Chapter Two
Flashback 9 years ago (continued)
River was disappointed with her life. She had expected Tyler to react better than he did. It only proved that he didn't feel anything for her. He was older and maybe had a girlfriend. She was just a thirteen year old kid for him.
"Start packing, your granddad needs help at Fordsville and we're going back to Montana, " said River's dad, Kevin Wilson.
"Why do we need to return back?" Asked River irritatedly.
"I've lost my job, River. The hotel is looked after well by Kennedy and Kendrick. Dad needs me at home. So we're going back," said her dad with finality in his voice.
"But all my friends are here," wailed River.
"You'll make new friends and you can keep in touch with your old friends too," said her dad, getting up from the dining table. "We're shifting the day after tomorrow. So pack your things quickly."
It was a Friday and Carmella was away at her grandparents house. She had kept her phone switched off too. River packed her stuff and by Sunday her family had boarded the flight to Great Falls, Montana. She cried all the way to Fordsville. She couldn't say goodbye to Carmella and Tyler. She felt heartbroken and devastated.
The next few years she tried her best to settle down in the small town of Fordsville but failed. After graduating from high school, she went to Huntsville, Alabama to her maternal grandparents' house to live with them. She enrolled into the Huntsville college of commerce and started her college there. She met her best friends, Carol, Julianna, Seraphina at college and life again looked worth living because of them.
End of flashback
River heaved a deep sigh as she saw the time on her clock. 12 o'clock midnight. She still couldn't get a wink of sleep. Tomorrow, a new chapter in her life will start. She would join their hotel in Las Vegas and start her professional life.
She remembered the time two years ago when she had arrived here at Las Vegas for a short weekend trip from college with her college friends. Carol got abducted and was married overnight which made them extend their holiday. She had met Carmella and Tyler then. She wished that she never met them again.
Flashback 2 years back
River excitedly rang the doorbell at Carmella's house. It had been nearly seven long years since she saw her last. Did she remember her? The door was opened by a maid who directed her to a reception room. After five minutes, Carmella came out looking breathtakingly beautiful. She had grown up into a beautiful woman of twenty. Her eyes took in River and she gasped in surprise.
"River, is that you?" She gasped.
"Yes Carmella, I was here on a short trip with friends. So, thought of catching up," answered River.
"My God, you look exquisitely beautiful. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw you. You've grown girl. I would die to marry you if I were a guy, " said Carmella, with admiration in her eyes.
"So have you Carmel," she said, smiling.
"Come inside, " she said, holding her hand and leading her to the living room. "You've got to stay the night. We need to catch up."
River agreed. She needed to see Tyler. They sat and chatted for a long time. Carmella was in love with her boyfriend and planning to get married to him after completing her studies. River was glad that she had found her happiness.
Carmella's parents met her and warmly welcomed her back to Vegas. They had always liked her just as much as she liked them. Her mom chatted with her for a long time.
They ate delicious appetizers that Carmella's mom asked their cook to make for them. By evening, River was disappointed as she didn't see Tyler.
"I'll have to return back to the apartment. My friend Sera's alone there and she's very naive," said River, getting up.
The main door opened and Tyler walked in, looking dashing in a black suit. He might have returned from work. Her face brightened up at the sight of him. He froze upon seeing her.
"Honey, why did you stop?" Said a nasal voice of a tall, beautiful woman with jet black hair. She was caked with makeup and wore branded expensive clothes. Her hand was possessively holding onto Tyler's as they walked inside.
"Hello, who may you be?" She asked, glaring at River.
"This is my best friend, River. Riv, this is Meredith, Tyler's wife," introduced Carmella, oblivious of the shock that River might have received. River felt her heart shatter into a million pieces. Her Tyler was married? He wasn't hers anymore to even dream about!
She couldn't look Tyler in the eye. She was on the verge of tears. Carmella pulled her along to her room. "Let's go upstairs, " she said. Carmella ordered pizza for dinner and the two friends stayed in their room and watched a movie and chatted and ate pizza.
River was glad that she didn't need to face Tyler and his wife anymore. The whole night she stayed awake with tears in her eyes and left early the next morning, back to the apartment where she was staying.
She broke down uncontrollably in her room. Even Sera failed to console her. The last ray of hope she had was snatched away from her and she didn't know how to move on.
Three days later she was invited to dinner at Carmella's house. She didn't want to attend but she couldn't say no to Carmella's mom who invited her. So she wore whatever she could get hold of and went to attend the dinner.
The entire family was present. Tyler and his wife sat opposite her and Carmella. His wife fed him pieces of food every now and then as he looked in her direction quite frequently. River didn't look at him. Her heart broke seeing him with his wife and she just needed to get away. His wife kissed his lips every now and then much to River's discomfort.
She went to the washroom after dinner. The truth was she had just toyed with her food. She was too choked with emotions to swallow food down her throat. She would make up some excuse and make her escape.
She came out of the washroom thinking about an excuse. She didn't see Tyler standing in front of her. She bumped into him and froze with shock. Did he follow her to the washroom?
His arm steadied her. She put some distance between themselves and looked down at her hands. "How have you been, River?" He asked her, staring at her with sadness in his eyes.
"Fine, I'm good," she mumbled and tried to escape,"Excuse me please. I need to get back." He didn't budge an inch.
"I I River, it's not what you think," he started but River had no wish to discuss anything with him. She didn't need anyone's pity. She could live with her unrequited love. She couldn't move on, so she wouldn't.
"Congratulations Tyler. Be happy," she whispered and went back to the living room.
She thanked Carmella's parents, hugged Carmella and excused herself, leaving the house maybe forever. She wouldn't return, ever. With Carmella getting married this house didn't mean a thing to her.
River returned back to Huntsville with her friend Sera. After a few days they discovered that Sera was pregnant with River's friend Zachary's baby. Zachary was already engaged. Sera's parents had thrown her out of their house and River took her back to Fordsville with her.
The next two years they spent studying and working at Fordsville. Sera's baby boy, Zion was born and River became very close to him. She hadn't forgotten Tyler and she didn't want to. She was still stuck with her unrequited love, in her lonely world.
She was bored of the monotonous work at Fordsville, so when Zachary came to get his family and clear misunderstandings and take them back with him to Vegas, she too accompanied them back.
She stayed at Russell's house in Las Vegas and eventually decided to join their hotel business.
End of flashback
