The Surgeon's Rejected Girlfriend

2. Promise of love

Liam

When Annie ran out of the church, it caused a huge commotion. I don't know when my Uncle David approached me and punched me in the face. I didn't defend myself because I knew I was guilty.

"How dare you humiliate my daughter like that!! I trusted you to be with her. Despite the mistake you both made, I knew she loved you and that's why I agreed to this madness. But from today on, I don't want to see you or hear from you again. You are dead to the Johnson family." He spoke with fury and hatred in his words. I can't deny that it hurt me deeply. I saw my mother and my Aunt Sam hugging each other. I just ruined a years-long friendship. I know how much my parents love Annie and I just hurt her so much.

The wedding organizers began to dismiss the guests while I remained at the front. My father approached me to observe my face. It couldn't have been that bad since he didn't comment. He walked away a bit and took Mom by the arm. She was just staring at the entrance, watching as her friends walked away with the other families close to us. Uncle Lucien was red with fury, but he refrained from coming to confront me. Uncle Steven just turned around and left with his family. What have I done? I ran my hand through my hair, trying to find a way to fix everything. But that was impossible. The damage was already done.

Dad said something, but I didn't understand him until he repeated it.

"Liam, it's time to go home." He nudged me with his arm and smiled. I know that despite everything, Dad would never judge me. But the one who was truly hurting was my mother. She was devastated.

We headed for the car. It still had the wedding decorations on it. I got into the back seat and leaned my head back. Annie's face wouldn't leave my mind. It hurt me to have caused her so much pain. I wanted to go look for her. She must be feeling awful. I sat up straight and looked ahead. Mom was crying silently. She was the most fragile of all her friends, and I knew she was feeling very sad. With what I did, I also broke her heart.

We arrived home, which looked very gloomy. Lewis and Maria had come earlier. I went up to my room and threw myself on the bed. My jaw ached a little, but nothing I couldn't handle. I closed my eyes and the only thing that came to mind was the image of that butterfly. It looked so beautiful. It really looked like an angel. At one point I felt nervous. But I found the strength to end something that wasn't right.

I sat up in bed at the sound of light knocks. I forced myself to get up, rubbing my jaw. Old Uncle David had a good punch. I remember Uncle Steven once telling us how he put him in his place when he found out what he did to Aunt Sam. Now I was tasting the same medicine.

Maria's timid figure appeared before me when I opened the door. She looked at me with wet eyes. I imagined she felt guilty about what happened. I let her in. She sobbed softly and it broke my heart.

"I'm sorry, Liam. I never should have come back. You were willing to marry Annie and because of my stupidity in reminding you of that silly childhood promise, now everything is upside down. The uncles are furious with you and Mom won't stop crying."

I approached her and took her in my arms. My sweet Maria. She wasn't to blame either. I pulled her away from me slightly so she could look at me. I wiped her tears with one of my fingers. I couldn't let her carry burdens that didn't belong to her. I should have stopped everything a long time ago. But my sense of responsibility made me go ahead with the plans, even when Annie found out everything. I asked her to cancel, but she refused. She wanted to continue even though I told her it wouldn't make her happy. And even yesterday, she still challenged me to cancel in front of everyone. But I think it's for the best. I love her very much, but I don't love her enough.

"It's not your fault. It's mine. I shouldn't have let all this go this far. Besides, now I can keep my promise. When things calm down, I'll tell everyone that you and I have been in a relationship for a long time and that we're getting married."

Maria looked at me with some doubt. I didn't see the happiness that my words were supposed to give her. I lowered my head to try to kiss her when suddenly the door burst open.

"Can someone tell me what this means!!" My mother's agitated voice boomed like a roar. I had never seen her like this before. She was furious. I turned to look at Maria and saw the terror in her eyes.

"What you're seeing, Mom. Maria and I have been a couple for a long time. Now that I'm free again and she's here, I've decided that we're going to give ourselves a chance and no one is going to stop us."

My mother quickly approached and slapped Maria. She was stunned, holding a hand to her reddened cheek.

"Mom!! How dare you hit her?" I went to my girl and hugged her. Tears wouldn't stop flowing from her eyes.

"You wretch! I opened the doors of my house to you with much love. Now I see why you insisted on coming back. You wanted to ruin my son's wedding, and you succeeded. I warned you a long time ago that I wouldn't let you take him away from the woman he loves, because yes, I'm sure you're wrong, Liam. These past months with Annie you looked happy and you're not going to fool me by saying otherwise. All it took was for this girl to come back and everything went to hell. Let me make it clear to both of you that I don't agree. If you want to be together, you can do it far away from here. I'm so disappointed in both of you. In you, Liam, whom I didn't raise this way, and in you, whom I welcomed with so much love when you were a small, helpless, and lonely girl. I brought you here to be a sister, not a homewrecker. Please, get out of here and don't come back until you realize that what you have is a mistake."

When she finished saying that, she left my room and Maria collapsed to the floor. I know how much she loves my mother. When my parents rescued her from that home where she was abused, Mom received her with much love. She always wanted a daughter and poured all that need into her.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry Liam! But I can't be with you if we hurt so many people." I helped her up and hugged her. I can't say that what my mother said didn't hurt, but the reality is that I am an adult who can make his own decisions.

"No, don't blame yourself. Go to your room and get some clothes. We'll go to my apartment while we figure out what to do."

She stood there, considering my words. She began to refuse, which told me she wouldn't go with me.

"No, I won't go. I'll talk to Dad and explain how things are. I can't disappoint them any more than this. You go, and we'll be in touch."

I sighed softly as I went to my closet to get a suitcase and pack some things. To one side, I saw the luggage my mother had prepared for my honeymoon.

I took my things and left. I don't know when I'll be able to return. If I ever return.