“You’re an hour late. No surprise. No manners at all–just like your mother the thief.”
But Colin told me the banquet started at eight.
I clenched my fists.
A long time ago, I’d mentioned in passing that Piper’s mother had been a mistress. The next day, Mrs. Marks’s missing jewelry “miraculously” appeared under my mother’s pillow.
Colin knew my mother hadbeen framed.
He never defended me. Not once.
But now—I didn’t grovel. I looked straight into Mrs. Marks’s eyes, then right at Piper’s smug little face.
“I’m not here to be insulted,” I said coldly. Then I looked Piper dead in the eye. “My mother was not a thief. She didn’t raise me to seduce men like some women raise their daughters.”
The words had barely left my mouth when a vicious slap exploded across my cheek.
My ears rang. My body hit the ground hard.
The metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.
Colin stood over me, expression cold and condescending.
“You spread rumors about her! Don’t you know it makes her suffer? How long are you gonna keep this going? Do you want her to kill herself?”
I pushed myself up, my face burning with rage.
“She suffered? She?!” I barked out a laugh, bitter and broken. “She suffered from her own stupid choices! And you—you know exactly what she did. My mother is dead! I lost everything and you're just going to stand there and let her play the victim?!”
The whispers started—quiet at first, like a ripple, then louder as the crowd leaned in.
Colin’s jaw clenched tight.
“Leave,” he growled under his breath. “Go calm yourself down. You've embarrassed yourself enough in front of the guests.”
The garden buzzed with elite chatter.
Mr. and Mrs. Marks quickly stepped in with flutes of champagne, smiling stiffly.
“Let’s not ruin the evening. Come, everyone—drink up!”
Guests swarmed Colin and Piper with congratulations.
“Cheers to the happy couple!”
“Congratulations to the future Mr. and Mrs. Marks—such a perfect match!”
Colin had always said he wanted our relationship to be a “surprise.”
He never told a soul about us.
And now?
He smiled like a gentleman, standing next to Piper like she’d always been the bride.
He didn’t even try to explain.
She clung to his arm like she belonged there.
Under the glittering lights, they looked like a picture-perfect couple.
While I stood there like a wet stain on a white rug.
I let out a breathless, bitter laugh and turned to go, but a hand blocked my way.
Piper.