Michaela headed to Casa Labia restaurant in Muizenberg. When she got there Louise was already seated and had ordered a drink.

“Hi Louise, my apologies for African time,” she said sitting down.

“No problem. So are you done drafting the guest list yet because you need to send out invitations soon?” she asked.

“Isaac is working on them so that we can get them out tomorrow,” she said forcing a smile.

It was too soon to tell Louise that maybe the wedding wasn’t going to happen. She was still in shock and didn’t know how to act upon her dad’s confession. Louise and her covered a lot of planning about the wedding.

Louise had fascinating and classic ideas on what the wedding should be like. She was going to meet her again with Isaac the following day. They ate in silence enjoying the chicken curry. Then Michaela drove back home.

Getting married to her fiancé would make her father happy but not her. She was glad when she got back home to escape from the wedding plans. Lying to Louise had drained her. At this moment in life she wanted time to herself to think things through and decide what she wanted. That night she tossed and turned in bed and struggled to sleep.

The following morning she took a shower and drove to Isaac’s place in Lakeside. His place seemed very quiet and she thought there was no one at home, until she tried the door and it opened. She stepped inside.

“Isaac, are you home?” she shouted going from one room to the other.

She could hear a female voice coming from her fiancé’s room and wondered who would be visiting him at that time. To her shock, when she opened the bedroom door she saw Isaac holding and kissing a tall blonde woman. When he saw Michaela he pulled away from the lady. Michaela turned and slammed the door. She rushed downstairs.

She could not understand why the guy she had loved for the past three years had betrayed everything they shared. Was it because she was too blinded by his romantic nature that she couldn’t see his real self? She needed some time to think things through away from her fiancé. Taking a walk along Zandvlei wouldn’t be such a bad idea because driving in this state didn’t seem right.

The vlei was peaceful. She was welcomed by whistling birds and the sweet scent of flowers that surrounded the edges of the water. The bench she was sitting on was overlooking the water. It was a very peaceful place for anyone who needed to be alone.

Michaela was lost in thought. She never heard footsteps behind her, until she felt someone touch her shoulders. She jumped with fright and saw Isaac standing there.

“We have nothing to talk about, just go and be with her!” she snapped at him.

“Please let me explain Michaela, because you got it all wrong,” said Isaac joining her on the bench. He looked stressed, but she guessed that’s what men did when caught in the act.

“How am I supposed to believe anything that comes from your mouth now? To think that we were getting married in two weeks’ time,” she stared fiercely at him.

At that moment she felt like a fool because she had resisted a guy that truly loved her only to witness Isaac’s infidelity.

“Do I have ‘Easy to hurt’ written all over me? For four years l’ve been with you based on a lie, why couldn’t you convince your dad to assist my dad without me being part of it,” she asked, “To think that regardless of all that l was willing to put that behind me, until l saw you with that woman.” Her eyes blurred with tears, but she wasn’t going to shed one tear in front of him. She had shed enough tears that weekend.

“I don’t have any excuse for my behavior, but please forgive me,” he pleaded, “yes our parents had an agreement, but l love you.”

He came very close to her and took her right hand. She moved away from him. Michaela slowly took off the engagement ring from her left finger and gave it to him.

“Don’t act out of anger love, think this through and tomorrow you’ll be fine,” he said.

“No Isaac, this is goodbye and the lies have to stop,” she continued, “an arranged marriage would never work for me because l’ll never be happy in it. I’m in love with someone else. That woman has saved us from a loveless marriage.”

She slowly walked to her car and sat there for a while before she headed back home. Isaac was still sitting on the bench. When she got home Irene was already preparing supper.

“Kunjani ntombi, kwenzenjani ngathi ajabuli namhlanje?” she asked, worried.

“Don’t worry dear. I’m okay, it will all pass,” she said giving her a quick smile.

Irene came to sit next to her. She noticed that the diamond ring was gone. “What happened? Where is it?” she asked.

“I returned it to the owner. I am not getting married to Isaac anymore dear because the engagement was based on lies,” she said calmly.

“Tell me what has been going on all this while, since l was away for the weekend?” Irene asked with concern. “The last time l checked l was going to be the maid of honor.”

“The whole thing was a set up by my Dad,” she said and could feel her eyes becoming teary again. “He knew that he had to marry me for his dad to bail out my dad.”

“I’m really sorry to hear this Michaela,” Irene said patting her shoulder, “It was my fault also because l thought Isaac was a good guy and wanted you two to be happy. Bengingazi ukuthi unamanga kanje.”

“Sengilambile mina,” she changed the subject, “Can l dish up for myself?”

“I know of a very good psychologist who provides the best counseling ever and she doesn’t charge much for her service,” lrene suggested.

“I shrink ayikwazi ukulungisa lento… nothing can be undone,” Michaela said dismissively and went to her room.

***

Let’s chat: How do you this will affect her relationship with her parents?