Goodbye Groom, Hello Freedom

Synopsis

At our engagement party, Edward Foster showed up with a gorgeous young girl on his arm. In front of every guest, he introduced her like she was the guest of honor. "She saved my life overseas. I told her I'd take care of the rest of her days." He told me, "From now on, you'll look after her. Her likes and dislikes are on this sheet. Memorize it. "Oh, and she's pregnant. Turn the spare room into a nursery. You'll take the guest room. It'll make it easier for you to help with Sophie and the baby." The room exploded in whispers. I, the bride-to-be, spent the entire night stranded on the sidelines. Edward didn't care that the whole city was watching. He flaunted his devotion to Sophie Shaw like I was invisible. I'd finally seen enough. I turned toward the exit. His voice chased me, laced with contempt. "Claire Linwood, you begged for this engagement. Walk out now, and it's over." I hesitated, fists clenched, then kept moving. No one believed I'd actually leave. Laughter and bets floated around me. They whispered countdowns to the moment I'd crawl back and apologize. After all, for years I'd been Riverside's most notorious ride-or-die doormat. What they didn't know: I was already done with the ring. I'd come tonight to say goodbye.