When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
In my case, it seemed impossible to adopt an optimistic state of mind and a positive can-do attitude in the face of adversity.
Life hemmed me into the slacks of my wish, giving me a devil for a husband and a game-changer for an a-not-so-sure twin.
What would happen if Elizabeth doesn't come or was caught and our secret blew up in front of plus hundreds of socialites, not forgetting the Horton family?
Gosh!
Elizabeth's plan didn't stop creating chaos in my brain, rendering me speechless as Brielle fastened the grill silver lace crossing of my open-back-to-waist mermaid gown.
"Elizabeth, c'mon, you are doing it again. Can you stop spacing out of real life for like five minutes?" Brielle wiggled my cheeks and shot me a reassuring smile. "Let the crowd outside not be a problem, my brother is your shield forever."
Devil Horton, my shield?
A chuckle fluttered out of my lips, and I wiped a stray drop of tear out of my eye.
"Thanks for the sweet words. You are right, 'my shield won't let me down."
I didn't believe in my own words.
The knob to Dwain's room pushed open, and my eyes rolled past Brielle's to meet the gorgeous intruder.
Behold, by the door, my husband, leaned, dressed in his unbuttoned and sophisticated white tuxedo, stained with shades of black.
Shiny black shirt, straining his torso down to his waist and tucked into glittering white slim pants.
"Are you ready?"
He asked and yanked himself from the way, his eyes not letting go of my face as a few logs of hair brushed his face.
Dwain's black polished leather shoe creased the blue rug as he strode towards me. "Everyone is waiting for us."
His eyes were buried in mine, sucking the breath out of my lungs as they slipped to my dangerous neckline.
My collarbone, shoulders, and tiny bits of my breast were out on display.
Brielle cleared her throat. "Sure, she's set for tonight, " she giggled and excused herself, " I should get going."
She held onto the gathers of her blue long sleeve mermaid gown, the curls of her hair bouncing throw and forth to her back as she cat-walked out of the room; leaving me to My husband.
The atmosphere dropped to a freezing degree and silence lured itself between us, stealing the show.
For the past minutes, Dwain's stare lingered on me and I didn't miss the unconscious patting of his lips which followed the up-and-down movement of his adam's apple.
The thought of him checking me out starred butterflies in my belly.
Words from my messed-up brain stuttered out of my lips. "Is everything a-alright?"
He pressed his lips into a thin line, shifting his stare quick enough from my cleavage, "Nothing serious but for this. . ." He stopped talking and pulled out a jeweler's box, " I want you to wear this."
He slid the box open.
Gasping at the simple yet beautiful pair of diamond earrings, my heart fluttered when he offered to help me put them on.
My stillness gave him the go-ahead and his soft fingers maneuvered the folds of my ears; his lips propelling a whisper. "You look ravishing tonight Mrs. Horton."
Why did his raspy voice have to be so addictive?
Tingles ran down my spine at his compliment, snatching words from my lips.
"I... I can't believe I'm spacing this, " I scolded myself and jerked my hand to shade my face from the embarrassment.
"You mean, 'thanks,' right?"
"Yes Sir, thanks."
His lips twitched into a grin. "Tonight, it's not Sir, pick a pseudonym and tangle along. Come with me."
He picked me up in his arms and left the room. "It's a token from me, you can thank me later."
DWAIN STEADIED ME ON my feet and weaved our fingers as we stood behind the door which led to the outdoor party.
"Are you scared?"
He raised a brow at me the moment he caught sight of my sweating palms.
"Kinda, but never mind."
He squeezed my palms in his. "Mrs. Hortons aren't scared, they are brave just like their men."
"Nope, my case is different. I'm not a typical Mrs.Horton you know, " I teased.
"Stop arguing, " he stopped words from my lips. "Tonight be one."
That said, he walked me through the door, and out of a sudden, we became the center of attraction for the spotlight as the emcees announced our entry on the red carpet.
My arm tightened around Dwain's as the crowd came into view, numerous faces casting glares our way.
Some were neutral, others gossiping, and some stared deep into my soul.
I sucked in the air and composed myself as my husband led the way to our seats up the elevated stage.
The Horton's courtyard hit differently with all the blossom decorations and multiple white canopies.
Large screens projected the event for those at the back and the elevated stage was crowded with socialites.
Thanks to Brielle who showed me a few profiles, I wasn't lost that much.
The evening opened with a speech from Tasha and then a piano solo from Liam; one which stole the crowd's tears as he played the keys in his black penguin suit and a rundown of the program was announced.
Dwain read out a welcome speech and I stood by him, smiling at unknown faces and doing my best to keep it as natural as possible.
I locked eyes with Leonard and Jana in the crowd, earning a smile from them.
". . . ladies and gentlemen, life is full of surprises. My heart met the right woman and my brain didn't waste time galloping with her to the altar. Now, I'm happily married to her, my wife, Elizabeth Horton."
The crowd cheered up and Dwain slanted my head, his lips crashing into mine without warning as he placed a short yet intense kiss with an almost comedic dominance.
"You should have warned me, asshole," I muttered, yet he only smiled.
The time came for us to move around as a couple and greet the numerous socialites.
Done entertaining a dozen, some guy bumped into us, with his glass of whiskey.
His smile stretched with his lips as his eyes marveled at me and his free hand brushed over his cut brow.
"Elizabeth, you look way different from the last time I met you. Dwain is polishing his wife with luxury as I can see." He gave a gentle hit to Dwain's elbow and pulled off to adjust the black tie of his red tuxedo. He gazed into my confused eyes."Don't you remember me Elizabeth, the guy who. . ."
He stopped abruptly at the sight of Dwain's clenched Jaw.
My husband's grip tightened at the small of my back.
The discomfort from Dwain's grip on my back proved how pissed he was.
Lowering his lips to my ear, his breath burned my neck. "Lisa, this is Scott Winston, a friend of mine you met once during a hangover. Ignore his tirades."
"I know we met like twice or so, but, strangely, you don't remember me, Mrs. Horton, " the guy grumbled and kept his mouth shut. "Nice dress by the way, " he spoke again and hit Dwain's elbow before going.
My eyes sped to My husband's face and I watched him from beneath my lashes.
His teeth sunk into his lip and for a moment I thought my stare irritated him, only then did a throat noise and a familiar voice make their entry.
"What a beautiful wife you have dear partner. Won't you like to share?"
Familiarity, disgust, and sour manners all made sense when I twirled around and had the privilege to meet with his eyes, those flirty beauties.
It was Alister, the guy from earlier this afternoon, Brielle's companion at the coffee shop.
"You know yourselves?" My eyes flickered none stop.
My husband clasped me to his chest and the strength in his arms which slipped to my abdomen hitched my breath.
"Alister Belingfort or Bell for short. Dwain will soon be my business partner." He raised his glass of whiskey to Dwain who didn't utter a word in protest. "I'm lucky to have been one of the first people to meet the famous tabloid wife of the Hortons."
Wow!
Alister Bill or Bell or whatsoever his name had crossed limits.
I knew that something about this man was off right from his manners at the coffee shop and it irked me to accept the fact that Brielle was crushing on him, this ass of human hood.
My fingers scrunched into a weak fist.
"Mrs. Horton, speak sense to your husband and convince him to pick up my billion offer for his company. If he is not wise, I expect a refined woman like you to be."
Why did it ring a bell in my head?
Oh! Yes, Jana quarreled with Dwain regarding a billion dollars offer he had turned down after all the work she put into drafting the contract.
"Sweetheart, go join Jana and Leonard. I will be with you guys soon." Dwain unwrapped his firm arms from my abdomen and placed a kiss on my forehead. "Don't miss me too much."
If this Alister was the guy behind the one billion dollar deal, then Dwain had all reasons to decline it.
LEONARD, BRIELLE, AND JANA were in a serious discussion and I kept spacing out the whole time, occasionally checking Leonard's watch and lamenting why Elizabeth hadn't shown up yet.
Dwain had instructed Orlando to watch over me, but the stressed Mr. XY was quickly distracted by some text message on his phone.
"Elizabeth, join us, it's your night," Brielle called my attention.
"Brielle is right, participate at least, " cried Jana.
"Don't let Tasha see you quiet, it might bring her wrath on us," Leonard blurted and laughed into his wine glass.
How nice they sugar-coated their words didn't move me, not even the mention of Tasha's name.
Elizabeth's game was a hurt trap for Dwain and Tasha had already threatened to deal with me if anything happened to her son.
"Lisa, I'm sorry for interrupting your peace this evening."
"You are not interrupting anything, " I smiled at Camilla who wasn't dressed in a maid's outfit tonight but in one of the satin off-the-shoulder gowns I bought for her. "Please, go on."
"Sure, a Muslim lady claims to be one of your friends. . . she said her name was Ellis Adara and she wished to talk to you. If my mind is still sane, I think she was veiled in a red burka and only her eyes could be seen."
"Where is she?"
Camilla didn't even need to finish her words, my heart leaped with joy before her last phrase.
Elizabeth was here.
Finally, she came.
I held my dress and stood on my heels, smiling from ear to ear.
"She's seated at the last table below the grass field."
"Thanks, " I said and turned to Leonard, Brielle, and Jana. "Hey, I'm going to meet a friend behind, I won't take long."
"Take care, " they chorused.
It didn't take forever for me to squeeze my way to the back even though my heels were hurting my feet.
The moment she stood up in her red burka which was suspended from the floor due to the high black heels she wore, all my stress flew out of the window as she grabbed me into a hug.
"Ellis, I came. Our first meeting wasn't pleasant, and I said harsh things to you, " she held my face in her palms, tangled her eyes with mine, and behind her veil, she spoke. "I'm sorry for all that I said at the hospital and all you went through because of me."
I'm sorry.
A few words, but they weakened my knees, and tears hugged my eyes but didn't flow down my cheeks.
"I was fast to judge you too and I'm also sorry Elizabeth. There is no time, what if you take a seat right here and tell me about your past with Dwain."
"Yes, sure." She settled next to me and adjusted her veil to cover her eyes a little more. "What exactly do you want to know?"
"Let's start with how you met Dwain."
I popped a cheery into my mouth.
Hesitant for a few minutes, Elizabeth spilled it. "My family didn't have enough, so I had to work hard and extra sometimes. There's this club Anna used to dance for during the night and on Friday I will borrow her shift and make some money. . ."
She halted and jabbed moisture out of her eyes.
"Please, don't cry. Keep going."
Elizabeth released a shaking breath.
"Some guys from the club introduced me to a business. One which I had to market their stuff and return the money to them. . . and they will give me my share of the money."
Elizabeth took my hands into hers, "one day, I didn't return their money because I had used it for my grandpa's health."
I nodded, "please continue."
"Fine, " she closed her eyes and opened them. "Friday came that week and they weren't happy with what had happened. They told me to refund their money before Monday and stupid me drank round the clock that night."
I gulped. "What next?"
"These guys came back later that night and discreetly snuggled me out of the club. They carried me and dumped me behind the building, threatening to rape me, so I cried for help."
Life was cruel and Elizabeth encountered the worst-case scenario.
"Then came my savior, Dwain, and another guy called Scott. They both beat up the gang of three and sent them away limping. Dwain was bruised on his arm but it didn't stop him from fighting for my safety, the safety of a stranger."
Tables turned around so fast and for a second, I had a conflicting view about Dwain.
He had risked his life for a stranger, and so did Scott?!
"That night, he introduced himself to me and we talked at the bar. I told him about my problems and life. I woke up the next morning in his bed, cuddling with him. I don't remember anything from the night we spent together."
It was obvious, Dwain slept with her even though she just survived a rape attempt. What an asshole?
"Little by little, we became close friends and soon he was a whole possessive man days after. He bent me over each time we met, he used to bring me to his playroom where he will use toys, whips, clips, and other ridiculous objects to arose me. He became an aggressive dominant male in bed, spanking me and inflicting pain."
Oh! goodness!
The playroom he took me to after the wedding.
That thought sent shivers down my spine.
"It pained me, but I supported it because of the feelings I had developed for him. He said sorry once only and will still be harsh when next we had a make-out. I became used to it. He never presented me to his friends and didn't promise me any marriage but he use to give me enough money."
My guts burned in irritation.
"I told him about my grandpa's heart like a week before the scandalous pictures an anonymous person mailed to my house. The contents of the pictures startled me. My heart swelled with rage. I didn't expect him to cheat on me or rather, use me to cheat on his fiancee."
Elizabeth released my hand and brushed tears from her eyes.
Sweet heaven, oh!
The diamond ring and the passport photos in Dwain's drawer made sense now. How could he be so inconsiderate?
"Did you confront him?" I asked.
"Yes, " Elizabeth nodded. "I met him a week later at a mall and confronted him. You won't guess what he said."
She rubbed tears out of her eyes.
"He told me that we were friends with benefits and that what we had between us wasn't serious at all. So, I disgraced him in public that day and later I shot his dirt to the press."
"How could he be so cruel to you?"
Elizabeth pressed a finger to my lips."Help me break him, please."
"I wish I could, but it's your place to break him. If we swap tonight, it will be easy for you to revenge. You are the girl he hurt. You best know how to break him, you alone can break him."
"Break who sweetheart?"
I was screwed. How much of our conversion had he listened to?
That was Dwain and he was directly behind me. "Is there someone I'm supposed to beat up for you?"
"Not really," I smiled awkwardly, thank goodness couldn't see my face. "We are just discussing girls' issues."
"Fine," his hands snaked around my waist, " I didn't know you had a Muslim friend sweetheart."
My lungs constricted, "we got acquitted of recent. I might have forgotten to introduce her to you."
"Thanks for the party, Mr. Horton." Elizabeth stood up, "I was about to leave. My husband is calling."