Flora’s heart raced as she approached the plush changing room, the anticipation of slipping into her dream wedding gown filling her with excitement. She pushed aside the elegant curtain and froze.

Her breath caught in her throat, a gasp stifled by the shocking sight before her. Charles, her fiancé, stood entangled in an intimate embrace with Olive, her supposed best friend. Clad in Flora’s pristine wedding dress, Olive leaned into Charles, their lips locked in a fervent kiss.

Silence engulfed the room, broken only by the rustle of fabric as Olive pulled away, her gaze meeting Flora’s stunned eyes. Flora’s features twisted into fury as her voice quivered. “What… what is this?”

Charles turned his expression into a failed attempt at masking guilt. “Flora, it’s not what it looks like,” he stammered.

Flora’s chest tightened. Her fists clenched at her sides, nails digging into her palms. She couldn’t comprehend the betrayal, the sight burning into her memory. Without uttering another word, she turned on her heel, attempting to storm out of the boutique.

Her mind was reeling with the betrayal she’d just witnessed. As she neared the door, her hand reached for the handle. But before she could cross the threshold, Charles’s voice sliced through the air, halting her in her tracks.

“Flora, you can’t just walk away from this,” Charles interjected condescendingly.

She turned to face him, her nostrils flaring. “I won’t marry a cheater,” Flora declared.

Charles scoffed, a smug smirk tugging at his lips. “You think you have a choice, Flora? Your parents have invested a fortune in this wedding. You can’t just call it off because of one little misunderstanding.”

His words landed like a slap across her face. Her fists clenched by her sides as she squared her shoulders, refusing to let his manipulation weaken her resolve.

“I’ll marry someone else first,” Flora retorted, shrugging. With that, she turned away, determined to follow through on her impulsive plan to escape the suffocating betrayal and societal expectations.

Determination drove her steps, propelling her into the bustling city street, seeking an escape from the suffocating betrayal. Amongst the crowd, Flora spotted a man carrying a fruit crate. Then, she saw the fruit truck and concluded that he must be a truckloader. He’ll do!

Without a second thought, Flora hastened towards him, her breaths shallow. She approached him. “Are you married?” she blurted out urgently.

The man glanced up, still carrying a crate. “No, ma’am,” he replied, bemused by the unexpected question.

Flora’s heart pounded against her chest as she continued. “I’ll pay you $100,000 to marry me today,” she offered.

Before the man could respond, Charles materialized out of the multitude of people. His eyebrows were wrinkled, and his mouth twisted in disgust. “You’re out of your mind, Flora,” he sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. “Marrying a poor fruit loader?”

Flora’s cheeks burned with indignation, but the man stepped protectively in front of her before she could retaliate. “Get away from her,” he commanded, his voice firm and resolute, shielding Flora.

The man’s gaze shifted from Flora to Charles and back again, his jaw set in a determined line. “I’ll marry you,” he stated resolutely. “My name is Tom.”

Flora’s heart skipped a beat, relieved. She looked at Tom gratefully and told him her name.

***

Flora and Tom rushed through the corridors of City Hall only a few minutes later; their steps hurried yet determined. The solemn ambiance of the marriage registration office enveloped them as they entered.

This is happening so fast, Flora’s thoughts raced as they stood before the registrar. Tom’s unwavering presence by her side was more comforting than Charles had ever been.

The registrar’s voice resonated through the chamber, officiating the union between Flora and Tom. Flora’s heart raced as she exchanged vows with Tom, her hand trembling slightly as they slipped rings onto each other’s fingers.

Her mind darted between gratitude for Tom’s unexpected support, and the gnawing worry about her parents’ inevitable reaction. What will they say?

***

The atmosphere in Flora’s house was tense, charged with an undercurrent of anger and disbelief. Flora stood, her fingers nervously intertwined with Tom’s, as Charles strode into the room, arrogance oozing from every pore.

“This is preposterous!” Mr. Patrickson’s voice thundered, his face contorted with rage as he confronted Flora and Tom. “You’ve made a mockery of our family with this absurdity!”

Charles smirked, a self-righteous air about him. “Marrying this—this nobody?” His contemptuous gaze shifted between them.

Flora’s mother stood by, her eyes cast downwards, torn. She murmured, echoing her husband’s sentiment. Flora felt the weight of their disapproval suffocating her, her heart breaking. But Tom’s firm grip on her hand steadied her resolve.

“We don’t need your approval,” she said. “I will not marry Charles. This is done.”

“No! You’re getting this sham marriage annulled immediately,” Mr. Patrickson bellowed. “My daughter can’t be married to a freeloader with no future. No! What will our friends say?”

“It doesn’t matter, Dad,” Flora insisted. “I can’t marry someone who betrays me! So, I married someone else.”

“If you don’t annul this, Flora…I swear, forget about us. Forget you have a family,” her dad screamed, his finger jabbing the air. “You’ll be cut off, and you won’t be able to afford even a cup of coffee.”

“We don’t need your money,” Tom declared, his voice calm yet resolute, casting a protective shield around Flora. “We have each other.”

Mr. Patrickson’s face reddened with fury. “How dare you!” he bellowed.

Flora’s mind raced, torn between her family’s expectations and her newfound independence. She glanced at Tom, finding reassurance in his unwavering support. With a resolve that surprised even herself, Flora squeezed Tom’s hand and nodded.

“We’ll make it on our own,” Flora declared, trembling with determination. Hand in hand, she and Tom turned away.

***

Flora and Tom found themselves in the secluded back alley near the street where they initially met, surrounded by stacks of empty fruit crates, the evening sun casting elongated shadows across the cobblestones. Flora’s brow furrowed with worry, her heart still troubled from walking away from her parents.

Tom glanced at her gently. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” he offered.

Flora’s fingers fidgeted with a loose thread on her sleeve. “But what if they’re right?” she murmured. “Did I make a mistake?”

Tom stepped closer, his expression unwavering. “You did what felt right in that moment, Flora,” he replied. “You stood up for yourself, for us.”

Her eyes searched Tom’s depths. She felt a warmth envelop her as Tom’s hand gently rested on her shoulder. Their eyes met in a moment of shared understanding, an unspoken connection forming between them.

In that silent exchange, Flora felt a surge of emotions she hadn’t anticipated, a mixture of vulnerability and something deeper stirring within her. Their eyes met, and their lips closed in the distance. Their first kiss was gentle, just like Tom’s overall demeanor, except when he was protecting her.

They separated and kept staring at each other. But just as the moment began to settle, Tom unexpectedly stood, his gaze flickering with a hint of concern. Flora’s brow furrowed as she watched him take a step back.

“Tom?” she wondered.

Tom’s expression softened. “I’ll be back,” he assured her.

Before Flora could react, Tom disappeared around the corner. Confusion and worry clouded her thoughts, leaving her distraught.

The desolate alley felt eerie as Charles emerged from the shadows a few minutes later. She instinctively stepped back, her apprehension evident as she eyed him warily.

“Flora, come on,” Charles coaxed smugly. “You can’t trust a guy like him. He’s probably just using you.”

Flora’s heart quickened at his words. Her mind was clouded with doubts about Tom’s sudden departure. She tried to defend her new husband, but Charles kept talking, convincing her that he had left in an alley so carelessly.

“At least, let me take you somewhere safe,” he said. His expression softened to the one she had loved before.

Flora finally nodded, not wanting to be alone. But as they neared his car, the vehicle, a shock rippled through her when she caught sight of a familiar figure occupying the passenger seat. Her body froze.

Her breath hitched, and outrage surged as she recognized Olive seated comfortably. Flora’s eyes widened in disbelief, the realization hitting her like a sudden jolt.

“What is she doing here?” she demanded as Charles walked to the driver’s seat.

Charles’s smirk was filled with vindictive satisfaction. “Does it matter?” he retorted dismissively. His earlier softness was gone again.

Flora’s fists clenched at her sides, her anger mounting. Seeing Olive, her supposed best friend, seated in Charles’s car shattered the last traces of her doubts. Her eyes darted between his smug expression and Olive’s indifferent gaze.

Just as she was about to voice her outrage, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows. Tom stepped into view. Flora’s eyes widened, a rush of conflicting emotions flooding her senses.

Tom’s confident stride brought him closer to Flora. He held something small and glinting in his hand—a diamond ring, its sparkle catching the fading light.

“Flora,” Tom’s voice was steady. “I’m sorry for disappearing, but I had to ensure everything was perfect for you. I had to find the perfect diamond for my wife.”

“Where did you get that?” Flora breathed.

“He obviously stole it!” Charles accused, his mouth contorted in rage.

“I didn’t steal it,” Tom reassured his wife.

“Then, how?” Flora asked.

Tom’s expression softened, a genuine smile gracing his features. “I own the restaurant nearby. The fruit I had earlier was for the restaurant,” he revealed.

Before Flora could fully comprehend the revelation, Charles interjected, his voice dripping with derision. “He’s just spinning tales, Flora. You can’t trust him!”

Tom placed himself between Charles and Flora, his stance resolute. “I left to find something special for you, Flora. Something to show you how much you mean to me,” he explained, his gaze fixed on her.

As Tom reached for her hand, placing the ring delicately on her finger, Flora felt a surge of emotion. She looked at the glinting diamond, symbolizing Tom’s sincerity. They stared into each other’s eyes, and the world disappeared.

Charles’ protests faded into the background until he stomped away. Flora and Tom drew closer. Their gazes locked, and without a word, they leaned into each other, their lips meeting fervently. This kiss was much different than the earlier one. Electricity crinkled between them, and they both knew it was more than just chemistry or attraction.

As they pulled away, their eyes met as their breaths moved their chests in tandem. A silent understanding passed between them. We’ll be free as long as we’re together, Flora thought.

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A young, reserved woman has started a new chapter in her life by going to university. The lady came out of her shell by making new friends until she learned she had more in common with one person she had just befriended, leaving them both “speechless.” Here’s the full story.