Chapter 2
That night, Simon didn't come home.
He just sent me a message saying he'd be working at the studio for the next few days.
For the next few days, I didn't get any news about Simon.
But it didn't matter; Nina texted me updates about where he was.
They went hiking together, making out at sunrise.
They watched the ocean together, confiding in each other as the sun went down.
Simon even took her to Riverdale, the place I always dreamed of visiting, and they were all over each other there.
Two days before the wedding, Simon and Nina had already burned through an entire box of protection.
Only then did Simon finally decide to come home.
He brought me a pair of wedding rings he designed himself and wrapped me gently in his arms.
Simon said, "Charlotte, I'm sorry. I've been so caught up with work lately that I haven't had time for you.
"I designed these wedding rings just for you. After the wedding, I'll take you to Riverdale for our honeymoon, just like you always wanted."
I didn't bother exposing his lies. I just looked up at him, numb inside.
"I don't want to go to Riverdale anymore," I replied, my voice dull.
Simon paused, surprised, then pulled me into his arms, smiling gently.
He said, "No worries, wherever you want to go, that's where we'll go." His tone softened as he spoke. "Just thinking about marrying you in two days makes me so excited I can't sleep.
"I never thought I'd actually be able to fulfill the promise I made at eighteen, but now, at twenty-five, I finally can."
His eyes shone just like they did when he was eighteen, but my heart didn't flutter the way it used to back then.
The heavy cologne he wore, laced with a faint jasmine scent, drifted over and made my head spin.
My eyes burned, aching with the urge to cry.
Memories from the past drifted through my mind.
When I was eighteen, I lost both my parents; it was like someone just switched off the lights in my life.
That was when Simon showed up.
He crashed into my world like a ray of sunshine, dragging me out of the shadows.
He looked at me and said, "Charlotte, don't be scared. I'll always stay by your side. If your world ever goes completely dark, I'll be your light."
From then on, Simon was the new light in my life.
Just to hold onto that last bit of brightness he brought me, I had put everything on the line for Simon.
Back then, Simon's father, George Shaw, was notorious for his affairs. Aside from Simon, he had two illegitimate sons out there.
Simon's journey to inheriting the family was anything but smooth. The day before he was set to take over, those two bastards had him kidnapped. I went in alone, risking everything, and wrestled the knife away to save him.
That stunt left me with a nasty 4-inch scar right across my chest.
From then on, everyone in the circle who used to look down on me changed their tune and started calling me Simon's fiancée with newfound respect.
That was when I was truly accepted by them.
After every time we made love, Simon would stare at the scar on my chest and start crying, feeling all the pain I had gone through for him.
But for me, my heart was filled with sweetness. I saw that scar as proof of my love for him.
The more I smiled, the more Simon broke down in tears.
But now, things were different.
I lifted my hand and softly brushed my chest.
I wished this scar would just disappear.
I didn't want Simon anymore, either.