Chapter 2

Theodore hesitated for a beat, clearly torn.

Just then, Nicole burst out laughing, completely unapologetic. "Oh, Mer, that's rich. If you've got nothing to hide, why are you so desperate to get Theodore to defend you?"

Her heels clicked against the floor as she crossed the room before stopping in front of me.

"You're not seriously going to deny you were at the gynecologist's on the 15th of last month, are you?" she drawled, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Swear you weren't there, and I'll get down on my knees and apologize to you right here."

Suddenly, every eye in the room was on me.

The hesitation in Theodore's eyes vanished, replaced by fury and humiliation.

"Meredith, answer her!"

He pointed at me, his voice trembling as he demanded, "Were you at the OB-GYN clinic at First General Hospital on the 15th or not?"

I met his gaze and replied calmly, "I was there."

Once again, murmurs swept through the room.

My parents were beside themselves with worry. Tears welled up in Mom's eyes as she tried to rush to me, but several spiteful relatives held her back.

"Meredith was there to have an ovarian cyst removed! It had nothing to do with what you're all implying!" Mom cried out in despair.

Yet, that only made Nicole laugh harder. She doubled over, laughing so hard that she was nearly in tears.

"Yeah, Mrs. Patterson's absolutely right. Meredith had an ovarian cyst removed."

Then, she turned to the crowd, her smile innocent. "But Mrs. Patterson, why would some random man need to sign for an ovarian cyst removal? Unless… Oh, never mind. I think we all understand."

In the next instant, Alice came charging toward me.

She pointed at me and started laying into me. "You shameless liar! And you're still claiming it was an ovarian cyst? Did you really think we'd just let someone like you marry into this family?"

Theodore, too, snapped. He ripped the boutonniere from his lapel, hurled it at my face, and yelled, "Meredith, you always pretended you were so innocent. And behind my back, you were sleeping with some older man? I'm so disappointed in you!"

I stared at the boutonniere on the floor. Whatever hope I'd been clinging to finally died.

Fine. Let them believe Nicole's lies. They had no idea what was coming.

Theodore went on, "The proof is right there! You admitted you went to the gynecologist's. What more is there to say? I'd rather spend the rest of my life single than marry a woman like you!"

"Fine," I said simply.

I reached up and pulled off my veil. "If this is what your family is willing to believe, fine. The wedding's off."

Without missing a beat, Alice planted her hands on her hips and spat, "Call it off then! But I want the 500 thousand dollars we put toward this wedding back! And you'll pay for today's reception too!"

I didn't so much as blink. I pulled out my phone, opened my banking app, and transferred the entire 500 thousand dollars back to Theodore right there in front of everyone.

"You've got your money back. From here on out, we'll have nothing to do with one another."

I had just turned to step down from the stage when Nicole grabbed my arm.

"How can you just walk away, Mer?" she asked loudly. "If you leave now, it'll only make you look guilty. "

Then, Nicole turned sharply toward another bridesmaid. "Janet, you were interning at First General Hospital last month. You were there that day, weren't you? Tell them what you saw."

So, she was bringing in a witness now?

I couldn't wait to see her own scheme blow up in her face.