CHAPTER 2

EUDORA

Already dressed for work, I grabbed my purse and headed downstairs with the plan to grab a quick breakfast before leaving, but I ran into mum in the hallway instead.

“You’re going to work?”

Obviously. “Yes.”

She folded her arms, looking at me like I was doing something foolish. “The wedding date has been fixed for next month. I don’t think you should be stressing yourself with work. We don’t want you looking like a panda on your wedding day. People will talk.”

I blinked.

Her words barely registered except for one part.

“The wedding date has been fixed?” I repeated slowly. I didn’t even agree to the wedding.

“And I already took the liberty of informing your boss. You’ll be taking three months off. For the wedding and your honeymoon.”

For a second, I thought I misheard her. My jaw fell open. “You did what?”

“I didn’t stutter,” she said flatly, already turning away. “Go back inside and change.” She started walking off.

“I never agreed to marrying Desmond,” I said under my breath.

She stopped, then slowly turned around to face me.

“He’s clearly marrying me out of spite,” I added.

“And that,” she spat, stepping toward me again, “is too much punishment for your crime?”

My breath caught.

“After what you did to your sister,” she continued, “our only hope of escaping this middle-class life… you think being trapped in a loveless marriage with money, comfort, everything you could ever need is too much punishment?”

She scoffed.

“For almost killing your sister and driving her away?”

Being blamed for what happened to my sister wasn’t entirely unfair.

I didn’t hit her on purpose… but I still hit her.

And it cost her everything.

Her ability to walk. Her future.

And now, from what Desmond said last week, maybe even her will to live.

“You should have at least given me time to think about this,” I said quietly. “About the marriage.”

“It’s not a proposal,” Mum retorted. “The Nelsons have agreed to fund your father’s project after the wedding. Something your sister was going to do before you… before you left her crippled.”

I lowered my gaze, swallowing the lump in my throat.

She was never going to let me forget.

Not now. Not ever.

“And what about my job?” I asked after a moment, trying to steady my voice. “Taking three months off like that could cost me my position at the office.”

She rolled her eyes. “Then you should speak to Desmond about it. That was his doing, not mine.”

A dry laugh slipped out of me. “Of course it was.”

So that was why my boss approved it so easily.

Who would say no to the Nelsons?

“Desmond said he’s only marrying you because he owes your sister,” she said. “She saved his life years ago. And since she’s not here for him to repay that debt…” She paused, her lips pressing into a thin line.

“He’s going to repay it by marrying you.”

I almost laughed.

The whole thing sounded so absurd.

“And you believe him?”

Mum only shrugged. “As long as it gets you out of my sight,” she said carelessly. “Seeing you every day only reminds me of the daughter I lost.”

That shut me up. There is nothing left to say.

Exhaling heavily, I turned slowly and walked back to my room. The moment the door closed behind me, my strength gave out. I slid down against it, pulling my knees close as the tears came uncontrollably.

And I cried until there was nothing left in me.

*************

The past two weeks was hectic and enduring for me. I was told to choose the wedding gown my sister had once dreamed of wearing, I was made to pick her favorite cake flavour, strawberry, despite the fact that I am allergic to strawberry.

The decorations? Her favorite colors.

The food? Her favorite dishes. Her favorite snacks.

Everything.

It wasn’t my wedding.

It was hers.

I was just… standing in her place.

An empty shell, moving where I was told, agreeing because I didn’t have the right to refuse.

Because, in everyone’s eyes, I was the reason she wasn’t here to live those moments herself.

“Ms. Eudora?”

The voice pulled me back.

I blinked, slowly returning to the present.

The saleswoman stood in front of me, holding out a gold ring, her smile polite and patient.

“Do you like the ring?” she asked gently.

I stared at it for a moment, then tore my gaze away from the ring and looked at Desmond.

He was already watching me, impatience written all over his face.

“Well?” he hissed.

My fingers tightened slightly against my palm.

“Can we… change the ring?” I asked quietly.

Even as the words left my mouth, I knew I shouldn’t have said them. I had been warned, by him, by my parents, to agree to everything. To nod, to smile, to not make things difficult.

But this… this wasn’t something I could just ignore.

“Please give us a moment,” Desmond said to the saleswoman, his eyes never leaving mine.

She nodded politely, set the box down on the small table, and walked away.

The second we were alone, his expression darkened.

“Have you lost your mind?” he snapped. “What did I tell you? Your sister chose this ring. She loved it. So you will wear it.”

A dull ache started to build in my head.

“I’m hypersensitive to gold,” I said, trying to reason with him. “That’s why this ring won’t_”

His hand shot out, grabbing my elbow.

Hard.

He pulled me closer, his grip tight enough to hurt.

“You think I don’t know that?” he asked coldly.

I stared at him, confused and frustrated. “Then why force me to wear it?”

“It’s just rashes,” he replied dismissively. “You can take it off when you get home and use whatever ointment you need.”

His finger pointed toward the ring on the table.

“But that ring?” he continued, “you are wearing it.”