Chapter 4
“Lily, are you okay?” My bridesmaids ask, looking just as beat up as me but still worried about how I’m holding up.
The calm I’ve been holding onto suddenly cracks. My eyes start stinging, and I wipe them quickly before pulling my girls close
“I’m fine. Actually, today was a blessing in disguise–now I know exactly what kind of family I was about to marry into.“]]
Chloe sniffles. “I looked it up. Apparently his family’s hometown did have traditions like this, but we’re talking decades ago.”
“That kind of hazing’s meant for after dinner–not right in the ceremony. What they pulled was pure sabotage.”
Even without her telling me, I already knew that. Mason’s parents have never liked me as their son’s choice.
When we got engaged and our families met, they immediately had problems with me coming from a single parent home.]
Then they decided my PhD made me “too ambitious” and that I’d probably “wear the pants” in the marriage and take away their precious son’s manhood.
I should’ve listened to my gut then. But Mason sweet–talked me, practically got on his knees begging me not to call off the wedding.
Looking back, I was an idiot for falling for his bullshit.
Mason and I met at a hiking group. He chased after me for a whole year before I agreed to date him.]
We were together for five years. The entire time, I knew he had this tight group of buddies and some female friend, but he never introduced me to any of them.
As a boyfriend, he seemed decent enough. Thoughtful, sweet, always putting me first]
After we got together, he stopped going out drinking with his friends. Even work happy hours, he’d check with me first
He used to joke he was happy being whipped, that I’d always come first no matter what.]]
And like a fool, I believed every word.
Now I see it was all just manipulation.
Meeting his friends right before the wedding should’ve been my final wake–up call. They were cold as ice toward me, especially Riley.
Riley’s obsession with Mason was obvious from minute one. Those two probably would’ve gotten together years ago if I hadn’t shown up and complicated things.
I was just the obstacle in their little love story.
If I’d known it would end like this, I never would’ve said yes to his proposal.[]
He deserves to be stuck with Riley forever.
The thore I think about it, the angrier I get. I start crying from pure frustration.
That’s when my mom finally shows up. She takes one look at my destroyed dress and disheveled appearance, and her face goes white.[]
“What happened to you? Lily, what did they do?“||
My bridesmaids fill her in on everything. Mom starts shaking with rage and heads straight for the venue[]
“My daughter–my baby girl–and they dare humiliate you like this?“]
“Those bastards! I’m going to give them a piece of my mind!“]
I grab her arm to stop her. ‘Don’t, Mom. You can’t reason with people like that.”
“Trying to argue with them will just make us more upset.“[]
“Mom. I can’t marry him. If this is how his family treats me now, imagine what married life would be like.”
Mom wraps her arms around me, her eyes red with tears, and nods firmly.[]
“Laly, whatever you decide, I’m behind you 100%. All I want is for you to be happy, sweetheart.“]
The four of us take an Uber back to the hotel. I book a flight home first thing tomorrow morning.]
I don’t want to spend another second in this godforsaken place.||
