Chapter 4

The living room was packed with friends and relatives, all drinking and talking.

When Emma saw me come downstairs in wrinkled pajamas, she frowned.

"Did you forget the wedding rehearsal is today? My parents have been here forever, and you're seriously coming down looking like that?"

Everyone turned to stare at me. Some looked judgmental, while others barely bothered to hide their amusement.

Their expressions said it all.

What kind of groom showed up to his own wedding rehearsal dressed like this?

Emma's face tightened with embarrassment. "Go upstairs and change. At least make yourself look presentable. My whole family is here, and you're the groom."

Meanwhile, Kevin stood there in a crisp white suit, looking more like the groom than I did.

I ignored Emma's tone and was just about to use the opportunity to call off the engagement in front of everyone.

But Kevin quickly came over and pulled me toward someone. "It's a big day, so I thought I'd invite your dad to celebrate with us. You don't mind, do you, Scott?"

The second I looked up, my heart nearly stopped.

Standing in front of me was Joel, the man who had beaten my mother to death right in front of me. His voice sent a chill straight through me.

"What, son? You really thought you could get married without inviting your own father? I had to congratulate you myself."

Fear and hatred hit me all at once.

Kevin leaned closer, barely able to hide his excitement.

"I heard he beat your mom to death, and they never even found her body. And now here you are, about to marry the woman you love. Figured a day like this wouldn't be complete without family, right?"

I stared at the man who had haunted my nightmares for years, my vision burning with rage. "How do you know about that?"

My voice shook with fury, and I must have looked ready to snap.

Kevin glanced at Emma, who still had no idea what was happening.

"She told me about it once after we had a fight, and I got pretty worked up. Guess she thought hearing what you'd been through would make my problems seem smaller. Hey, Scott, don't look at me like that…"

I punched him square in the face.

The next second, Emma shoved me back with all her strength.

"Scott, what the hell is wrong with you? Kevin invited your dad because he thought you'd want him here, and this is how you thank him? Apologize now!"

Emma stepped between us. Kevin stood behind her with a smug look on his face, like he knew he had already won.

The whole thing was so ridiculous that I suddenly started laughing.

I trusted Emma with the ugliest, most painful parts of my past. She turned them into a story to make her childhood friend feel better about his own problems.

Under her stunned gaze, I said each word slowly and clearly.

"Not a chance. Emma, we're done."

Her expression darkened instantly, disbelief flashing across her face.

I ignored her. I went upstairs, grabbed my suitcase, and slipped out the back door.

There was nothing left to say.

Third-person POV

An hour before the wedding, Emma pounded impatiently on the dressing room door backstage.

"That's enough, Scott! We're not at home, and this isn't the time to make a scene. Everyone's waiting on us."

A second later, the door flew open.

But the groom who stormed out was a complete stranger.

"What the hell are you banging on my door for? You've got the wrong room."

Emma stood there speechless as the venue manager hurried over, nearly out of breath.

"Ms. Marshall, I'm so sorry. I completely forgot to tell you. Mr. Gray canceled the reservation yesterday."