canned the text, but her mind barely held on to the words. Names. Faces. Schedules. Guest lists. Facts about a man she didn't know and couldn't ca

e didn't bother looking up. The soft

d a pencil skirt that hugged her figure. Her expression was soft, but

e walking toward Elisa and lowerin

n the open folder in front of her - a page with a glossy phot

her mother asked gently,

barely moved

get a head

No

as if trying to ease into the con

Fi

Mrs. C

detailed breakdown of my fiancé's family tree. Notes on which fork to use and who's

mother folded her hands in her lap

oosing her words carefully, "but I j

s narrowing. "How long did we date? The f

blinked. "Se

did he

, uncertain. "These question

nly thing I know is that he's 6'4, has dark hair with hazel eyes, likes women who barely eat and ha

ud of his wealth. You kept saying he could give

ms. "And you and father were okay with that? Wi

," her mother said qui

laugh. "Then I must'v

tened, and for a moment, it looked like

quieter now, but firm. "I don't know him. And he cle

sa, p

retend. This isn't love

. "We can't cancel the wedding. It would

is pride. Or their nam

n the door. A maid s

your husband requests your presence

Jane. We'll b

other turned back to her

you want. But please, jus

n care about me. He didn't visit me. I don't

ps pressed together, and for a se

oesn't like being kept waiting." she said, almost pleading now, "J

d, her voice fla

r a moment longer, then stoo

want to go. But she also didn't want to give her father anot

distance between them enough to host a small gathering. The food had been served,

es when her father's deep voice

study th

dn't look

he name of

ano Be

have any

didn't

ed. "Elisa. I ask

nt to get ma

gh steadying himself. "I thought we'd already talked about this. I didn'

t him, defiant. "Y

ith clear venom in his voice. "You a

e hissed. "I have a mind.

em. She glanced at her husband, then

aid, "as long as it doesn't go a

now, "and you can't make me. You can send your apolo

scraping across the floor with

r father's voice, low and dange

hrow you into the street. And don't

a sto