arnes' cousin, Ali
morning, helping set up the venue,
ce it in the designated spot. But just outside the door, she froze. He
or Sophie?" A woman's voice
sire. "No one comes close to you. I can't believ
ew those voices. With trembling
ely exposed and wrapped up with a man. H
d Lloyd. Sophie's boy
st days ago. "I want to check out your c
ng louder. "David, I love y
hrew the bouquet straight at them
k made them both
as he met Sophie's furious gaze. "Sophie, wait! You've
she slapped him hard across the ch
, completel
hed to defend him. "Sophie, wh
nstantly. Another sharp slap land
e?" Alice hissed, her shoc
Sophie had ever laid
her had been absent, and her mother vanished
, and his wife, Michelle Barnes, ha
led and entitled, convinced that everythi
Sophie as an intruder,
s, her petty thefts, and constant provocation,
ight in front of her eyes,
ried to hit back, but Sophie caught her
teach a shameless, younger co
ied footsteps pounde
going on
Michelle
nd David's lipstick-stained neck was a
"This is unbelievable! On your wedding day,
lice, but Michelle quickly pulled her clo
night! He's scarred, he hides behind a mask, and everyone
this, tears rushed
ent, he wasn't scarred. The Knights are the wealthies
blurted, pointing directly at her c
ice's meltdown with cold calm, w
ed. "Why
and. Her eyes shimmered with tears as she pleaded, "Sophie, after everything we'
ar weight of guilt pre
ad haunted her all her life, used to keep her in line,
oys, her first crush, her hard-earn
ed her to trade h
n't marry him. I'll work hard to pay you back, sure, but I won't
ened. She hadn't expected S
ll had one
whispered, "I know w
at Michelle, disbelief and a tiny
g the words hang in the air,
either marry Adrian or never see her
king awkward with Alice's l
f marrying for love, but due to David's betrayal,
nd she decided that if marriage was just a bargain,
th dirt and with crushed petals, and lifted her chin.