Chapter 4

I was able to collect the bridal gown from the seamstress on time, and then I made my way back to Elite Oak Resort in order to keep the promise that I had made to Mrs. Cha. She insisted on seeing me in my wedding dress. At least I can try on the dress and see how I would have looked as a bride if the wedding had gone ahead. My desire of getting married has been postponed for a few more years, and there is a possibility that it will never come true. The odds are increasing that I will become a spinster who doesn't give a crap and spends her days playing with her cats. As I refuse to get married without love.

The housekeeping room remained unaltered from when I left, but the feelings I had then and now couldn't be more different. Mrs. Cha's porcelain cups still sat on the table next to the untouched cookies.

I dug a hole in my heart, hoping that if I buried the grief there, I might forget about it. I put on the wedding dress and sat there, still, in the time capsule, staring blankly at myself in the mirror.

'Zara, Zara, are you okay?' A distant voice got louder and more distinct, rousing me from my trance. I turned around and saw Mrs. cha seated next to me. As I sobbed uncontrollably into her arms and recounted the events of my ordeal, she stared at me in utter bewilderment.

She went to her cupboard, pulled out a bottle of her finest aged brandy, poured it into a cup, and said in a low voice, 'Here, celebrate; God has spared your soul. Do you really want to waste another day on that moron?'

Taking a sip, I looked at myself in the mirror, where I saw a woman rapidly descending into self-doubt: eyes hazel in the centre and redness encircling them; worn-out mauve lipstick on my dry lips; dark, thick hair falling upon her chest; and the look of a defeated woman who only ever wanted was to belong.

I started to get more and more drunk as the night wore on and it got quieter. If only I could enjoy my life to the fullest and unwind tonight because I know that tomorrow will be the same struggle and bustle.

My replacement will begin working here at Elite Oaks tomorrow, as I had already resigned from my position here. I'm unemployed and now responsible for repaying the wedding loan.

Why in the world did I give up everything I had here to go back to my hometown for that buffoon? I was more angry with myself than I was at him when I finally realised what I'd done.

'What can I do, Mrs. Cha, to make myself feel good and happy?' I moaned in a slurred voice.

'Would you like to spend the night in the Sterling Suite?'

My pupils dilated and a grin went across my face; I was excited but quickly reined it in because I knew it was impossible. Then, with a smirk, I diverted my gaze.

'Zara, I'm serious about this if you want to,' Mrs. Cha remarked with much elation.

‘How? You know I can't afford it, will you pay for it?' I asked.

'No way in hell do I have that type of cash, but I do have the key. The resort has over 200 rooms, and since half of them are empty, no one will know if you slip in for a few hours and then leave again in the early morning. Mr.Sherman Colton left a while ago. Are you interested?' Her eyes were dazzling and beady, with a tinge of mischief, while she waited for my reaction.

'Let's do it, fuck it, it's only one life, darling,' With a burst of energy, I exclaimed it and got to my feet.

Still dressed in my bridal gown, I was shining brilliantly enough to attract the attention of the entire globe. Inconspicuously, we found our way to the Sterling Suites. My excitement was reignited as soon as the door was opened and I inhaled the comforting aroma of lemon blossom and neroli. Mrs. Cha left, saying she'd be back in the morning.

The impeccable sterling suite was breathtaking, but despite frequent visits, I never spent enough time in it to appreciate its splendour fully.

I did a first-ever bridal dress twirl in front of every mirror in the Sterling suite. I was complimenting myself and finding beauty in my imperfections. I certainly wasn't the most stunning of women, but I wasn't the worst, either.

I trawled through the hotel's minibar in search of pricey liquor and poured some of it into a crystal glass. Lying on the master bed, I propped up my woozy, alcoholic head with one hand while holding the glass with the other.

My wedding dress enveloped me in softness and beauty like a lovely cloud. The soft, silky texture of the master bedroom's new bedding was heaven. When I took in the suite's luxuries, I pondered the amount of work it must take to live in such luxury. Perhaps some people are handed down wealth from generation to generation and don't have to work as hard as the rest of us. I inherited nothing but a bunch of used clothes and dinnerware. But I value them just as much. But a little bit of money would have been helpful.

Stress about the future and concerns about money were beginning to set in. Before I was completely submerged. I pulled myself together and looked out over the spacious balcony, which was surrounded by railings made of transparent fibre.

The view was breathtaking; I could see the lake and the woodland illuminated by the full moon. There was a dreamlike quality to everything. I laid my head down and went to sleep like a child, unconcerned about anything.

'Excuse me, hello, miss?' a gravelly, calm, but equally silky male voice suddenly roused me from sleep.