93: Chapter 93

CHAPTER 8

"You know, you still look as beautiful as the first day I saw you. Even though you chose to not wear the dress I bought you." Rocket says.

Irked, I sigh the documents. "I asked you to be Louis father, Rocky. Not my stylist." I respond. "Carefully reading the last clause, I check to see if he had sneakily added something without my knowledge. He did not, so I sign the final paragraph. "There. Complete."

"Done. Would you like to have Lunch before we meet the others at the reception?"

"Sure," I say. Hating Rocket everyday of my life would consume me. I couldn't let Louis see that part of me. I take off my veil.

"I'll help you with that." He offers. I hand it over to him as we proceed to the restaurant.

"Did you clear out the hotel?" I ask.

"Of course. I did that especially for you, my wife. This hotel is as much yours as it is mine. I'll do anything for you, Natty."

"Mm," I respond. He leads me to the restaurant which is almost empty, except for the pianist. As soon as he sees us, he begins to play. It is John Ireland's violin sonata.

"Thank you." I say, as I sit. I take the glass of red wine and begin to drink.

"Easy, darling. Easy."

"Why did you make me sign it?" I ask.

"Natalie, I'm not a bad person, you know that. I only did that because— because I don't want you to leave me again. You're easily confused— swayed, even. With time, you'll realize how much you love me and you'll be glad that I refused to let you go."

"How depraved. You've finally lost it. Love? Pfft. If anything, I hate you with every drop of blood in my body."  My subconscious states. "I will never love you, Rocket. You should at least know that." I respond plainly, returning to my red wine.

He chuckles. "I won't get offended. You know, I'm in awe of you. It's like the more you try to convince me, the more I fall deeper in love with you."

"You're shameless." I state, disgusted by his brazenness.

"I know. I'm shameless."

"You know, I've got to give it to you. You really don't give up when you put your mind to something. You followed me all the way from the beginning and look where you are now. You have me, and unfortunately, you have Louis. Everything Luke once had. Does it make you happy?"

He drops his fork. "You were always mine to begin with, Natty. We made a promise to each other— forever and the days after!"

I chuckle. "Forever died the moment you made no attempt to reach me!," I yell, perplexed. I continue, "I tried to reach you and I know I did. You knew what had happened and you only came months after to find me! After, I'd fallen for Luke. It was your fault for not coming to fight for me!"

"What makes him so great?!" Rocket yells, running his hand through his hair in anger.

"Everything," I respond, getting up. I pick my bouquet from the table and begin to head out.

"Wait." I hear him say, but I ignore. "Wait!" He yells again, as I hear his footsteps approaching me from behind. Suddenly, he grabs my arm and spins me to face him.

"Let go of me." I command.

"Why do you keep talking about that dead man, huh? What's so special about him?!"

"Unhand me at once, Rocket." I command, again, but this time, he pays no attention to me and goes in for a kiss. I freeze, disgusted. Memories begin to rush through my head as I remember the night of my birthday six years ago when Rocket and I had made love for the first time. I am beyond disgusted. I push him off me. I slap him, as I clean my lips. "Don't ever do that again."

"Why? I'm your husband, Natty." He says, frustrated. He continues, "Isn't that what you always wanted from our college days?"

"You've gone crazy. I married a mad man. Bloody hell!"

*********

I am at the reception. It's about 6pm. I'm greeting the guests, working my way through the card so I can find my family. I'd hoped Louis had had something nice to eat.

"Hello, Mrs. Berkeley," I greet the dean of Dubois C.

"Natalie Devaux. Oh, dear. It's been ages. You look just the same as you did back then— well, except your hair of course." She laughs.

I laugh, uncomfortable. I didn't have time for this. Rocket had obviously invited her here. "Thank you for coming, Mrs. Berkeley."

"I hear you have a son. How old is he? May I see the little boy?"

"I'm trying to find him too, I haven't seen him. When I do, I'll bring him to come say hello." Of course not. My subconscious states.

I try my best to say hello to people as I walk through the crowd. Rocket had invited too many people and it was becoming a thorn in my path. Again, someone grabs me and I'm about to yell, thinking it's Rocket when I compose myself.

"Ms. Davenport. Hello." I greet Rocket's mother. She hadn't changed her odd style and odd wig colors even after six long years. "You look great," I state.

"Welcome to the family!" She says, grabbing me to hug her. I close my eyes, uncomfortable. If only she knew how much I despised her son and hated that I was a part of their family.

"Thank you. What brings you here? I thought you relocated to the States permanently."

"Yes— until baby boy told me he was finally marrying you! Oh, my beloved. I've missed you! What happened to your hair though? This looks awful." Really, lady? With that thing on your head? Pfft. What a mess.

"It's time for the bride and groom dance!" The MC announces.

"Shoo! Shoo!" She pushes me away, shoving me towards the middle of the room. "Go on!" She continues, until I'm in the middle of the room. I smile at the crowd and I look behind me to see Rocket. I try to not let my smile fade away. He walks closer to me and takes my hand. We take dancing positions. The music begins.

"I'm sorry for what happened earlier. I must've lost my mind. Forgive me, Natty."

"I have nothing to say to you." I respond.

"I didn't mean it. Please, forgive me. I'm sorry, Natty. I'm really sorry."

"Don't say anything, I don't want my mood spoiled. Everyone's watching, Rocket." I respond, scanning the room. As Rocket spins me around, my eyes fall on Rose. I can feel Rocky's body on mine as he rests on my behind as we dance, I'm about to warn him, but I pause as I try to get a clear picture of what I'm seeing. I freeze, and so does Rocky. My hands fall, and so does the bouquet.

"No," I whisper. It couldn't be. It was impossible. It had to be a dream. There he was, standing before me. Our eyes, fixated on one another.

It was at that moment I'd realized that I'd just made the biggest mistake of my life. Patience, was a virtue after all.

We are dangerously close. I stretch my hand out to caress his face. Immediately, I take my hands off as I begin to tremble. "You're alive?" He was real. It wasn't a dream, I was sure of it. I go in for a tight hug, unable to control the tears rolling down my face. I couldn't believe it.

"Oh, oh, Lucas," I exhale, weeping as I realize I'd just gotten married to Rocket. I freeze, grasping the reality of the situation. I break the hug. I connect my hand with his face, upset at his horrid timing. I grab his jacket. "Why? Why did you do this?"

"Honey. Do you know her?" I hear Rose ask but I'm unsure as to who she's speaking to so I ignore her, until, I hear his reply.

"No, love. I don't."

I look between him and Rose, confused. I pay no attention to it, instead, I begin to drag Luke away.

"Natalie!" Rose yells, separating Luke's hand from mine.

"What the hell is wrong with you? Don't interfere."

"I shouldn't interfere? That's funny. How can I not, when you're dragging my husband away?"

I look at her, horrified. I probably didn't hear properly. It couldn't be. Luke wouldn't betray me in such a horrible way. I stretch my hand to take Luke's hand again, but this time around, he takes a step back.

"Luke? What's wrong? Don't you want to see your son? Come," I say, still trying to take his hand.

"Luke? I'm sorry, who's Luke? I'm not Luke, Miss. My name's Richard. Richard Burke."

I laugh. I move closer to him, caressing his face.

"Natalie! Please! What is wrong with you? Mr. Rocket?"

"You don't have to pretend, Luke. It's been over four years— you won't go to prison, my love."

"Lucas," Aunt Ruth joins in on the conversation. I look at her, and she's carrying Louis. I stretch my hands out for him. I carry him. I chuckle.

"See? Your son takes after you. He looks exactly like you."

"It seems like everyone's gone mad here." Rose comments.

"I think you're mistaken, ma'am. I'm Richard. I'm not who you think I am. Do I look like someone you know?"

"I don't understand you. You don't. . . Remember us?" Aunt Ruth asks.

"Of course, he does. He's just annoyed that this is what he returned to meet. Right, my love?"

He nods a no. I drop Louis on the floor. "Luke, I understand you're angry but don't you think you're taking things a little too far? I mean, you haven't even said hello to your son. Please, stop it."

"Mommy, who's this?"

I kneel to answer my son, but before I can, Rocket takes him.

"He's daddy's friend, son. Why don't you go on to aunt Ashley or nanny Delores?"

"Why did you send him away? He doesn't need you know, huh? His father's finally returned. Louis!"

Rocket grabs my hand. "Leave the boy be. You heard him. He's not Luke. He's merely a look alike. Besides, he's a brunet. Lucas was blond."

"Spare me that bull crap. I was blond too. He could've dyed his hair." I turn to face Rose. "You need to stop claiming someone else's husband as yours, miss. Don't get yourself into trouble."

"What? Trouble?" She chuckles, flipping her hair. "Who's husband then?" She asks.

"We were formerly married, for your kind information and we plan on doing so, again. Why don't you tell her, Luke?"

"Rose is my only wife, in fact, she's the first woman I've been married to."

I turn to look at Luke, at a loss for words. Slowly, I was beginning to see something. I was beginning to understand something— Luke was lying.

"Why are you lying? You don't have to be, Luke. Trust me." I say, taking his hand. He jerks it off, leaving me hurt.

Rose raises her finger. She shows me her ring. It's a cheap ring.

"I can understand your confusion. During our honeymoon, someone else mistook me to be someone she knew. It's not the first time." He says, and I notice Rose frown, looking away.

Now, I understood why I disliked her. Intuition. My intuition never failed me. I'd unconsciously known that Rose was someone who I'd be at loggerheads with. I look at Luke, unsure of what to say. I sit on the floor, and I burst out crying. I could t control myself. At this moment, I was feeling a mixture of emotions. Happiness, sadness, comfort, relief, surprise, betrayal, confusion and uneasiness. It was more of sadness, though. After four years of waiting, I'd finally confirmed with my very own eyes that Lucas was hail, hearty and alive. However, he had blatantly denied me, our relationship and our son, yet again.

"Natty." I hear Rocket call me, but I ignore.

"You look exactly him, it's hard to believe that you're not him." Aunt Ruth says, as I sit on the floor, crying.

"Natalie, get up. People are recording. Let's get out of here, before this becomes a scandal and affects both our businesses."

Hearing his words, an idea pops in my head. Luke didn't want me to have the company. Maybe that's he was upset with me. Surely, he didn't want to take revenge on me again, would he? We had gone past that. I grab his feet, "I'll sign over the company to you. I know that's why you're angry. Please, forgive me. I was blinded by anger and that's why I took it from you. Please, don't stay away from me, Luke." I beg, desperate for his acceptance.

"Natalie!" Rocket yells, and begins to drag me off. "Have you no shame?! You're my wife now, and you will act as such!"

"Get off me!" I yell, jerking my hand off. I continue with Luke. "Please. My love, remember our plans? I can get this marriage annulled and we can go away, like you suggested before, huh? Please?" I beg him, thinking of possible places we can flee to.

"What about South Africa? The Italy? Anywhere, you want, I will follow you, just please. Please, tell them the truth. Tell them, you are Lucas."

Rose slaps me. I fall. I look at her, furious. "You'll regret that, you bit— I try to grab her, but Luke blocks her. I look on, shocked.

"Why are you protecting her? She hit me!" I yell, annoyed at him.

"I won't let you or anyone, lay a finger on my wife! I've been calm long enough. I attended this wedding only because Rose made me. If I'd known this was a mad house, I'd have stayed away. I've said it and I'll say it again— I'm not Lucas or Luke, whoever that may be. I'm Richard Burke. I'm American. I hope we never cross paths again." He says, turning around with Rose.

"Wait," We all hear. We turn back to look. It's my mother, emerging from the crowd. She continues, "If you truly aren't Lucas, you wouldn't turn down a DNA test, would you?"

"I wouldn't. However, I will not tak—

"You will," Rose states. "You will take the DNA test, once and for all, Richard. This craziness must stop."

For the first time in in my life, I'd felt proud to have my mother by my corner. That was exactly what I needed. The DNA test would prove to everyone, most especially, Rose, that her so called husband was Lucas Carrington and mine, not hers.