Chapter 2

Meredith's POV

I pull out a small suitcase and throw a few clothes in.

The wedding outside is still going. Laughter and cheering drift up through the window.

Then I hear a key in the lock.

My head snaps up.

The door swings open and the smell of alcohol hits me first.

Four men in groomsmen suits push their way in and lock the door behind them.

I know all of them. They're Derek's crowd, the ones who never liked me, the ones who always hung around Hannah.

"Well, look who it is." The one in front lets out a belch, eyes sliding over me without a shred of shame. "All alone up here. That's gotta be rough."

"Right?" Another one rubs his hands together and steps closer. "Hannah actually told us about you. Said you can't stand being alone, and since Derek's a little tied up today, she sent us up here to keep you company. Didn't want you going out and embarrassing yourself."

I narrow my eyes.

Hannah.

She didn't just take my wedding. Now she wants to ruin me completely.

"Get out."

"Don't act like you're better than this." My tone sets him off. He lunges forward and grabs my wrist. "Derek doesn't want you anymore. Who do you think you are?"

He leans in close. The smell coming off him turns my stomach.

I don't scream. I don't struggle.

I just reach back, grab the scissors off the vanity, and drive them into his thigh.

He lets out a shriek and drops to the floor, clutching his leg. Blood soaks into the carpet fast.

The other three go still. They clearly didn't expect that.

"You crazy bitch!"

They exchange a look, drop whatever act they were putting on, and spread out toward me.

I back up until I hit the wall.

There's no way I can fight off three grown men on my own.

"Help! Is anybody out there!"

I scream as loud as I can.

Outside, someone at the wedding hears it.

My mother is quick. "Don't worry about her. My daughter's upset about Derek and Hannah. She's just throwing a fit up in her room."

The guests turn to her with sympathetic looks.

My father claps his hands together. "Alright, everyone, let's head to the church!"

He rounds them all up and leads them away from the house.

The footsteps fade.

I close my eyes. My chest goes cold.

So this is it. Even the last chance that someone might come, they killed that themselves.

Then one of them is on me, both my hands pinned down. I fight hard, drag my nails across his face hard enough to draw blood.

If no one is coming, I'm at least going down fighting.

Then, just when I think it's over, someone kicks the door in from the outside.

The whole thing comes off the frame and hits the floor hard.

Several men in black suits pour in, move fast and clean, yank the groomsmen off me, and pin them face-down on the floor.

Three elders in dark robes walk in behind them.

Mr. Aldridge is at the front. His face is ice.

One of the women crosses straight to me, drapes her coat over my shoulders, and helps me up.

"Do you have any idea what you just did?" Aldridge doesn't raise his voice. He doesn't need to. The room gets colder anyway.

One of the groomsmen pinned to the floor is still running his mouth. "Who the hell are you people? Do you know who my father is?"

Aldridge lets out a short laugh, steps over, and slaps him clean across the face. "You put your hands on the Dragon King's future queen. It wouldn't matter if your father ran this country."

He turns to the guards. "Find out exactly who these men are. Notify their families. As of today, the Aldridge family cuts all ties with them. Then call the police. Assault and attempted rape, both counts."

Every one of them goes white.

Aldridge comes over to me. Something in his expression softens. "Meredith. I'm sorry we weren't here sooner."

I shake my head. "Thank you, Mr. Aldridge."

The guards drag them out.

The room finally goes quiet.

Aldridge reaches into his coat and pulls out a small crystal vial. Inside, a liquid gives off a faint blue glow.

"This is a Dragon Clan elixir. The Dragon Clan has its pride. They won't take a bride who's still hung up on someone else."

"If you drink this, you won't lose your memories. But every feeling tied to them will be gone." He meets my eyes. "The year isn't over yet. You can still think it over."

I take the vial and hold it up, watching the liquid shimmer through the glass.

A memory surfaces from when I was little.

My parents had taken me to the main house for a banquet. I spotted the Dragon Clan elixir displayed in a shrine.

"What's that?" I asked, tugging on my father's hand.

He smiled and ruffled my hair. "It's an elixir for the Dragon King's bride. Drink it and all your feelings disappear."

"I'm never drinking that!" I said, making a face. "I don't want to forget you and Mom. I don't want to forget anyone."

My mother picked me up and held me close. "Then grow up and find someone you love. Do that, and you'll never have to go."

My father smiled. "As long as he treats you right, we won't stand in the way."

Back then, they really did love me.

Then my father's friend died, and they brought Hannah home.

Everything changed.

The parents who once treated me like I was the apple of their eye were gone.