Chapter 3

Elizabeth's POV

I got into the cab and gave the driver my destination. He glanced back at the dilapidated neighborhood before giving me a knowing wink. "Miss, you're moving somewhere much nicer, aren't you?"

After briefly looking out the window, I returned my attention to the messages on my phone. "Yeah, I'm moving in with my fiance to prepare for our wedding."

"Wow, congratulations! People living in that neighborhood are all big shots."

I didn't respond. Instead, I made a few adjustments to the itinerary sent by the wedding coordinator before forwarding it back.

After getting out of the car, I pulled my suitcase along and wandered through the gated community for a while.

Then came the sudden screech of brakes behind me, followed by an angry voice. "Elizabeth, how do you know I live here? Have you been investigating me?"

Seeing my suitcase only made Owen even more furious. "I can't believe you actually had the guts to come here and demand a title from my parents. Are you insane?"

I shook my head. "No. I didn't know you lived here."

Owen's expression darkened bit by bit. He grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the car. "Stop pretending! Since when did you become so manipulative?"

His words struck me as absurd. "Before, you said I was stupid. Now, you're calling me manipulative. Owen, what the hell am I to you?"

As soon as the car door shut, he pushed me against the window and pressed his mouth to mine. The kiss was rough, leaving a metallic taste of blood on my lips.

He lowered his gaze. "Liz, you're the one I love. But when it comes to marriage, we need to take things slowly. At the very least, I have to wait until Lou gets married first. I need to know she's truly happy…"

A soft, bitter laugh escaped me as my tears fell onto his fingers. "I can't wait."

The first thing I had done after receiving the marriage certificate was share the news with my grandmother. It gave her a second wind—she had been holding on solely to see my wedding.

And now what? Was I supposed to tell her that her granddaughter had been played for a fool for seven years?

Seeing that I wouldn't budge, Owen snapped. He slammed his fist beside my head, making the glass rattle from the impact.

"Elizabeth, it's no wonder your parents didn't want you! Who could ever tolerate a personality like yours?

"You're so desperate for a wedding, huh? Could you even get one person from your side to show up?"

My chest rose and fell in quick, uneven breaths.

There was a time when this man would hold me close, gently kissing every one of my scars.

"Liz, it's not your fault. You've done nothing wrong. Don't waste your thoughts on the people who bullied and abandoned you. Just focus on me. Think about the future we're going to build together."

I swung my hand and slapped him across the face. "Get the hell away from me!"

With a cold, grim stare, Owen yanked the door open and forced me out of the car. "Fine. If you're going to throw my kindness back in my face, then we're done!"

I crashed hard onto the pavement. His tires sped past, missing my fingers by a hair's breadth.

I ran after him, only to stumble and fall again. I screamed his name over and over.

Owen glanced into the rearview mirror and let out a cold laugh. "What a hypocrite."

The sports car didn't slow for a second. He was determined to punish me, to force me into backing down.

But all I wanted was my suitcase back. My ID was inside, and I needed it to get our marriage certificate tomorrow.