“Marriage is about daily life—bills, groceries. Learn to compromise, and things will be fine.”
Emily inherited my stubborn streak but not my sharp tongue.
Her tears fell uncontrollably, leaving her sobbing too hard to make sense.
I shoved through the crowd and stood before Daniel.
Smack!
The banquet hall fell dead silent.
Daniel clutched his face, eyes wide.
I swept a cold gaze around before fixing it back on him. “If you’re all so open-minded, then let your own sons-in-law fool around with their female buddies. Don’t you dare stop them.”
The sound of people gasping filled the room.
Daniel’s face burned under the weight of their stares.
Rachel suddenly rushed in.
Under everyone’s shocked eyes, she slapped Daniel hard.
“It’s all your fault. I told you not to joke around, but you never listen. Now both Ma’am and Emily think the worst.”
“We’re done. From now on, we’re strangers.”
Daniel looked wronged. “Rachel, do you really have to go this far?”
Rachel glanced at Emily. “What else can I do? Everyone already thinks I’m some homewrecker.”
Susan grabbed Rachel’s hand. “My daughter was too mischievous. From now on, I won’t let them meet alone.”
The mother and daughter left quickly.
Daniel wanted to chase after them but stopped short when he remembered Emily and I were still there.
With everyone staring, he stammered, “I’ll… I’ll go get you a car.”
“Wait,” Emily called after him. “It’s over. The engagement is off. Don’t ever show up again.”
She yanked off her engagement ring and hurled it at Daniel’s face.
“Wait—”
Daniel looked panicked but, gritting his teeth, turned and ran after Susan and Rachel instead.
The engagement party ended in chaos.
Looking at my daughter’s cold, expressionless face, I regretted ever agreeing to her marriage with Daniel.
I’d known him since the day Emily first brought him home.
Back then, Robert cheated on me with Susan.
I didn’t cry or scream. I simply handed him the divorce agreement.
Emily stayed with me, while he paid child support.
But the payments got smaller and later until they barely came at all.
I finally lost patience and went to confront him.
They weren’t home. Only Rachel and a boy were in the room.
That boy was Daniel.
The eighteen-year-old’s face was flushed, collar marked.
Through the door crack, I saw Rachel in skimpy shorts.
It wasn’t hard to guess what had just happened.