Chapter 2
The wedding was held at an estate on the outskirts of town.
There was no signal.
No way to call an Uber.
I grabbed an umbrella and started walking through the storm.
The rain soaked my dress.
White turned to brown.
Mud and filth clung to the fabric-
just like how betrayal had stained my heart.
I had no idea how far I walked.
My feet were bleeding, my heels raw and torn.
I looked down and let out a bitter laugh.
What a perfect wedding.
Then my phone buzzed-
finally got a signal.
Over a dozen messages from Alexander.
“Emily Thompson, are you seriously trying to ruin my life?”
“I told you–Chloe is just my sister!
Why are you so jealous?”
Not one word of concern.
1 Survived the Weddina from Hell. N
Chapter 2
Not one apology.
Just blame.
I was about to shove the phone in my purse when a call came in.
Unknown number.
I picked up.
It was Chloe.
“Alexander… you just left Emily like that?
She’s pregnant, she’ll be heartbroken…”
Alexander’s voice came next,
gentle as ever–when talking to her.
“Chloe, you’re too kind.
That baby’s just her ticket into the family.
She’ll never compare to you.”
The phone slipped from my hand.
Thudded against the wet pavement.
Of course.
How could I ever compare?
Two months ago, I’d fallen down the stairs late at night.
Just wanted a glass of water.
Broke my tailbone.
Started bleeding.
Chapter 2
I screamed for Alexander–he was about to head out.
But he just barked at me:
“Emily, what’s wrong with your hands and feet?
Call the damn ambulance yourself.
I’ve got something urgent.”
I passed out before the paramedics got there.
Almost lost the baby.
Spent an entire month in the hospital.
Alexander never showed.
Not once.
And yesterday, I finally found out-
the urgent matter?
Chloe was scared of thunder.
He had to comfort her.
My hand clenched into my skirt.
One of my custom wedding nails snapped off.
It stung.
But not as much as my heart did.
By the time I made it down the hill,
a cab finally arrived.
Right then, Alexander called again.
C
Chapter 2
“Emily, Chloe’s anxiety kicked in because of you!
You better get your ass to the hospital and apologize!”
I held my umbrella against the wind and said I was still near the estate.
Suddenly, hail started falling.
Huge, heavy ice stones thudded against the ground.
Alexander heard it.
His voice turned anxious.
“It’s hailing? You’re not at the hotel? Then I’ll-”
But before he could finish,
I heard Chloe crying in the background.
“I shouldn’t have come back….
I should’ve just died out there…”
Alexander immediately switched to soft, comforting tones.
When he came back on,
he was cold again.
“Emily, I’m giving you thirty minutes.
Get your ass to the hospital and apologize.”
His voice was like ice.
And that was it.
That was the moment the last bit of love I had for him
shattered.
Chapter 2
“No, Alexander.
I’m not the one who needs to apologize.”
“I want a divorce.”
There was silence.
Then laughter.
“You think anyone in Riverdale doesn’t know you’re used goods?
You’re pregnant, and no one else is gonna want you.”
My umbrella gave out and collapsed.
I stood up in the hail and wind.
Let it beat against me.
But in my heart, things were finally clear.
I ended the call.
The cab pulled up.
I brushed the tears off my face,
rested a hand on my belly,
and told the driver-
“To the hospital, please.”
