Chapter 3
As he spoke, Elliot pinched the invitation between his fingers and flung it aside.
Donna glanced at the invitation and let out a sigh. "Sorry, Faye, but I'm siding with Elliot this time. There's no photo of the bride and groom on here. It feels fake to me."
That was just because we hadn't even taken any photos yet.
Donna kept holding my hand, earnestly persuading me, "Honestly, I've always known how you feel about Elliot."
Elliot immediately looked anxious. "Donna, let me explain—"
Donna shook her head. "Elliot, you don't need to explain. I know you two have been close since childhood, so your feelings for each other are anything but ordinary."
She turned to me. "Faye, as a woman, I understand how you feel. But you can't force love. Elliot has said himself that he only sees you as a little sister.
"And now, I guess I'm like a big sister to you. So please, take my advice. Don't keep doing these things. The more you do, the more people will laugh at you."
Everyone started chiming in.
"Donna is so understanding."
"Donna is indeed from an elite family. She's got a good heart and always knows how to give Faye the best advice. Women like her are one in a million."
Donna looked at me with pity and condescension.
"Alright, Faye, come on, let's go get you out of that wedding dress," Donna said.
It was the same act again.
Every time Elliot humiliated me or put me down, Donna would always swoop in and play the saint.
As time went on, Elliot became more convinced that his girlfriend was the picture of beauty and kindness, while I was the bitter, pathetic one who made Donna shine brighter by comparison.
Just as I was about to refuse, Donna suddenly noticed the label hanging from the back of my dress.
She grabbed the label and read it out loud. "A Bulgari wedding dress? And it's this season's newest design?
"Faye, I really feel for you. You rented this dress, didn't you? You didn't even take the tag off. Honestly, you don't have to put yourself through all this."
Elliot looked even more amused, like he was enjoying the drama.
He pulled Donna into his arms, kissed her hair, and said in a doting voice, "Donna, you're too kind. Why bother talking to someone as low and shameless as Faye?"
Donna kept playing the saint, clutching Elliot's shirt and saying seriously, "Elliot, I believe Faye didn't mean any harm. It's just a girl's vanity. She'll be fine once she gets a reality check."
My face burned with embarrassment as I clenched my fists and tried to explain, "My fiancé bought this dress for me yesterday. I forgot to take the tag off, that's all."
Elliot snorted, "Yeah, keep telling those lies and maybe someone will actually buy it."
He tilted his chin at me, all casual. "Faye, if you really have a fiancé, why don't you call him out and let us see for ourselves?"
The crowd behind him jumped in right away.
"Yeah, let's see if he's real or just talk."
"Let's meet this big shot who can afford designer dresses and book out the Maybelle Hotel."
"Aren't you supposed to be getting married today? So where's your groom?"
I stood at the entrance of the city hall, with people coming and going, all stopping to stare at us, clearly enjoying the show.
Jeff, who I'd shoved aside, immediately pointed at me and started yelling for everyone to hear.
He said, "Hey, everyone, look over here. This girl tried to be the homewrecker, and after getting called out, now she's saying she's here to get married.
"Let's all see where this homewrecker's groom is."
The crowd stopped in their tracks, pointing and whispering about me, while some pulled out their phones and started filming and taking pictures like it was a show.
The early autumn wind was chilly, and I wrapped my arms around myself for warmth.
Donna rubbed her arms, and Elliot immediately took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
He shouted at me, clearly annoyed, "Faye, why don't you call your darling fiancé and tell him to get here already? If Donna catches a cold because of you, it's all your fault."
I lowered my head, feeling a chill seep from my heart all the way through my body.
Truth was, I had no clue when my fiancé would actually show up. We were basically strangers, just one brief meeting and that was it.
When nobody showed up, the crowd around me kept getting bigger.
People were jabbing their phones and cameras right up to my face, making it hard to breathe.
I kept stumbling backwards, dodging the cameras, until I crashed into someone and froze.
"Sorry, I—" I started.
Before I could get the words out, a pair of strong hands settled on my shoulders.
"No, I'm the one who should apologize." A deep voice cut in. "Sorry, babe. Got stuck in traffic, so I'm late."
His voice was low and magnetic, murmuring right behind my ear.
My heart was racing so fast I didn't even dare to look back.
The guy behind me must've sensed how stiff I was. He chuckled softly, tapped my shoulder, then stepped right in front of me, blocking me from the crowd.