His Bride By Contract
And then a single clap broke it, my grandmother.
She stood, slow and steady. “Well,” she said, voice rich and sharp, “I suppose betrayal is the new bridal theme.”
The room cracked with uncomfortable laughter. Clarissa’s face faltered.
I turned, back straight, bouquet slipping from my hand.
“Enjoy your circus,” I said to them both. “You’ll need more than applause to survive the fallout.” Then I walked away.
Not from the wedding. But from them.
I found myself on the hotel balcony ten minutes later, my fists clenching together as I hit the cold rail, the skyline blurring behind my tears. My hands still smelled like roses and sugar and everything I’d planned for a future that no longer existed.
Bab Populer