Chapter 2
1 just laughed.
I’d handled every damn detail of the wedding by myself.[]
Dealt with the Lyon family’s crap on my own.
Picked out the wedding rings alone.
Went to all my prenatal appointments without him.
When I faced those pitying or judgmental stares…]
I was stupid enough to think Vance was just swamped at work.
Until I scrolled past Faye’s Instagram post.
At the wedding rehearsal, in front of family and friends,
Vance said the vows I’d been dying to hear–straight to Faye.
That’s when I realized: he was only “too busy” for me.]]
Well, no more. I wouldn’t need him anymore.[]
When he saw I wasn’t crying or flipping out like usual,
Vance got this smug look in his eye, thinking I’d finally caved.[]
He started pushing:
“Come on, let’s head home. Sky really loves that dog food you make. If we’re late, Faye’ll worry.“]]
That’s when the anger I’d been holding in exploded.[]
He didn’t give a shit our wedding had been postponed six months.]
Didn’t care I’d been stuck in the rain with no food.[]
Didn’t bat an eye that I’d almost gotten run over on that overpass…]
All he cared about was whether Faye’s damn dog had been fed.]
The second I realized that, I shoved Vance away with every ounce of strength I had.
He watched me walk into the downpour like I was nuts.[]
“Elise: Stop right there!”
I ignored his yelling.
Blood from the cut on my knee mixed with the rainwater, trickling onto the ground.[]
That’s when Vance finally tried to rush over and pull me back to the car.[]
But right then, the car door popped open and Faye stepped out all delicate–like.
“Brother…”
Vance turned around on instinct, grabbed Faye, and pushed her back inside
“You get sick every time you catch a chill–how can you be out in the rain?”
The door slammed shut quick.]
Faye shot me a triumphant smile through the window.
like she was mocking how irrelevant I was.[]
But I didn’t give a damn anymore.]
I booked a room at the nearest hotel
Looking back at all the texts I’d sent Vance, updating him on everything, and his few, crappy replies…]]
Chapter 2
I had zero urge to tell him anything now.
I caught a cold from the rain and started running a fever.
Crashed out pretty quick.
But in the middle of the night, a phone call jolted me awake.
“Where the hell are you? Why aren’t you home?“[]
I was actually surprised to hear it was Vance.
It was the first time he’d ever asked where I was
But my silence ticked him off.]]
was.]
“Did you bring your stretch mark oil and prenatal vitamins?
You’re a lousy mom already–what kind of pregnant woman stays out like this? Aren’t you worried about the baby’s rep when it’s born?”
Reputation?
I almost laughed in his face.
Vance, you’ve postponed our wedding so many times–since when do you give a damn about this kid’s reputation?”
Vance went quiet for a sec, then got pissy again.]]
“Stop hounding me! I’ll handle it.“[]
I’d heard that line a million times since getting pregnant.
I knew what the Lyon family really thought.[]
Vance’s mom Nora had looked at my belly and said, “You need to take good care of yourself.“]
But she turned around and told her friends, “She’s already knocked up–what’s the rush?“]
Vance’s dad straight–up said the wedding was just a formality and told me not to sweat it.[]
As my belly got bigger, I had no choice but to suck it up and wait, too scared to leave.
Vance just let Faye keep stalling, doing whatever she wanted.]
In April, Faye said it was too cold to wear a wedding dress.
In June, she said it was too hot and would mess up her makeup.
In September, the invites finally went out.[]
My dad and other relatives walked over ten miles to the nearest bus stop, took a bus, then transferred to a train to make it to the venue.
But Faye said her dog was sick and she didn’t want any regrets, so she postponed again.
Her fiancé called off the engagement on the spot.
My dad got so pissed he ended up in the hospital.]
That was the last straw.
I looked Vance dead in the eye and said, “I canceled the wedding.“]
At the same time, I heard Faye screaming on the phone: “Vance! Sky’s foaming at the mouth!“]
Vance didn’t even listen to what I said.
That’s when I realized–0
He’d only called me because Faye’s dog hadn’t been fed.]
Half an hour later, my phone blew up with notifications
Faye had updated her Instagram:
How could anyone have the heart to hurt such a sweet dog? [broken heart emoji] Thank god my brother is taking care of him.]]]
e.0
W
A
Chapter 2
The photo showed them sitting in a couples‘ booth at a fancy restaurant.[]
The chef was on his knees feeding the dog.
The comments were full of crap about me:
[Show some kindness to your own kid while you’re pregnant! You’re the one who should be on the floor feeding the dog!]
I stopped wasting energy second–guessing myself or trying to prove anything.
I calmly blocked Faye and fell into a peaceful sleep.
