Chapter 11 #2
“You want to know what’s going on, Mom?” My gaze cuts to the enemy and his accomplice. “I just caught the two of them screwing behind the janitorial shed.”
The hallway implodes, the air vanishing on a collective gasp. My mother’s hand flies to her chest, my father’s eyes widening. The maid of honor stiffens, but Finch remains unshaken…calm, cool, collected.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” he says easily, dismissing the claim with a smirk that only fuels my rage.
“The hell I don’t, you son of a bitch. I saw you!”
My father places a steadying hand on my shoulder. “That’s enough, Harlow.” His gaze shifts to Finch. “Is this true?”
The implication that I could be lying stings, but I swallow it back.
“Of course not.” The lie rolls easily off his tongue. “You know me, Doc. I’d never hurt Hattie like that.”
“Then where were you just now?” I question, refusing to let him off so easily. “Why are you even with her? Shouldn’t you be with your groomsmen?”
His confidence doesn’t waver. “Christina couldn’t find the bridal suite, so I offered to walk her here.”
The maid of honor bobs her head. “It’s true.”
I snort, their excuse so lame they may as well be reading from a bad script.
Finch crosses to Hattie, draping an arm around her shoulders. “Hattie knows I’d never do something like that. Isn’t that right, sweetheart?”
My father’s gaze settles on Hattie, weighted with uncertainty. “Honey? What do you think?”
Her tear-filled eyes find mine, as if reaching for something to hold onto.
Hope flares in my chest, fragile and desperate, as I silently offer her the lifeline she needs.
“You could postpone it,” my father adds. “Take some time to think it through.”
Finch stiffens next to her, clearly not liking that idea and that’s when I lose her.
My sister shakes her head. “No, I don’t need time to think it through. I want to get married.”
That decision pierces through me, severing what little remained of us.
I turn to my parents now, desperate for reason. “Tell me you’re not going to let her do this? It’s so obvious he’s lying.”
“Maybe you’re the one lying,” Finch cuts in smoothly.
My attention snaps back to him. “And why the hell would I do that?”
“Revenge? Jealousy?” He shrugs, hitting his mark. “I worried something like this might happen, that you’d find a way to ruin our day. But Hattie insisted you be here.”
The silence that follows that statement hits like a sledgehammer.
He breaks from Hattie now and strides toward me, his steps confident, eyes flat and cold.
For the first time, real fear prickles through me.
My father shifts, as if ready to move closer, when one voice shatters it all.
“Take one more step, Whitmore, and I’ll break your fucking legs.”
Linc.
I spin around just as he slides out from around the corner.
Finch halts mid-step, his arrogance faltering for the first time.
Linc moves in next to me, his warmth solid at my side. “You okay?” His gentle tone is a stark contrast to the rage behind in his eyes.
I nod, even though it’s a complete lie.
“This is a family matter,” Finch says, grasping for control. “So, if you don’t mind—”
Linc doesn’t move an inch, his smirk is deadly, tone wrapped in steel. “I’m not going anywhere. And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll keep your distance, otherwise you’re going to find yourself in the emergency room instead of that altar.”
The promise cracks through the air like a loaded trigger.
“Now, let’s all settle down,” my father interjects, desperate to calm the storm. “If Hattie wants to go through with this, then we need to respect that.”
My jaw drops. “And forget everything I just told you?”
“Maybe you misunderstood what you saw,” my mother says, her tone soft, meant to soothe but only coming off as patronizing.
“He was fucking her in broad daylight, Mother,” I snap. “There was no misunderstanding.”
“Enough,” she bites back, pulling Hattie against her as she sobs. “You’re only making this harder on your sister.”
“Yeah, I’m the one hurting her.” The laugh that slips out is humorless, brittle and broken. “I knew coming here was a mistake. I’ve never belonged in this family, and this just proves it.”
“Don’t say that,” my mother blurts, emotion breaking through for the first time. “We love you, Harlow, but now is not the time for this. This is Hattie’s day. We can talk about it later.”
I shake my head. “No, we can’t, because I’m not going to be here. I’m not sticking around for this shit.”
My father starts to protest, but Finch cuts him off.
“I actually think that’s for the best.”
“Stop it, Finch,” Hattie warns, but he barrels on.
“In fact, I don’t think you should come around anymore at all. Not if you’re going to hurt Hattie like this.”
I don’t have to react because Linc does.
“And I think you should’ve gotten your ass beat a long time ago.”
He pushes forward, his fist colliding with Finch’s jaw in a brutal crack that echoes down the hall.
Finch stumbles back, crashing to the marble floor.
Chaos erupts—my mother gasping into her hands, Hattie screaming, the maid of honor frozen between bolting and helping, while my father rushes to Finch’s side. All while their own daughter stands on the outside looking in.
“Come on.” Linc takes my hand, warm and steady. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
I don’t think twice about following him, leaving them all behind.
It shouldn’t hurt this much. I should be numb by now, but the truth is, a part of me really wanted that new beginning. Now that dream lies in ruins behind me, with the rest of my family.