###Chapter 7
Her words struck like lightning.
For a moment, rage swallowed my entire being. No sound came from my throat-just fury, raw and blinding. Then I snapped.
I lunged at Piper.
Fists clenched. Nails digging into her skin.
I yanked her hair, dragged her down, clawed at her face, her neck.
“You monster! Give me my mother back, you bitch!”
But before I could do any real damage, pain shot through my back-then my ribs. The bodyguards were on me, kicking and punching until I curled up like a broken doll on the ground.
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Colin shoved past them, face grim.
He didn’t even glance at me.
He went straight to Piper-crying, trembling, putting on the perfect damsel act-and wrapped her in his arms like she was made of glass.
His eyes, when they flicked toward me, were cold enough to freeze bone.
‘You’ve gone too far. Kneel. Apologize to her. Now.”
stared at him in disbelief.
He wasn’t done.
‘Your mother was weak. She got dumped and died chasing money. Now you’re blaming Piper for t? Everyone here saw what you did. Are you proud of yourself?”
The room around us buzzed with murmurs, growing louder and uglier by the second.
‘I heard her mother once stole Mrs. Marks’ jewelry,” one woman whispered, not even bothering to ower her voice. “Rumor is she died during a kidnapping-had her organs missing. Honestly, sounds like she had it coming.”
‘And the daughter’s no better,” another voice added with a sneer. “Ungrateful little brat. Just like her mom. Raised to be a man-stealing whore.”
was still on my knees. I wanted to scream, to tell them they were wrong. That my mother wasn’t a thief. That I wasn’t a man-stealing whore. But my throat was dry. My voice, gone.
Colin’s patience wore thin.
‘Apologize, Anneliese. I’ll count to three. One… two-‘
Disappointment scorched every cell in my body.
”
I gave in. My knees slammed onto the cold marble. I lifted my chin-and slammed it down in a bow so hard I tasted blood.
“I’m sorry. I was wrong. I’m sorry, I’m sorry-”
Blood mixed with tears blurred my vision.
7:35 pm
I looked up with a twisted smile, hollow and bitter.
“Is that enough, Colin? Did your precious darling get enough of an apology?”
He froze. His pupils shrank as if he finally saw me-saw what he’d done.
He took half a step forward. But Piper clutched his arm, her voice trembling with faux fear.
‘Colin, I’m scared… she looks crazy…”
He hesitated. Then stepped back. And held her tighter.
His eyes turned away. His voice was tired. Mechanical.
‘Go home. Try not to cause any more trouble.”
stood, somehow. My legs shook, but I didn’t fall.
turned to him-one last time.
And then I walked away.
**
The night was bitterly cold when I reached the crematorium. Stood in silence as my mother urned to ash. As her remains scattered into the sea, so did the last tether of my heart.
Gone. Just like that.
At midnight, I slipped off the wedding ring. Set it gently inside the nightstand. No need for divorce papers. His love was never real to begin with.
How convenient.
wheeled out my suitcase, opened the front door.
My phone buzzed.
Colin: [Did you get your wounds treated? Piper says she forgives you. Let’s put this behind us.]
Colin: [I picked up a new dress. It’s gorgeous. I’ll bring it over later.]
No reply.
A moment passed.
Another message.
Colin: [Asleep already? Why aren’t you answering? It’s our wedding day tomorrow. Be good.]
blocked him. Every number. Every account connected to him. I pulled out the SIM card, snapped t in half and tossed it down a storm drain-just like him.
A car was waiting by the curb.
got in.
‘To the airport.”
The city lights raced past my window, blurring like ghosts.
Ten years of memories, love, pain-gone. Just shadows now.
‘We will never meet again, Colin. And by sunrise, your wedding gift will be waiting. Right on time.”
8
