Chapter 3

I got in a taxi and gave the address.

The driver looked back at the shabby neighborhood and said with a knowing expression:

"That's quite a move you're making."

I glanced out the window briefly, then lowered my head to reply to messages.

"Yeah, moving in with my fiancé to prepare for the wedding."

"Well, congratulations! People who live in that area are all big shots."

Without responding further, I revised the ceremony schedule the wedding coordinator sent me and forwarded it out.

After getting out of the car, I dragged my suitcase through the villa district for a while.

Suddenly, angry shouting and screeching brakes came from behind me.

"Billson, how did you find out I live here? Are you investigating me?"

Seeing my suitcase made him even angrier.

"You actually have the nerve to show up at my parents' door demanding they acknowledge you? Are you crazy!"

I shook my head.

"No, I didn't know you lived here."

His face darkened inch by inch as he grabbed my wrist and dragged me toward the car.

"Stop pretending! I never realized you were this calculating before!"

I couldn't help but laugh.

"Before you said I was stupid, now you say I'm calculating. Hendley, what exactly am I in your eyes?"

The moment the car door closed, he pinned me against the window and kissed me.

A bloody tearing at lips and teeth, thick with the taste of rust.

He lowered his eyes.

"Billson, you're the person I like."

"But marriage takes time. At least, I need to wait until Cruz gets married first. I need to make sure she's happy..."

I laughed through my tears, which dripped onto his fingers.

"I can't wait."

The first moment I got the license, I told Grandma.

The old woman's spirits lifted considerably. She was looking forward to attending my wedding.

Now what? Should I tell her...

Her granddaughter was played like a dog for seven years?

Seeing I wouldn't back down, he grew angry and punched the window beside my ear, making the glass vibrate.

"Billson, no wonder your parents didn't want you! Who could stand your personality!"

"You want a wedding? Can you even invite a single person on your side?"

My chest rose and fell with rapid breathing.

Once, this man had held me, kissing each of my scars.

"Billson, it's not your fault. You did nothing wrong."

"Don't think about those people who hurt and abandoned you. Think about me, think about our future."

I slapped him hard across the face.

"Get the hell away from me!"

His eyes darkened as he opened the car door and pushed me out.

"Don't know what's good for you. Fine, then we're breaking up!"

I fell to the ground. His wheel nearly ran over my fingers.

I chased after him a few steps, stumbling and falling again, shouting his name over and over.

Hendley stared at the rearview mirror and sneered. "You never say what you mean."

The sports car didn't slow down at all.

He was determined to punish me, to make me give in.

But I just wanted my suitcase back—my ID documents were inside.

I needed them to get the marriage license tomorrow.