Chapter 2
When I woke up, my parents were sitting by my bed, holding my hand. Both their faces were full of worry.
With a scratchy voice, I said, “I‘ m coming home. I agree now to the arranged marriage.”
I’d put them through so much over the years. Maybe it was time to stop fighting and just do what they wanted.
The wedding was set for three days later.
I didn’t know anything about the guy I was supposed to marry, and honestly, I didn’t care enough to find out.
Before I blocked Clay, I saw his post pop up on my feed
[I was blind for six years, loving someone I never should‘ ve. But well, the universe has been kind. A sweet girl saved me, and from now on, she’s the only one I’ll ever
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love.]
I skimmed past it, but my chest tightened like a thousand tiny needles pricking at me all at once.
Then his wedding invite showed up. That was already bad enough, but what really got me was realizing his wedding was on the same day–and at the same hotel–as mine.
Changing the date or venue wasn’t an option. I had no choice but to deal with it.
Still, I figured the hotel had multiple floors for different reception halls. What were the odds we’d run into each other, right?
The morning of the wedding, just as I finished my makeup, my best friend called. She‘ d gotten lost and ended up on the wrong floor, so I grabbed my gown and went to find her.
I barely made it out of the elevator when I ran smack into Clay and Melissa.
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Chapter 2
His face darkened instantly. “Damn, you really can’t let me go, so you‘ re here to crash my wedding, aren’t you?”
Melissa scoffed, then spat out, “What‘ s this, a TV drama? You think you can just steal my groom? You‘ re digging your own grave here! What makes you think you have the right to show your face here? You‘ re nothing but a desperate loser who’d hook up with a guy twice her age!”
I stood there, refusing to move, and Clay yelled, “Get lost!”
Swallowing the humiliation, I forced myself to calmly explain, “Don‘ t flatter yourself. I’m not here for you. I‘ m
looking for someone. Once I find her, I’ll leave.”
Melissa shook with belly laughter.
“Looking for someone? Are you stupid? That’s really the best excuse you could
come up with? Come on, even a kid wouldn’t believe that!”
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“I’m looking for Jewell,” I clarified. “She came to my wedding but ended up on the wrong floor!”
Melissa blinked at me like I’d just grown a second head.
“Your wedding? Today‘ s my wedding! Are you out of your mind? If you‘ re sick, go get help! Don’t stand here embarrassing yourself.”
I met her stare head–on. “Look, today is my wedding too. I’m marrying someone. else. Clifton.”
Clay froze for half a second, then, before I could react, he slapped me across the face.
“Shut your mouth! My uncle doesn’t even like women, let alone you! Don’t you dare drag him into your lies unless you wanna get yourself killed?”
I flinched, but before I could defend
myself, his hand clamped down on my
wrist like a vice.
4 lllo 1144o
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Chapter 2
“I’m not lying,” I managed to choke out. “I’m going to marry Cli-”
Before I could finish, his hand raised in the air and struck me again.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” he growled. “You show up here, lying about marrying my uncle, just to make trouble? What, you think you can scare me off with your nonsense, huh?!”
The corners of my mouth were bleeding, and it felt like they were about to split
open.
But then he grabbed my hair again, and the sharp, needle–like pain shot through my scalp with even the slightest movement.
The man who used to be so gentle with me was now nothing but cruel!
“C–Clay,” I gasped, “if you don’t believe me, call your uncle.”
He let out a bitter laugh. “What a joke! If my uncle was getting married, don‘ t you
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think I’d know? Stop acting, Lorraine! I’m sick of it already!”
My vision blurred with tears, but through the haze, I saw someone sprinting toward
- us.
It was Jewell!
She froze for a second, taking in the scene, then launched herself at Clay, clawing at
his hands.
“Y–You son of a bitch! How dare you treat Lorraine like this?! Let her go, or… or…. I’m calling the cops!”
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