Chapter 3
"You don't need to come back," I said.
He frowned. "Don't say things out of anger."
I reached out and pulled the jacket zipper from his palm.
"Braiden, if you leave now, I won't come home," I said.
He looked at me, trying to figure out if I was serious.
Finally, he picked up his car keys.
"I'll be quick," he said.
Before the door closed, he looked back at me. "Put the watch back on. I'll pick you up tomorrow."
The door closed.
I looked down and saw the cufflink he'd left on the table.
It was silver, with two letters engraved on the inside.
It wasn't my initials.
It was S.C.
I put the cufflink in a sealed bag and handed it to Eloise Clarke.
She looked up at me. "Is this evidence, or a souvenir?"
"The former," I said.
She nodded and put the bag in a folder. "Dividing the assets isn't hard. The hard part is whether Braiden will sign."
I let out a small laugh, feeling a bit resigned. "He won't," I said.
"Then we'll prepare for litigation," Eloise said.
She pulled out a list and slid it over. "Marital assets, fixed assets, all the money coming in and out of your studio, and any big payments Braiden made to Sienna. Dig up everything you can find."
I stared at the list.
She'd circled the studio section in red pen.
I studied jewelry restoration in college.
After we got married, I opened a small studio, just fixing up old watches and jewelry.
The countdown watch Braiden gave me was one I'd tuned myself, working on the movement with my own hands.
He said he wanted me involved in my own wedding present.
I actually thought it was romantic back then.
Now that I thought about it now, I found he couldn't be bothered.
The moment I turned my phone on after leaving the law firm, my phone blew up with messages from Braiden. [Where are you?
[Sienna was in the hospital last night. I didn't come home. Don't overthink it.
[We have an appointment at the bridal shop at 3 PM.]
The last one came in about thirty minutes ago.
Braiden: [Grandpa will be there too.]
I frowned, feeling a mix of irritation and unease.
Diego Meyer had always been very fond of me.
After we got our marriage certificate, he kept insisting on a proper wedding, saying the Meyer family couldn't shortchange their grandson's wife.
When I got to the bridal shop, Diego was already sitting in the lounge area.
Sienna was there too.
She was dressed in a long white gown, my veil draped over her shoulders, looking pale as she slumped against the sofa.
Braiden stood next to her, holding a cup of warm water.
The sales assistant spotted me and looked like she'd seen a savior.
"Mrs. Meyer, you're here," she said.
Sienna immediately reached for the veil, but her hands lingered, as if she was reluctant to let it go.
"Malia, please don't misunderstand. Diego wanted to see the finished look, and since I happened to be here, I put it on for you," she said.
Diego's face darkened. "Who said she could try it on?"
No one said a word.
Braiden set the cup down, his tone casual. "Grandpa, it's just a veil. No need to make a big deal out of it."
Diego tapped his cane on the floor. "This is Malia's wedding, not yours."
Sienna's eyes welled up with tears.
"Diego, I'm sorry. I was just trying to help," she said.
Braiden looked at me, his tone flat. "She's barely recovered. Don't give her a hard time."
I stood my ground.
The staff kept their heads down, and the photographer acted busy fiddling with the lights.
I used to think that, at the very least, he'd give me some respect in front of the elders.
But he didn't.
He took away my face in front of everyone and handed it straight to Sienna.
I walked over to the mirror and reached up to take off the veil.
Sienna instinctively covered her hair, as if she'd been wronged.
Braiden immediately grabbed my wrist.
He called out, "Malia."
I stared at him through the mirror. "Let go."
He lowered his voice. "Don't make a fool of yourself in front of Grandpa."
"I'm not the one making a fool of myself," I shot back.
Braiden's grip tightened.
The pain wasn't much, but it was enough to clear my head.
Diego stood up. "Braiden, let her go."
Braiden let go.
But in the next moment, Sienna doubled over in a fit of coughing, her shoulders trembling.
Braiden rushed to support her, catching her before she could fall.
"Don't overdo it. Let me get you back to the hospital," he said.
I gripped the veil tightly, watching as Braiden helped Sienna out of the shop.
Diego's face was livid with anger.
"Malia, don't worry. I'll make sure this wedding is yours," he said.
I shook my head. "No need."
Diego froze for a second, caught off guard.
I gave the veil back to the sales assistant. "Let's return this wedding dress."
The sales assistant whispered, "Mrs. Meyer, Mr. Meyer put down the deposit himself. His assistant has the contract."
Braiden paid for it himself.
I let out a soft, almost bitter laugh.
Before I left, I went to the restroom.
The lounge door at the end of the hallway was left slightly open.
Willie's voice drifted out from inside. "Mr. Meyer, are we still going with the countdown screen at the wedding?
"Ms. Cline said she wants to replace the opening of the video with some old photos of you and her."
Braiden's voice was low. "Just do what she said for now."
Willie hesitated. "But isn't this Mrs. Meyer's wedding?"
Braiden replied, "She won't even notice."