For just over four months, I stood back and watched her live a normal life with a happy glow radiating from her while Dad tries his hardest to get her back. He lavishes her with gifts that she gloats over while forcing him to pay for this over-the-top, lavish wedding I didn’t even want.
For four months, I’ve watched her plan this wedding like it’s the happiest day of my life, instead of selling me to pay off her debts—debts she never would have gotten if she’d just spoken to Dad instead of trying to punish him.
For four months, I’ve had to hear her plead with me to rethink keeping the baby, her grandchild, before apparently Hayden was rethinking everything, and she was ‘concerned’ for her life – more like concerned for the money she keeps getting.
I side-eye her from her perch on the chair near the window. Her long off-white, off-the-shoulder satin dress perfectly hugs her figure.
She doesn’t look like someone whose life is threatened. She looks like a cat who caught her canary. She can’t even hide the sly smile on her over done face as she looks over my dress that my dad had to fork out for. She believes she’s got him wrapped around her little finger, and right now, she might.
Who knew I’d come to resent my own mother, huh?
I shake my head and eye my dress again, wishing Raya were here.
She’s messaged several times pleading for me not to go through with this, to run away, but I can’t risk it. If they were to get away with stupidly killing my mother, I’d never forgive myself, but I am secretly hoping Psycho will still show up before the I do’s and profess his love, well more like I am banking on him doing it.
But that could be a pipe dream, though.
Four months and it’s been radio silent from him.
I unblocked his number and attempted to call him several times, but each time I tried to press send, I chickened out because, as each day went by, I heard nothing from him.
Did he move on?
Is he back to sleeping with club girls?
Should I have just told him everything?
I never should have left his room that morning. Instead of testing him and his feelings, I should have told him everything. Then maybe we would be together now, and Mama couldn’t use me to pay off her debts.
I furrow my brows. Does that make me selfish?
“Okay, all done,” Luna announces, and I look in the mirror and lock eyes with hers.
She tilts her head at me with concern as she puts some of her caramel hair behind her ear, and I try to give her a smile, but it comes out more of a grimace, and she stands up straight and says, “Clara, could I have a moment with Ivy?” I side eye Mama to see her scowling at Luna, but she doesn’t relent and lies, “It’s about Blade, you know she’s close with him and could help me, I just don’t want to bore you with the details. Why don’t you go check and make sure the groom hasn’t got cold feet.”
She adds a little chuckle, and even I raise a brow at her because, damn, she sounds really convincing.
Mama nods and stands, stating, “I could do with a leg stretch anyhow,” and walks over to us. She looks over me with a smile and says, “You make a beautiful bride, my sweet girl,” and I give her a small smile in return though I’d bet my truck it doesn’t reach my eyes.
She looks over my dress again before patting my shoulder and leaving, shutting the door behind her, but I don’t miss the grin on her face.
“You don’t want this,” Luna snaps, getting my attention and I look her way but keep my mouth shut, not stupid to lie to a woman who has been through a hell of a lot worse things than I have.
Luna tilts her head and assesses me, her eyes looking over my stomach, and it takes everything in me not to cover it.
Surely she can’t see...
“Psycho got you pregnant, didn’t he?” she asks, cutting off my thoughts and I look down not knowing what to say because damn she’s perceptive. She continues, “But somehow, I don’t think that is why you don’t want to do this.”
I look at her and whisper, “Just leave it, Luna…”
She shakes her head and denies, “No, I have lived years being trapped and scared,” Her dark chocolate eyes soften, “I won’t see a woman I’m becoming to see as a friend live through the fate I did.”
I swallow hard, look in the mirror again, and notice how sad my eyes actually look.
Guess I’m not hiding it as much as I thought I was.
Again, where the hell is he?
