Chapter 1

Rachel Karen Green, young and posh, is the eldest amongst Leonard and Sandra's three daughters. She was always envied by everyone- who wouldn't want to be her?

She drove the newest SLK Mercedes Benz; she was the president of her college sorority, Kappa Kappa Delta; her body and beauty made almost every guy in campus drool… she was rich, popular and beautiful, what else would a girl desire?

Ironically, Rachel desired more. Being the obedient daughter that she was, she followed nearly everything her parents wanted her to do- like the course to take, the college to attend, the car to buy... even the person to love. (Soon to be Dr.) Barry Farber, a practicing orthodontist and a long time family friend, had his eyes on Rachel since they were kids.

Leonard and Sandra simply adored Barry. He was successful and he came from a prominent family just like them… they couldn't think of anyone better than him for their dear Rachel.

Keeping their fingers crossed, they hoped more of that friendship Barry and Rachel shared. Before long, they became a couple and just after senior year in college, Barry proposed to her. Rachel didn't really know how she felt for Barry. He provided her with security, comfort and care… could that be love?

All her hesitations weren't important anymore, what's essential is that her parents were happy for her and for themselves. In time, she knew she loved him, she just didn't know if she was IN love with him. But did that have to matter? Isn't love a growing process? Wouldn't she learn to fall in love with him in the future anyway?

Yet assured of himself, Barry already set some ground rules before their marriage. One was refusing Rachel to work because he was the man and he should provide for their family.

Sadly, Rachel couldn't argue because her parents sided with Barry on this. The whole set up was similar to Rachel's parents, Leonard was a doctor and Sandra was a housewife.

But a few months before the wedding, Rachel realized that she wasn't in love with the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. She wasn't even near to learning how to fall in love with him. And one evening, she came home to her house in Long Island drunk.

"Good evening Pearl, are my parents home?" she said to the Hispanic maid who opened the door.

"Buenas noches señorita Rachel. Your papá is still in the hospital, y tu mamá is upstairs with your hermanas." Pearl replied, still finding it hard to speak English fluently in spite of being employed in the Green household for more than 10 years.

Rachel loved her because she treated the Green children as her own. And since Rachel and her mom always clashed, Pearl was always behind her favorite whenever she needed someone to talk to.

"Gracias," she replied and climbed the stairs. Sandra, who just came out of Jill's, Rachel's 14-year old sister, room spotted Rachel swaying left and right walking towards her room.

"Rachel?" she inquired.

Rachel turned around to look at her mom, "Why hello!" she said in reply.

Sandra simply rolled her eyes, "It's the third time this week that I'm catching you drunk."

"Isn't that nice?" Rachel smiled.

"What is the matter with you?" Sandra exclaimed, showing a sense of anger.

"No mom, what's the matter with you?" Rachel snapped. As if on cue, tears started rolling down her cheeks. She turned her back to Sandra and entered her room, shutting the door really hard. She couldn't take it anymore, she didn't want to lead the life her mother did… she wasn't happy at all. Worst, how would she get out of it? How would she break her parents' hearts? How would she break Barry's? Barry's parents'? Barry's friends'? Barry… she just had to think of him all the time.

Rachel called a few of her friends as soon as she plopped down her bed; first was Mindy, and then Barbara, Kristin and Laura but none of them could help her. Laura was out on a date, Barbara was with her boyfriend, Kristen was asleep, and Mindy was out somewhere.

These times she wished she retained communication with her high school friends, especially her best friend Monica Geller. The stress of college life slowly ate their time to be with one another, and before they knew it, having a long, decent conversation over the phone was impossible. Now that Monica's based in the city after studying in a culinary college, she couldn't just knock at her door and enter her house.

Intoxicated with alcohol, tired and lonely, Rachel stared at the ceiling and waited for her eyes to give up crying and enter a world of delusion.

Suddenly, Sandra barged in with her key. She knew how Rachel hated invading her privacy but this time, she wanted to clear things up with her daughter… had she done something bad to Rachel?

Rachel sat up and looked at her mother.

Sandra, noticing how cold her daughter's stare was, slowly asked her daughter, "What happened? Did I do anything wrong?"

With much angst running through her veins, she threw back the question, "Did you do anything wrong?"

Annoyed at her daughter's reply, she raised her voice a notch and asked her again, "Yes, did I do anything wrong?"

Silence.

"Rachel, I'm trying to reach out to you here. Stop shutting me out."

"I can't marry Barry, mom."

"Why?" Shock crept in.

"I'm not happy," she quietly replied and turned away from Sandra.

With that response Sandra knew how her daughter felt… maybe because she felt it too.

"I'm sorry," her mother said approaching her and hugging her tight, "I thought this was what you wanted."

"I thought so too. But then I realized this is what you and daddy both want. I can't live a lie, mom" she looked up at her mother, "I want to work… or at least I want to be free."

The last statement made Sandra think, that was what she wanted to do all her life… to be free. Letting a tear run down her cheek, Sandra once again hugged her daughter and said, "Honey, do whatever you want. Don't think of me and your father in making decisions. If you're sure you don't want to marry Barry then tell him while it's early, and I'll talk to your father."

Rachel smiled at her mom, 'thank God she understood,' she thought to herself.

Telling Barry was one of the worst things Rachel could imagine herself ever going through. But she knew she had to do it or she would have to face a life of imprisonment.

Early morning the following day, she decided to tell him the truth… that she didn't want to marry him because she had to think first for herself. Of course Rachel had to sugarcoat the whole I'm not in love with you excuse.

And after three years of dating, she didn't know how he would take it in; Rachel didn't know how she would take it in herself but she knew she had to before things go from worse to worst.

Barry lived in a mansion as big as theirs in Northport Bay, not far from Long Island… and the short drive from her house to his didn't help in making her think.

Upon opening the door, Charles, the household butler, looked at her as if he'd seen a ghost. She smiled at him and patted his back and went straight to Barry's room, as she always did. Charles followed her telling her to stop, "Ms. Green, I believe Mr. Farber is still asleep. Would you like to wait and sit on the sofa while I wake him up?"

"Oh Charles, it's okay! I don't need to trouble you for that; I'll wake him up myself. It's just very important!"

"But Ms. Green, it's my job to-" Rachel finally stopped and turned to him,

"Charles, you never stopped me from going straight to Barry's room. Is there something going on?"

Charles immediately stuttered, "Well- Well Mrs. Farber told me that it's not right to let our guests do the work here… and I believe waking Mr. Farber up is my job."

"Let's just keep this our little secret, okay?" she winked at him and headed to Barry's room with Charles tagging along behind her. She knocked twice.

Hearing no reply, she twisted the knob and found it opened. "Bar-" she announced, only to see Barry asleep on his bed with a naked blonde woman beside him.

Barry stirred and looked up, only to see his fiancée staring at him in shock. He sat up, rubbed his eyes to see if it was really her, and looked at the woman beside him.

"I tried to tell her not to enter your room," Charles reasoned out. Barry nodded and signaled him to leave.

Rachel couldn't believe her eyes, was she dreaming? Or was he really cheating on her? The blonde woman woke up as soon as she felt Barry move in bed. To Rachel's surprise, it was none other than her best friend, Mindy.

Barry, half-naked, stood up and approached Rachel. "Rach, it's not what you think it is. We were drunk and-"

Rachel shook her head, "I can't believe I didn't see this coming. You cheated on your other girlfriend with me, how stupid was I to think that you wouldn't cheat on me too?"

Barry replied, "No Rach, believe me-"

"Believe you? Do you think I can still believe you?" she turned to Mindy, "And you of all people? My best friend?"

Mindy looked down to avoid Rachel's stare.

"I don't need this right now. I came here to tell you I'm calling the wedding off because I have to rethink some things… I guess I don't need to think anymore!" She removed the four-karat diamond engagement ring from her finger and threw it to Barry's chest, "I can't believe I actually considered marrying you!" and stormed out of his room.

Barry looked at Mindy then decided to follow Rachel, but the towel wrapped around him slowed him down. By the time he reached the main door, her car had already left.

Edited after a year... I hope you enjoyed this part. Feel free to review with your comments and suggestions :) They help me.. A LOT :)