Chapter 3
Erica flashed a smug grin, her voice dripping with provocation.
She said, "The night you confessed to Jared and got together, he came to me drunk, hugged me all guilty, and kept apologizing.
"Kristen, you were all silly making a wish on a shooting star. Did that shooting star really deliver what you wanted?"
My wine glass wobbled in my hand, and a little red wine spilled onto the floor.
The night before I confessed to Jared, I wished upon a shooting star.
When he agreed to be with me, I told him excitedly that the shooting star really came through for me.
But he just smiled and gave my head a little pat.
I couldn't help myself. I splashed the red wine right in Erica's face.
Her expensive dress was instantly stained with a big red blotch.
As I turned to leave, Erica clutched my hand and yanked it up to her neck.
"Kristen, I'm sorry. Please don't do this to me," Erica whimpered.
I frowned and tried to pull away, but in the next instant, she suddenly collapsed backward.
The balcony railing was low, and it was just a single story drop to the ground below.
Jared's voice exploded behind me in rage. He jerked me back, and when he saw Erica passed out on the lawn, he bolted downstairs and swept her into his arms.
He stared straight at me, his gaze bloodshot, seething with hatred.
Jared raced Erica to the hospital. She broke her lower leg, but at least she survived the fall.
The next day, I was trending all over the internet.
People were calling me, the future Mrs. Shipley, a cold-hearted woman who couldn't stand anyone near Jared, saying I'd pushed his secretary off the balcony.
And all because she came to the birthday party to deliver some urgent paperwork to Jared.
Social media went wild, and Stovall Group's stock took a nosedive. My uncles pressured me to go to the hospital and apologize.
Not wanting to worry Grandpa, I went to the hospital and saw Jared, his face stubbly and his eyes bloodshot.
When Jared saw me standing at the doorway, he stormed over, wrapped his hand around my throat, and pinned me hard against the wall.
While I was struggling to breathe, Erica's voice came, weak and shaky. "Jared, don't do anything stupid."
Jared released me.
He snarled through gritted teeth, his anger barely contained. "If we weren't engaged, I'd have killed you right here and now."
Then he went over to the bed, helped Erica sit up, and started feeding her soup, careful not to spill a drop.
I watched, mockery written all over my face, and she shrank back.
"Kristen, I messed up. I really did. Please just let me off the hook. I'll end things off with Jared," Erica pleaded.
Before she could say more, Jared cut her off. "Kristen, get the hell out of here!"
My heart had gone numb ages ago. Without another word, I turned and walked out.
Paparazzi had already snapped pics of me at the hospital, and the next day, the PR team rushed out an official statement.
They labeled the whole thing as a misunderstanding, just an accident.
But nobody believed it. Someone seemed to make sure all the hate and blame kept coming straight at me.
However, in less than two days, every bit of negative press about me disappeared without a trace.
That was when I knew Raul was back.
Raul Cullen used to like me back in university, but with his family's high profile and all that complicated baggage, I turned him down.
We didn't keep in touch after that. When he found out I was engaged, he sent his congratulations through a friend.
The night I heard Jared's confession, I asked a friend for Raul's number. Honestly, I never thought he'd actually pick up.
Raul walked into the private dining room, looking sharp as hell, and I couldn't help blurting out my question, "Raul, did you make all the hot searches disappear?"
"Yeah," he nodded, locking eyes with me, dead serious.
We ate quietly together, and Raul made me realize guys could be real gentlemen after all.
*****
The next day, we got our marriage license. I showed it to Grandpa, and he was over the moon.
Grandpa had only met Jared once, and he couldn't recall what Jared looked like at all.
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Jared. He yelled, "Where the hell are you? You haven't been at the new place these last few days, have you? And your stuff's not even here.
"Kristen, dealing with all the crap you stirred up is already driving me nuts. Can you stop with the attitude for once."
I cut him off, not bothering to hide my annoyance. "What do you want?"
Jared hesitated for a second, then said, "Come back. We need to talk."
Honestly, I could've just ignored him, but if I didn't go, he'd just run to my uncles and stir up trouble.
Now that Raul and I got our marriage license, it was time to set things straight with him.
When Jared saw me, his annoyance melted away. He walked over quickly and took my wrist.
I pulled my hand back, feeling uneasy, but Jared's voice softened.
"Once we're married, I want Erica to live with us so I can take care of her. I just don't trust anyone else with her," Jared said.