Chapter 2

For a split second, Hunter looked shocked, and then his face twisted with rage.

He shoved me away. "Elowyn, you think I'm being too nice to you, huh?"

I stumbled back, slammed into the corner of the table, and doubled over from the pain.

Lilah rushed over, panicked, and shoved Hunter. "What the hell are you doing? Hunter, if anything happens to Elowyn, I swear I won't let you off."

She hurried to my side, helping me up and sighing. "Elowyn, can't you stop being so stubborn? Hunter cares about you. If you keep acting out, you'll blow up everything."

"I never wanted to be his wife. I was messing around. It's just a guy, right? We've always shared everything since we were kids. Are you going to throw all that away over this?"

Her tone was the same as when she used to comfort me. But now, looking at her, all I felt was a cold chill running down my spine.

I'd treated her as my best friend for years, and now she was telling me, straight-faced, that she was totally fine with sharing a man with me, like it was no different from sharing clothes when we were kids.

I couldn't take it anymore. I jerked my hand away from her and screamed, "Get out. Lilah, you're as disgusting as he is."

Lilah's smile froze, her face darkening bit by bit.

She stood up, cold and distant. "You always said everything of yours was mine, but now I see. A guy means more to you than I do.

"Elowyn, you're so ungrateful. If Hunter wasn't with me, he'd be with someone else. So, why can't that someone else be me, your best friend?"

I was shaking all over, barely able to stop myself from gagging.

My mom's eyes were red with worry as she pulled me into her arms and helped me up. "Come on, let's go home. You can't be with a man like him. Even if you don't care about yourself, I still care about you."

I staggered to my feet and headed for the door.

Hunter called out behind me, still full of himself. "Elowyn, you better think this through. Once you walk out that door, don't think about coming back.

"You're not getting any younger. Everyone knows I've been playing you for five years. Good luck finding someone else after this."

I paused, not bothering to turn around. "Hunter, do you think you are the only man on earth? That I have no choice but you?"

He sneered, "Let me give you some advice. Don't say things you can't take back, or you will be humiliating yourself the day you end up begging me to take you back."

I pressed my lips together, gripped my mom's hand tight, and walked out the door.

He had no clue that I was never coming back.

*****

As we were about to get in the car, Mom tripped, and her phone came tumbling out of her pocket.

The screen was still glowing.

I bent down, picked it up, and was about to hand it over.

She hurriedly snatched it back, tapped the screen off, shoved it into her pocket, and forced a nervous smile. "I'm fine, old bones acting up."

I looked up suddenly, locking eyes with her.

After a moment, I managed a forced smile. "Be careful, Mom."

I helped her into the car. As soon as I turned away, my face went pale.

Cold sweat trickled down my spine.

On the ride home, she kept talking to comfort me. "Elowyn, don't worry, don't be afraid. I'll sort out the wedding stuff for you. It's not your fault. Nobody's going to blame you for anything."

When she mentioned Hunter, she sighed. "Forget it, you two aren't meant to be. He's not the kind of guy you can handle.

"Don't fret. There are tons of men out there. My daughter's so beautiful and amazing. Any guy would be lucky to have you."

I tugged the corners of my lips, but couldn't really smile.

Inside, my heart was ice cold.

We made it home.

Mom's face was full of heartbreak as she gently ushered me into the bedroom. "Don't think about anything. Have some sleep. Things will look better when you wake up. Elowyn, you still have me. I'll always be here for you.

"Let me grab some groceries. I'll make your favorite soup, okay?"

I stared at her numbly for a few seconds before nodding. "Okay."

She made sure I was settled in before she hurried out.

After three slow minutes, I heard her car start downstairs.

Quietly, I threw off the covers, got out of bed, and slipped out of the room.

I flagged down a cab. "Follow that car, please."

The driver nodded, keeping enough distance as we tracked my mom until we stopped in front of the hotel where I'd cancelled my wedding.

I pressed my fingers to my aching forehead, and then out of nowhere, I started laughing. 'So, it really is like this.'

My memory had always been sharp.

The moment I picked up Mom's phone, before getting in the car, I saw the text conversation flash by, clear as day. [I've got her, Hunter. Hurry and get Lilah ready for her bridal makeup.

[I don't have much to gift you two, so I'll give you a perfect wedding. After what happened today, Elowyn won't come back. I know my daughter.]

I stumbled out of the taxi, gripped a tree, and finally couldn't hold back. I vomited on the curb.

'This is my mom. My own mother,' I thought.

She turned on me for two outsiders, putting on a whole performance right in front of me.

She used my love for her and my care as her daughter to hand over my entire wedding to someone else.

I could let go of a man like Hunter, but how could Mom do this to me, for them?