Chapter 3

"Alright, Summer, I'll make it up to you. But there's only one groom…"

Teresa paused, then brightened.

"There's a black pig out back, right? Just bring it here!"

Derick let out a laugh, looking at me with open contempt. "Perfect match for someone like her."

He snapped his fingers, and someone dragged in a filthy, foul-smelling black pig from the farm, easily over 200 pounds.

I watched the whole ridiculous scene unfold, too drained to even react. "You don't have to do this, Derick. I'm not interested in you anymore. To put it simply, I don't love you."

He froze for a second, then laughed as if I had just told a joke.

"I don't believe you. You don't love me? No way. You really think you can get over me? For five years, I told you what to do, and you did it. Not a single complaint. And now you're saying you don't love me?"

He cupped my face, gently wiping away the dirt like nothing was wrong.

"Just stay by my side and do what I say. Wouldn't that be better? We'll be happy."

He stroked my hair.

In a rare break from his usual demeanor, he said, "You're just saying that because you're jealous. Admit it, you love me. You can't leave me. If you do, I might even give you a proper place by my side. We've known each other this long. We already have that bond. I know I still have a place in your heart."

That word, bond, made my stomach turn.

"There's already someone else in my heart. There's no room for you." My voice was flat and steady, not a trace of emotion left.

He laughed again. "Then call him. Have him come pick you up. Can't do it? Then stop lying."

I didn't hesitate to speak. "He's coming."

Derick just assumed I was trying to provoke him.

"Alright, enough of that," he said. "This whole thing was just to get a rise out of you. You slept with someone else, so what did you expect? As long as you listen to me, I can still give you an even bigger wedding."

I didn't bother responding. I just wanted to get somewhere quiet and wait for Philip.

But the moment I turned, Derick grabbed me, anger flaring instantly. "Where do you think you're going?"

His grip hurt, and the words slipped out before I could stop them.

"I'm going to find someone. Let go."

Seeing that I was set on leaving, he yelled like he had lost control, "Who?! That guy you slept with?"

I stayed silent. He took it as confirmation.

As I tried to pull free and leave, he suddenly yanked my hair, his voice breaking into a shout.

"You're leaving me for some nobody? Who do you think you are? You're not going anywhere! You were the one who betrayed me first! You don't get to walk away! You hear me?"

"Let go! I'm leaving today!" I snarled.

Seeing I wouldn't back down, something in him finally snapped.

"You asked for this!"

He forced a wedding dress onto me, then shoved me down in front of the pig.

Looking down at me like I was nothing, he grabbed my chin. "Do you even know where you are? A place like this isn't for just anyone. Only people with status get in here."

Teresa chimed in, "This is the most exclusive venue in Airlington. Did you really think just anyone could walk in? That's ridiculous."

A voice cut through the air.

"Is that so? My bathroom's nicer than this place, and you're calling it exclusive? I wouldn't even step in here if I didn't have to."