Chapter 3

He stiffened, then gave a cold laugh.

"Everyone in Pine Hollow still remembers what you did for me back then. Do you honestly think any man would dare marry you?"

My fingertips trembled.

I remembered the winter when he was caught in an avalanche during a ski trip.

Three people in his group were killed instantly, and Cole went missing.

Terrified that something had happened to him, I gathered relatives and neighbors to help search.

I dug through the snow until my hands bled, only to uncover a body dressed exactly like him.

I clung to that body and screamed his name, sobbing like a madwoman in the snow.

"Audrey!"

Only when he emerged with someone supporting him and called my name did I realize the dead man was not Cole.

Afterward, the story became a joke throughout Pine Hollow.

Everyone said I was hopeless, that not even death could make me let go of Cole Bennett.

It felt as though a stone were lodged in my chest, crushing the air from my lungs.

At last, I understood.

My unconditional love had given him the confidence to hurt me again and again.

When I remained silent, the mockery on Cole's face deepened.

"You aren't a young girl like Piper anymore. Playing hard to get only makes you look ridiculous.

"You know no one else would marry you, yet you still lie to me. How do you keep a straight face?

"I'm taking Piper home. Don't wait up."

He took Piper by the hand and left.

At the doorway, he glanced back and spoke as casually as if nothing had happened.

"My mother is coming tomorrow to discuss the wedding. Clean up the house.

"Don't give her another reason to criticize you."

Piper had left snack wrappers all over the floor, yet he expected me to clean them up?

I watched him in silence.

After he left, I took my identification and other important documents and moved out of the house.

I never expected Cole to show up at Grandpa's house at noon the next day.

He looked displeased, and his tone was openly accusing.

"My mother went to the house to discuss the wedding with you. Why did you run back here?

"You didn't even clean the place. Now she dislikes you even more."

I glanced at him without emotion.

"This is my home. I can come back whenever I please.

"As for your mother... she can think whatever she wants about me."

Cole reached for my hand, then stopped in midair. "Are you still making a scene?"

He raked a frustrated hand through his hair.

"It took me forever to convince my mother to let us try getting married again in six months.

"And now you're acting like this. Do you have any respect for me at all?"

I met his gaze calmly. "I'm not making a scene.

"And I'm not marrying you."

Cole's pupils contracted.

When several relatives passed us carrying ivory wedding boxes, mockery flickered in his eyes.

"Still pretending? You say we're over and that you won't marry me, yet behind my back you're trying to pressure me into a wedding."

"What are you talking about?" I could not understand how he had reached that conclusion.

His lips curled. "You didn't take down the old wedding decorations. You had people replace them with even bigger ones.

"You even bought a new wedding gown to replace the faded one.

"You're obviously trying to force me to marry you as soon as possible."

I drew a deep breath. "I really am getting married in two days, but the groom is..."

His phone suddenly rang.

He answered, and within two seconds his voice turned panicked.

"Don't be afraid. I'm coming to get you right now."

After hanging up, he said anxiously, "Something happened to Piper. She went into the mountains alone.

"She can't find her way out. I have to go find her."

He glanced at the relatives organizing my wedding trunks and added irritably,

"Tell them to stop. I'm not coming to marry you in two days. Don't set yourself up to be humiliated again."

With that, he hurried away.

I watched his retreating back. The words "It isn't you" remained lodged in my throat, never spoken.

I turned around and saw my aunt rushing toward me in excitement.

"Audrey, the man you're marrying followed our tradition and made ten pairs of bridal shoes for you."