Chapter 3

The room went dead silent for a moment.

Stefan sighed with relief and laughed. "I know you're eager to get married."

He nodded before continuing, "But if Josie's unhappy, I'm not going through with the wedding. Your top priority right now should be getting back on her good side."

Josie walked over and stared at me with cold detachment.

"Queenie, I know you're desperate to get married, but there's no reason to take it out on me. I'm not like you. I have ambitions of my own. I'm not about to spend my life playing housewife and waiting on a man."

She paused and sighed. "Whatever. It's not like you'd understand anyway."

"Don't bother apologizing. Just come to the DMV with us right now and transfer the car to Zane, so he won't feel awkward driving it later…"

I didn't bother waiting for her to finish. I turned on my heel and walked out.

Their irritated shouts followed me out, but I tuned them out completely.

I returned to the small apartment I'd recently rented for myself. The moment I lay down on the mattress, my phone vibrated with an incoming call—it was the nursing home in Eastbrook.

"Ms. Sutton, Mrs. Shaw added 13 premium care services to her account this month, totaling 73,000 dollars. On top of that, next month's standard care fee is coming up. Should we charge the card we have on file, or would you prefer to handle it another way?"

Three years ago, Stefan's mom, Rebecca Harper, had been admitted to the nursing home after her legs atrophied.

Stefan had just started a new job at the time and claimed money was tight. So I had linked my own card to her account, footing every bill for three straight years, right up until today.

"From now on," I said flatly, "contact Stefan directly about any of Mrs. Shaw's bills."

The administrator on the other end paused, clearly caught off guard.

Ignoring his shock, I added, "Also, I need you to send me the invoices for every bill paid over the last three years."

…

The next day, I went to the hotel to talk to the manager about canceling the wedding reception.

The manager gave me a strained look.

"Ms. Sutton, Mr. Shaw asked us to open the banquet hall early and charge it to the wedding account. His guests are already here. In fact, they're eating right now."

I froze. Before I could process his words, the elevator doors dinged open, and Stefan marched straight toward me.

"What took you so long?" he demanded, his brow furrowing into a scowl. "Go settle the bill first. And set up two more tables. Josie's family came along to eat too."

The hotel manager wasted no time sliding the current invoice into my hands.

The total came to 271,300 dollars.

I pushed it back and looked up at Stefan. "What exactly is the meaning of this?"

Stefan sighed, staring at me in the tense silence.

"Queenie, this is all because of the stunt you pulled. You upset Josie so much yesterday that she went crying to my mom. My mom felt terrible for her."

He furrowed his brow, looking as if he truly had my best interests at heart.

"You haven't even married into my family yet, and you've already offended your future in-laws. I had no choice but to invite them out for a nice meal to smooth things over."

His tone softened, as if he were doing me a favor. "Just apologize to everyone in front of the whole room later, and make sure you sound sincere. As long as Josie accepts it and my mom is happy, you can still be the Shaw family's daughter-in-law."

The clinking of glasses and lively chatter drifted out from the banquet hall.

I looked at Stefan and took a deep breath. "If I haven't made myself clear enough, let me say it again."

I stared straight into his eyes and enunciated every word with perfect clarity.

"Stefan, there is no future for us. The moment I sold the house we'd planned to live in, we were over."

Stefan's face darkened instantly.

Before he could respond, a soft voice drifted over from the entrance to the banquet hall.

"I don't think you're in any position to break up with Stefan."

Josie walked out. She stopped directly in front of me, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

"Stefan told me your parents were murdered during a home invasion, and that you were sexually assaulted by the same robber who killed them."

The entire hall instantly erupted into whispers and gasps.

Everyone's gaze felt like needles piercing my skin from every direction.

The blood in my veins turned to ice.

Josie tilted her chin up. "Queenie, you're already damaged goods. You should be counting your blessings that Stefan is still willing to marry you despite your past."

She scoffed. "I honestly don't get why you're still putting on this pathetic act, standing here pretending to break up with him and playing hard to get. But let's be real. You're just trying to manipulate Stefan, aren't you?"