Chapter 2

The sheer force of the blow sent me staggering backward a couple of steps, my veil fluttering to the floor.

"Arthur! Why did you hit her?!" Mom screamed, rushing forward.

"Chloe..." Mom sobbed, trying to grab my hand. "Just listen to Mom, please, I'm begging you..."

"You blind fool! You have absolutely no idea what you're up against!" Dad roared, his eyes entirely bloodshot.

"Oh, I know exactly what I'm dealing with!" I spat through gritted teeth, glaring at them with pure hatred. 

"I'm dealing with two absolute control freaks! Wasn't ruining my life enough for you? Ten years ago, this is exactly how you destroyed Noah, isn't it?!"

Noah was my older brother. 

Ten years ago, on the night of his senior prom, Noah was supposed to have the best night of his life with his high school sweetheart. But that very night, Mom and Dad lost their minds—just like today. They locked him in his bedroom and flat-out refused to let him leave. 

Desperate, Noah climbed out the window to go to the dance. On his way back, he got into a horrific car accident and was killed on impact.

At the mere mention of Noah’s name, all the color instantly drained from their faces, as if every drop of blood had been siphoned from their veins.

Mom clutched her chest, gasping heavily for air, her body swaying as if she were about to collapse. 

Dad quickly grabbed her to keep her upright.

"What happened to Noah..." Dad started, his voice a raspy whisper. "...wasn't what you think."

"Security!" Liam barked, refusing to give them another second to justify themselves. He called for the venue guards waiting outside. "Escort these two trespassers out. If they put up a fight, call the cops."

Several burly guards charged in and forcibly restrained Mom and Dad.

"Chloe! Get away from him! You're going to die! You absolutely cannot get married today!" Mom's agonizing shrieks echoed down the hallway. 

It wasn't until their voices completely faded at the far end of the corridor that the last ounce of strength seemed to leave my body. I collapsed against Liam's chest, sobbing unrestrainedly.

"It's okay, Chloe, it's okay," Liam murmured, gently stroking my hair. "We can buy another ring. Even if I have to use a pop-tab from a soda can, I am making you my wife today."

I nodded, trying to calm my emotions. 

But just as I stood up to go touch up my makeup, something on the floor caught the corner of my eye. A manila envelope.

It must have slipped out of Mom's overcoat pocket while the guards were dragging her away.

I walked over and picked it up. Stamped across the envelope was the logo for NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. 

"What's that?" Liam asked, walking over with a confused look.

I didn't answer. With trembling hands, I tore open the seal and pulled out the medical reports inside. 

The first page was Mom’s. 

[Diagnosis: Glioblastoma Multiforme (Terminal Brain Cancer). Life Expectancy: Less than three months.]

The second page was Dad’s. 

[Diagnosis: End-Stage Congestive Heart Failure. Recommendation: Immediate conservative management. High risk of sudden cardiac death.]

Staring at the glaring black ink, my mind completely flatlined. All the sound around me seemed to vanish into a vacuum.

Mom and Dad... the same two people who had just torn through my wedding like absolute lunatics... were both terminally ill?

"How could this be..." I gripped the papers so tightly my knuckles turned white. 

If they were this sick, why hadn't they ever told me? 

If they were already dying, why would they drag their failing, broken bodies all the way here, just to sabotage my wedding? 

The way Mom was clutching her chest and gasping for air just now... the intense trembling in Dad’s hands... everything I thought was just blind rage and hostility was actually them pushing through immense physical agony?

A wave of unprecedented guilt crashed over me like a tsunami. 

What had I just done to them? I had screamed at them to get out. I had even weaponized Noah’s death just to stab them where it hurt!

"Chloe..." Liam murmured, staring at the reports over my shoulder, completely stunned.

"Liam," I looked up at him, my vision blurring with fresh tears, my voice shaking uncontrollably. "I'm so sorry... I can't marry you right now."

"But I refuse to accept that, honey. We have to finish this wedding today!" Liam grabbed my shoulders.

"No! We should cancel the wedding!" I forcefully shoved him away and bolted out the door, crying.