No Return After Goodbye

I stood there, frozen. It took me a while before I noticed the driver Dwayne Elledge had arranged waiting in the distance. When I finally spoke, my voice came out cold. "Brandon, stay away from me."The driver stepped out to open the door for me, but before I could take more than two steps, Brandon grabbed my wrist hard.His eyes were bloodshot, the anger in them refusing to fade."Jocelyn, even if I really had died, would you seriously get engaged to someone else after just three years? Doesn't that count as betrayal?"Alanna walked up beside me, all calm and composed, and took my hand like we were friends. She glanced the driver up and down, then sighed like she felt sorry for me. "Brandon, Jocelyn must've had a hard time these past three years. Otherwise, she wouldn't have ended up with a poor driver. And honestly, it's been three years. If she couldn't stand being alone, that's normal. You should just let it go."The veins on Brandon's forehead bulged instantly. He shot me

I was dragged into the restroom like dead weight, my whole body reeking of urine.Alanna let out a cold laugh beside me, then tilted my chin up with a mocking look."Every time I see your face, it makes me want to throw up."I glared at her, but the next second, her hand cracked across my face. The sting burned hot, my cheek instantly flushing red.She leaned in closer, voice low and cruel. "What do you think would happen if Brandon walked in and saw you messing around with other men in here? Do you think he'd feel disgusted every time he saw your face after that?"Fear shot through me. Looking at the expression on her face, I knew she meant every word.I collapsed to the floor, my voice breaking as I begged, "I'm already engaged to the eldest son of the Elledges. I don't love Brandon anymore."She ignored me completely, her smile bright as she gestured behind her. Two large men stepped forward."Only if you're truly ruined will Brandon finally give up on you. Oh, and I forgo

Brandon stood there, frozen. For the first time, I saw shock and hurt in his eyes. His hand trembled as he stepped closer, prying my hand out of Dwayne's grip. "What did you just say? Is our child really gone?"The bloody and chaotic memory of that day flashed through my mind. My eyes burned.There was a time he would wrap his arms around my belly, smiling as he said, "If it's a boy, we'll name him Ethan. If it's a girl, Lily."When they took the baby from me, everything had already been fully formed.A quiet sob slipped out, but my voice stayed cold. "It was a girl, Brandon. Do you regret it?"I met his shattered gaze.Three years of grief I had never spoken out loud. Now that it was finally out, it felt hollow, as if the truth had lost its weight.His throat shook as he forced the words out, one by one. "I don't believe you! You're lying to me, right? This is just something you made up so you can be with Dwayne, isn't it?"There was a stubborn edge in his face.Whether he

On the day of the wedding, I stood in the hotel dressing room, checking my veil one last time.Suddenly, noise broke out in the hallway. Brandon rushed in, dark circles under his eyes, something shattered flickering in his gaze.I kept my face cold and pretended not to see him, but he grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the dressing room.Ignoring my struggle, he forced the words out, his jaw tight. "Jocelyn, I was wrong. I've already taken care of Alanna's pregnancy and sent her to a psychiatric hospital. I'm begging you. Don't marry another man."Seeing him like this, I let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Can't you see? I'm marrying Dwayne today. If you can't stand the idea of me marrying someone else, then what about the three years you disappeared? You faked your death and left me behind without a second thought."Even after everything I said, he just stared at me, as if he hadn't heard a word. He pulled me into his arms, gripping me tightly despite my struggle."Please fo