The dog bared its teeth at me, barking fiercely, and I didn’t even dare look it in the eyes.
A moment later, Eric got out of the car.
To my shock, he wasn’t even wearing a tuxedo—just casual clothes.
I grabbed his arm. “Eric, hurry and change.”
But Eric said, “Get in the car first. There’s no time. Once we’re at the venue, just explain that we were delayed by traffic.”
I climbed in, only to realize Eric didn’t follow.
Turning back, I saw Lily pushing the dog into the seat beside me.
The beast nearly pounced on me. Terrified, I screamed and bolted from the car.
Eric’s temper flared—not at Lily, but at me.
He pointed at me and snapped, “Sophia Bennett! What’s wrong with you? Don’t you want to get in the car?”
I shot back, “This is our wedding limousine! Besides the driver, it should only be the bride and groom inside. Why bring a dog?”
Lily smiled sweetly. “Sophia, today he is your groom. The two of you should ride together.”
“I’ll sit with Eric in the second car,” Lily Harper said.
I thought I had misheard.
Staring at Eric Collins in shock, I asked, “So the groom today is… this dog?”
Eric nodded impatiently.
I cried out in anguish, “What about you? Aren’t you the one I’m supposed to marry?”
Eric replied, “Lily read my fortune with Tarot cards. If I go through with the ceremony, it’ll bring me misfortune. So the dog will take my place.”
“I’ve raised this dog since I was a child—he’s like family. What’s wrong with letting him be my stand-in?”
“Sophia, you’re usually so understanding. Can’t you just make a little sacrifice for me?”
I nearly fainted from anger. “Eric! So it’s because I’m understanding that you think you can bully me like this?”
“What kind of bride marries a dog? Is there such a thing anywhere in the world?”
“You know how much I’ve been looking forward to this wedding. You know how much I love you.”
“How can you bear to make me the laughingstock of everyone?”
The more I spoke, the more it broke me, until I covered my face and sobbed.
Lily piped up cautiously, “Sophia, a wedding is just a formality. Why make Eric risk misfortune just for something that doesn’t really matter?”
“Would you rather he suffer harm, just to satisfy your vanity?”
Hearing this, Eric’s eyes grew even colder as he looked at me. “Sophia Bennett, do you even love me?”
I lifted my tear-streaked face and stared at him. “Do you love me? If you did, would you humiliate me like this?”