Chapter 1
The twenty–ninth time I came in to get my wedding dress waistline altered, the attendant looked real torn.
“Miss Elise, we honestly can’t take this waist in any more. You wanna try a different style maybe?“]]
I gritted my teeth and called Vance to ask about the wedding date. His voice was ice–cold, irritated.
“Look, I’m not the one who inflated like a damn balloon after pregnancy.”
“Why the hell didn’t you just order the biggest size from the get–go? What’s the point bugging me?”
“I’m waiting for Faye to find her groom so we can do a double wedding.
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Right now, she hasn’t found a decent guy yet. If you keep pushing me, you’ll ruin the poor girl’s life! I’m hanging up. Don’t bug me about this again!“]]
My heart felt like it got wrenched.[
Then I heard Faye’s sugary voice. She’s the girl the Lyon family adopted–Vance’s stepsister.
“Bro, my bridal gown matches yours perfectly.“]]
Vance forgot to hang up, and I could hear loud, mocking laughter through the line.
“Elise got knocked up before the wedding–she’d probably spread her legs for anyone–what a trash show!“]
“You still hasn’t given her a wedding gift? Haha, no biggie–she can’t run off anyway.“[]
Faye pretended to care: “Bro, you think Elise might get mad and call off the wedding?”
v.“I
Vance snorted: “She won’t. She’s been hounding me nonstop. Plus, the kid in her is six months along–she’s not gonna make a scene now.”
I looked down at my swollen belly and dialed a private number that’s just mine.[]
After hanging up, the attendant asked carefully: “Would you like to see other dresses, ma’am?”
“No, I’ll keep this one. But i need to custom–order a new groom’s tuxedo.”
Just then my phone lit up with a text from Mom:0
[Your dad tore up the invitations. He says the Banks family rep is taking a hit. Relatives are gossiping, calling you the ‘rejected bride‘ forcing this wedding.
[Eiise, I’m begging you–how long are you gonna drag this wedding out?]]]
I looked up, holding back tears. Took a deep breath and scheduled an abortion for a week later.
Not long after, the doctor called, warning me over and over about the risks of a late–term procedure.
But I didn’t flinch. “Just set it up “[]
When I left the bridal shop, a torrential downpour hit. I didn’t notice the driver who picked me up wasn’t the usual guy.]
As the car started moving, he kept slowing down then speeding up. I got so nauseous I threw up.
The driver had this gleam in his eye, all excited. I realized–this was another one of Faye’s sick pranks.[]
Ever since Vance and I got engaged, Faye’s been pushing for a joint wedding with her bro. After I got pregnant, she turned down several guys and kept postponing, even printed my pregnant pic on the invites and sent ‘em to my family’s farm back home. That triggered Dad’s stroke and landed him in the hospital. But every time, Vance took her side, telling me not to overreact.]
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I wiped the vomit off my mouth and said coldy: “Pull over.”
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“Can’t do that, ma’am. Miss Faye insisted I get you home safe.”
He ignored my protests, hit the gas hard, then slammed on the brakes. My belly smacked into the front seat with a thud. Excruciating pain shot through me.]
The driver just grinned and dumped me on the overpass. Rain was pouring down my face, blurring my vision. I fell hard into the mud.[]
Tried calling Vance, but the line was busy. So I called 911.]
Four hours later, Vance finally showed up at the police station to get me.[]
“Can you cut this out? It’s just a damn dress alteration! You had to make a scene at the precinct?“]
I stared at him, not bowing my head to apologize like I used to. He couldn’t see the bruises on my knees, the vornit on my shirt, or the rage in my eyes. All he saw was me
Way Wedding? No Way! I Wed Billionaire Childhood Pal
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wasting his time.
When I stood up, I stumbled, vision blurry. Hadn’t had a drop of water since noon.
Vance finally seemed to notice something was off. He frowned and held me up, voice softer but still lecturing:
“Since when do you let little things mess you up? You should’ve handled this on your own.”
Chapter 1
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