Murmurs filled the lounge as the family members present wondered what was going on. The Adkins family in the lounge who didn't know Penny wondered who she was and why she was disrupting their marriage.
David Willard frowned at this. He had warned this girl countless times not to attend the event but as always, she turned deaf ears to him.
Maybelline who stood next to Penny tried to drag her out, but Penny didn't flinch. She just stood there staring at Chris and Ariana, unable to believe these two had betrayed her.
If Ariana is Christian's wife, then what about her? What was her place in the marriage?
Ariana pinched Chris's arms, indicating he did something about this. She was not about to let Penny ruin her night. She clenched her hands into a fist.
She should never have given this fat pig the impression that she loved her. Penny was truly biting more than she could chew.
"I thought you said you got rid of her?" Ariana asked through gritted teeth.
"I did, I thought by now she must have found out I'm not her husband," Chris responded, his voice low for just Ariana to hear. Even if he was present at the bureau office with Penny, he wasn't the one married to her.
"Hurry and get rid of her." Ariana said."I'll kill you if she ruins my night Chris." Ariana would have done the deed herself, but that would mean losing her composure. Her in-laws will no longer see her as a wife material if she acts out. She knew she had to be careful.
Penny stared at both people in utter silence. She was so shocked that she couldn't speak.
"What's going on?" The murmurs and whispers continued.
"Who's that fat girl?" Another asked.
"Such audacity to try to disrupt the wedding of the century." Another whisper was heard.
"I think you've gotten everything wrong Penelope. I'm not your husband." Chris said calmly and Penny felt like she was going crazy.
"What are you talking about Chris, we got married today." She had stood beside him at the courthouse today. Felt his lips brush hers as he whispered, "You're mine now." When they signed the papers.
Why the hell was Chris doing this to her?
Why was he hell-bent on humiliating her?
"Penny, what are you talking about? Chris had been with me all afternoon." Ariana said. "Are you sure you haven't mistaken Chris for someone else?" Penny gritted her teeth at her sister's words. First, she stole her husband, and now, she was feigning innocence.
"Only you knew of I and Christian's relationship, how dare you do this Ariana," Penny said and another murmur began in the crowd again as everyone started staring at Ariana differently.
"You know we have been dating for three years, Ari." Penny continued.
"Wow, what a snake." Someone commented.
"I can't believe she would commit such an abomination. Stealing her sister's man is the height of it all." Another said and then more people started giving their opinions on the matter.
Ariana panicked as she saw the ties slowly turning in favor of her sister. She couldn't allow this. Her inlaws were already staring at her like she was some dirt.
Ari burst into tears, her voice cracking as she spoke. "Why lie against me, Penny? Why are you trying to ruin my marriage?" She cried out and Penny only smirked.
"Why would I lie? This is the marriage certificate from this afternoon. Chris is my husband." Penny raised the marriage certificate in her hands and without warning, Maybelline snatched the paper.
Her blue eyes scanned through the documents and then as if seeing something, she frowned.
"Do you take us for a fool Penny!?" Maybelline yelled. She has tried to compose herself, tried not to do anything stupid, but Penny was asking for it.
"What are you talking about?" Penny asked.
"The document is fake." Maybelline held up the document. "If you were going to fake a marriage certificate, you should have at least written his name correctly. The name here doesn't even exist!"
Penny's blood turned to ice.
That wasn't possible. She had taken this certificate herself, how could it be fake?
Hands shaking, she ripped the certificate from her mother's grasp. Her eyes darted over the names, her name was there, perfectly written. But Chris's?
The ink blurred before her eyes as she read, Osvaldo Adkins.
Her breath hitched.
Who?
Who the hell is Osvaldo Adkins?
When did she marry this man?
"What did you expect? An illiterate can never do anything right." A wave of laughter rippled through the room.
"You're already embarrassed enough, do you always have to cause a scene?" Someone asked.
"Trying to steal your sister's man with a fake name is truly embarrassing."
"Aunt May, who even invited her. Send her away before she ruins Ariana's wedding further." A relative said.
Penny felt her whole world crumble at their words. Her eyes went to Chris, but he seemed to be laughing at the insults too.
She shook her head.
She was sure of everything she said. She knows Chris so well so why was he acting like this?
Why were they treating her this way?
"But..."
"Enough!" Chris yelled and Penny pursed her lips together. "What are you doing Penelope?" He asked.
"This isn't our agreement." He started.
Their agreement? What agreement was he talking about?
"I only got close to her for my brother's sake. But she… mistook kindness for love." He said.
"Did you really think I would love you? You know I love your sister so much and was only good to you because of her." Penny felt like she was losing her mind.
Ariana's hand fluttered to her chest, her diamond engagement ring catching the light. "Are you doing this on purpose, Penny? Why are you trying to ruin my day?" Ariana cried out.
"I've been a good sister to you. Why do you keep doing this to me?" Ariana added and Chris hugged her.
"You should not get angry on this wonderful day Ari. Christian is a handsome man and above all, the richest man in Owlsgrave. He's the dream of every woman."
"Even the badly shaped ugly ones can dream too." Another relative said.
"You should have gotten rid of this pain when you had the chance to May. At least we wouldn't be facing this embarrassment now."
The insults just kept coming.
Penny didn't bother explaining anymore. There is truly no need when no one would believe her anyway.
"Guards," Maybelline called and four huge men walked into the room.
"Get this thing out of here," Maybelline ordered.
"There's no need." Penny suddenly said and started walking away. When she reached the door, she turned to Chris Adkins.
"Happy married life to you two." At that, Penny turned and walked away.
"Oh, how shameless." Someone remarked. Penny held her tears till she was in her bedroom again, and just when she was alone in the quiet space. She let the darkness swallow her as she cried.
She couldn't believe everything that had happened tonight. Her life had been a lie all this while. Chris and Ariana had been playing with her.