Chapter 29
Cori
Crazy motherfucker. He’s going to spend the rest of his short life paying for this, and when I’m done with him, he’ll either take his own life or I’ll put him in a subpar psychiatric hospital and neglect him.
I should have known his ass did this. Why didn’t I think of that? But why would I assume this man would turn the tables on me so much that I would end up in this situation?
My last hope was when we told Mother. My father warned me not to tell her about the arrangement because that would stress her out.
But what kind of mother would be okay with their daughter getting engaged to a man so fast?
Mom only met him once, and we never dated.
Of course, she’d protest, but I was wrong.
Days ago
“Mom!” I yell when I burst through the house.
My steps come to a stop when I notice that Dax is already here.
Not only that, but he’s holding Ruby in one arm while he sets my mother’s dining room table with the other.
He acts as if he’s already a part of our family and belongs in my parents’ living room.
Devin’s useless ass is on the couch asleep, while I hear my father’s voice talking in his office.
“Cori, you’re here.” Mom wheels her chair to me and pulls me into a hug.
When she moves away, she takes my left hand and whistles.
“I’m so happy, baby,” Mom says. Her eyes brim with tears, and she fans her face.
“When your father told me the news, I swore I heard wrong, but I know Dax will make you happy.”
I look past her shoulder, and Dax gives me a smug look before he winks at me. Ruby starts to coo, and he plants a loud kiss on her fat cheek.
“Mother, did Daddy tell you the circumstances of this engagement?” I start to push her away so we can talk, but Dax follows us.
“Of course, but don’t worry. Sometimes these things happen fast. I met, fell in love with, and married your father all within six months. I’ve never regretted it for a single moment in my life. Honey, don’t be nervous. Dax cares about you. He told me so himself.”
“This isn’t like that.”
“What do you mean, baby?” Mom looks at me with her big eyes.
She reaches for my hands and takes them in hers.
Dax gets close to us and stands next to me.
There’s enough tension in the room to cut with a knife.
“Are you nervous? It’s normal, but every woman needs a good man in her life.
And Daxton is just so kind. He’s already made arrangements for me to go to Chicago two days after your wedding. ”
Mom starts to cry in her chair, and I’m lost for words for the moment.
I can either tell her the truth and get out of this.
But what if the truth does not set me free in this case?
What if she thinks it’s a logical idea for me to marry this man so she can have her surgery?
And if that’s what she thinks, will I ever be able to forgive her?
I look at the floor as I contemplate my next move. Dax looks from me to my mother, and for a moment, I consider taking a risk and telling her everything, but no words come out.
Dad enters the room and quickly assesses the scene.
“I can’t wait to marry you, Cori.” Dax’s words sound sincere, but I know better than to trust them. He wants something from me, just like everyone else in my family.
After the engagement party, I researched the Mitchells, and I think this marriage is so that they can sell their motel chain to Dax.
“Mom,” I begin, but Dad talks over me.
“Devin,” Dad thunders, and my brother practically jumps off the couch. “Take your mother to her room while I talk to your sister. Get off your lazy ass and do something around here for once in your God damn life.”
Instead of arguing back, Devin does as my dad says without a fight, which is unlike him. He rolls my mother down the hall and into her bedroom.
“I will not have you here upsetting your mother, Cori. She doesn’t need the stress, and you’re being selfish right now. Dax will be a good man, and you’re getting the opportunity to stop working for Armstrong and to start the business you’ve always wanted.”
“I don’t want to be a transaction,” I snap. “I don’t want—”
“It’s not about you!”
“It is!” I yell back. “And I don’t care how loud you yell, this is about me because no one else is giving up anything. Like always.” Ruby starts to cry, but I don’t have it in me to care. Dax bounces her in his arms, but she’s not soothed. Her soft cries soon turn into screams.
“Handle this, Leander,” Dax whispers. He walks out of the kitchen with a screaming Ruby in his arms.
“You’re upsetting Ruby.”
“Well, I’m so damn sorry for that, Dad, but you won’t listen to a thing I say. You’re okay with selling me to this man. Say it, Daddy. Say it.” I inch closer to him. His anger from earlier is gone, and he’ll no longer meet my eyes.
“Your life will only change for the better. School, Cori. You’ll get to go like you’ve always wanted. You’ll have money. He cares about you.”
“I could have gone to school eight years ago! You took that from me, and you sent Devin like it was nothing. He’s never had to sacrifice a thing.”
“This has nothing to do with Devin.” He drops his head and stares at the floor.
“You’re missing my point.” The room goes silent. “You know what? Fine. I give up. But know this, Dad. This is the last thing I will do for this family. Ever.”
Now
I finger the dress. Queen Corine. That’s what Selene named it, and when I designed it, I envisioned a different version of me. One who wanted to get married. I closed my eyes and pictured my perfect day. That included my dress and the cake.
The front of the dress is deceiving. It gives the illusion of conservatism, but the back contradicts that. It’s completely backless, and it dips to the apex of my buttocks. It has a long skirt that floats behind me. Instead of a traditional long veil, I pictured a birdcage veil.
That’s exactly what I made. And I thought I sold it. I guess I did sell it. To Daxton Hunt, who sent it to me yesterday, fresh from the dry cleaner and with a handwritten note.
To my fiancée:
From the moment I saw you in the dress, I knew. Who am I kidding? I knew before, but seeing you like this made it real. No one else can ever wear this. It won’t do anyone but you justice. There has never been, and there will never be a more beautiful bride. I’m so lucky you chose me to stalk.
He signs it ‘Your Groom’, and I almost want to throw up. I’m not wearing it. In fact, I’m already dressed. He’s going to get a bride in a linty white sweatsuit, complete with a large coffee stain on the matching pants.
“Sweetheart, your friends are here,” Haddie says from the other side of the door. She knocks softly. “Your mother is downstairs getting ready.”
After dinner last night, Haddie drove Josie and me back to her house. The three of us talked, but Haddie made us all go to bed early.
My friends rush in, with Josie behind them. I don’t mind her, but I don’t want her here with my friends. She’s blindly loyal to her crazy brother.
“Josie, would you mind getting us something to drink?” I ask. “Some peppermint tea would help my nerves.”
“Of course,” she happily says. “Whatever you need.” She gives my shoulders a gentle rub. “Mom says I’m here to serve.”
“I’ll help you with the tea, Josie, but after that, we have to get Cori ready. The team will be here in twenty minutes, so we have to rush.”
Once they leave, I lock the door behind them.
“I’m living in a weird universe,” I announce.
“Your dress!” Selene rushes to it and caresses the skirt.
“The psycho is the one who bought it. It was here waiting for me last night, but too bad for him, I’m already dressed.” I gesture at my clothes. Eden gives Selene a worried glance. “My hair’s done too.”
“Girl,” Selene says while she fingers my tangled mane. “You look a hot mess.”
“Get this,” I whisper. “The man is not only crazy, but dumb. I told him I wasn’t signing a pre-nup, and that I wanted access to his bank accounts. He agreed to both with no pushback. Selene, as soon as we say I do, I’m going to buy you a new car and pay off your mortgage.”
“Oh, fuck, yeah,” Selene says. We high-five. “I have my eyes on this new bedroom set and—”
“You can have whatever you want. Eden, I’d hook you up, too, but your husband has you covered.”
“This little arrangement would have come in handy last year when I was broke and in debt,” Eden says.
“We’re going to the spa every week on me.
I’m not giving Armstrong any notice. I’m going to text him on Monday and tell him I quit.
Then, this dumb ass is going to pay for me to start my business.
And I don’t mean he’s going to invest. I’m just going to funnel his money into my business until it starts making money.
I’m not fighting this, but I’m going to make him regret the day he ever put this into motion. ”
“How did he plan a wedding so fast?” Selene asks. “He invited the entire town. Everyone is talking about it.”
“I think he’s been planning this all along,” Eden says. “Since before he kidnapped you.”
“I think you’re right. I got played.”
“So, play him back,” Selene says. “Put on that dress, do your hair and makeup, and be the most gorgeous bride on earth. Get married, and put on the performance of a lifetime. Be the beautiful, blushing bride. Dance with him. Dance close and get him all riled up. Tease him and don’t fuck him tonight. ”