Chapter 3

Chloe suddenly reached out and ripped the mask off my face.

The foundation I'd used to hide my scars had long since washed away in the river. My scarred face was laid bare for everyone to see. Jagged bite marks stretched from my forehead all the way to my chin.

A chorus of shocked gasps rippled through the room.

Even Julian instinctively took a step back. It was only a small movement, but it felt like a knife plunging straight into my heart.

In the corner, a little boy burst into tears. "Mommy, she looks scary!"

Dad's face darkened. "Get out of here this instant! Haven't you embarrassed this family enough?

"You actually had the nerve to claim credit for saving us. Audrey, have you no shame?

"And even if you were the one who saved us, so what? We love Chloe because she's kind. Thank God you're the one who ended up disfigured instead of her!"

At that moment, every last shred of hope I'd been clinging to disappeared.

Chloe's eyes reddened with tears. "Audrey, Mom and Dad both have heart problems. Please stop arguing with them."

Her fingernails dug painfully into my arm.

I winced and flung her hand away. "Don't touch me!"

Ethan immediately pulled her into his arms.

"Audrey, this is the last time I'm telling you. Stop making a scene. All we're doing today is honoring the final wish of the people who gave their lives for us. It isn't going to affect your future at all. Do you really have to be so unforgiving?"

Julian grabbed my arm next. "Apologize. Now. Do you even want to marry me anymore?

"My family already thinks you're too overbearing. If you keep bullying Chloe, they'll only hate you more. Why can't you ever think about what this does to me? Why do you always have to be so selfish?"

Even after seeing who he truly was, his words still made my heart ache.

I took a slow breath. "I'm not marrying you."

Julian frowned, impatience written all over his face. "What game are you playing now? Save it. Playing hard to get doesn't work on me."

Chloe let out a soft laugh. "She's just trying to make you chase her. Everyone in town knows she's desperate to marry Julian. She even talks about marrying him in her sleep."

I ignored her.

Instead, I began taking the things from my arms one by one.

First came the Holloway heirloom sapphire pendant Julian had once given me. He'd told me it was the symbol of the family's future matriarch.

Next was the protective charm my parents and Ethan had gone miles out of their way to get for me.

Finally, I took out an onyx pendant. It was the only thing Mason's parents had left behind. His pupils contracted sharply, and his fingers trembled.

I forced my tears back and spoke each word with absolute clarity, "I don't want this wedding anymore. I don't want this family anymore. And I don't want any of these things anymore."

Dad's face twisted with anger. "Audrey! You know this wedding is only meant to fulfill Chloe's late parents' final wish. What exactly are you throwing a tantrum over?"

Mom slammed her hand against the table. "You don't want us? Where do you think you'll go if you leave the Holloway family?

"And that protective charm isn't something you can just take off whenever you feel like it. You're an adult now. Grow up."

Furious, Ethan snatched the charm from my hands and shoved it into Chloe's. "I went through hell to get you that charm. You never deserved to have it. In a couple of days, you'll come crawling back in tears, begging us to return it.

"I'm telling you now—you've lost that chance."

With that, he wrapped an arm around Chloe and started leading her toward the bow of the bridal ship.

"Wait."

Ethan stopped, all patience finally gone. "What now?"

I clenched my jaw and looked toward the lead bridal ship moored at the dock. "That ship belongs to me. I'm getting married on it."