Chapter 8
Sitting in the car, I watched fields of flowers blurring past and couldn’t help smiling. Turns out being loved feels totally different.
Pierce stood at the altar waiting for me, wearing a perfectly tailored suit, his gaze all soft and intense. Down below, Clark family guests wore sour expressions–pissed that the Clarks‘ only heir was marrying a farm girl.]]
But Pierce wasn’t Vance. He didn’t need anyone’s stamp of approval for his choices. He was the head of the Clark Group, who’d wrested control from relatives eyeing the family fortune after his parents died three years back.
But growing up, Pierce had been shipped off to the farm in my hometown. I was his only childhood buddy. Now, under his lead, the Clarks were booming–those who’d tried to push him around now just scowled from the sidelines.
Pierce followed my gaze, then hopped down amid gasps and marched straight up to the Clark cousin who’d been rolling her eyes at me.
“Uncle, how’s your daughter doing in rehab? Should I tell them to lay down stricter rules?”
In the dead silence, I burst out laughing. The man’s face went beet–red. No one dared badmouth me after that.[]
When I reached Pierce, he took my hand. The officiant had just asked, “Will you spend your life with him?” when a familiar shout ripped through the air:
Nope! She’s my wife!”
Everyone spun to see Vance storming in, ignoring all dignity as he charged like a madman. “Elise, how
He reached to touch my stomach, but it was flat now. Fury flashed in Vance’s eyes as he lunged
Pierce blocked him easily, sneering: “You think you can touch my wife?“[]
could you… What about the baby in your belly?!”
abdomen.]
Vance gritted his teeth, trying to rein in his rage. “She’s my wife! She was carrying my kid, I don’t know what happened-“]]
“I accompanied Elise for the procedure,” Pierce said flatly.
Before the words finished, Vance’s fist flew at Pierce. They crashed together, trading blows in a messy brawl. I didn’t stop them–Pierce had told me he’d been waiting for this chance to teach Vance a lesson.
He had awards in equestrian sports, taekwondo, and fencing, so I wasn’t worried. Minutes later, Vance was covered in blood. I stepped back, worried my dress might get stained, but Vance thought I was scared, so he stopped fighting and took Pierce’s punches like a punching bag.
ཊ ཋཋ ཋན་ཅན་འཇ་འ་བ
When he staggered to his knees, he kept staring up at me. “Elise… come home with me.” He pulled out the diamond ring I’d given back that morning. “I postponed for seven months, I know I was wrong. I promised I wouldn’t let you down today, and I showed up.” He crawled toward me.[]
But I just held up my hand, flashing the huge rock Pierce had given me. Vance went still, confusion clouding his eyes like he really couldn’t fathom why I was rejecting him. He waited, watching, expecting an explanation.[]
All I said was: “You got it wrong. I wasn’t waiting for you. This–we–ended a long time ago.
The second the words left my mouth, hurried footsteps echoed from the chapel entrance.[]
No Word I Wed Billingalza Childhood
