With steady voice, I said, “Gabriel, I’ll say it one more time. Today is MY wedding to your uncle. This veil was custom-made for me by him. I didn’t steal—”
Before I could finish, Gabriel grabbed my face and yanked hard at my lips.
“My uncle is THE head of the Prince Family. Without his permission, even my parents wouldn’t dare utter a single extra word. You said he's marrying you? A woman who’s been to prison? What makes you think you’re worthy of him?
“Consider this your warning: if you spread more lies, tearing your mouth apart will be the least of your worries.”
He shoved me away and I stumbled, crashing into a storage shelf. My grandmother’s memorial photo fell to the ground with a loud thud.
Panic shot through me as I quickly picked it up, carefully dusting off the surface and cradling it close to my chest.
My mother had told me that before Grandma passed, her final wish was to see me get married. She even had this photo taken, smiling her brightest, just for the occasion.
Now, the wedding hadn’t even started and Gabriel had already ruined it.
Tears welled up, my resentment simmering just beneath the surface.