Before I could respond, his uncle rushed in. He immediately draped his jacket over me and slid a wedding ring onto my finger.
At that moment, Gabriel’s face turned pale.
***
“This wedding dress is a custom design commissioned by the Prince Family,” the makeup artist said with excitement. “It’s said that the ninety-nine diamonds adorning it were specially sourced from all over the world, handpicked by the head of the family. Ms. Waller, your groom must really cherish you—”
Before she could finish, the door burst open with a deafening bang.
Gabriel Prince strode in, clad in a sharp groom’s suit, his face twisted in fury. Without a second thought, he grabbed me and yanked me off the makeup chair.
“Nora,” he spat, “you’re just an ex-con. Do you seriously think I’d still want you?”
His voice was laced with contempt. “You’re so shameless. I tossed out a careless joke and you had the audacity to take it seriously?
“And now you’re stealing my family’s wedding dress to force me into marriage? How much lower can you sink?”
The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the room as Gabriel’s friends gathered by the door, their smirks filled with ridicule.