4: 4
4
In front of everyone, Narelle finally spoke. Since things had already come to this and there was no changing it, she said, I would do exactly as she told me.
First: bow and apologize in public, admit that I was cursed with bad luck, that my body was heavy and clumsy, and that I brought ruin to the Gilbert family's fortune.
Second: swear in front of all the relatives and friends that after the wedding I would strictly diet and keep my weight under a hundred pounds forever, and the day I went over, I'd walk out with nothing.
Third: cut the dowry in half, hand over all the gold wedding jewelry to be locked in her safe, to ward off the bad luck.
I listened without any expression as she read out the three rules, each one harsher than the last, and on my side every one of my family and friends had their fists clenched tight.
She knew that on a wedding day like this, with the Pruitts and the Gilberts both being people of standing, I had no way to back down, and I would surely bow my head and grovel for the sake of appearances.
Julian's ugly expression smoothed over.
“See? I told you. My mother was just trying to scare you. There's no way she'd actually keep you out. Hurry up and apologize, write her a pledge, and this whole thing blows over.”
Everyone in the room was waiting for me to cave and grovel, waiting to watch me eat my humiliation. Too bad. They'd calculated wrong.
I smiled, a wild smile, but one without a shred of hesitation.
I reached up, pulled off the wedding ring and the veil, and shoved all of it into his hands.
My voice was clear and calm, every word landing like a hammer on each of their chests.
“A hundred pounds to get through the door? The Gilbert family's threshold really is set high. Fine. I just won't cross it.”
The room erupted.
“What did you say? You dare call our threshold cheap? You've got some nerve.”
Julian grabbed at me, stunned.
“What are you saying?”
“Exactly what it sounds like. I'm not marrying you. Your Gilbert family isn't anything special.”
Julian's and Narelle's faces changed in an instant.
They'd thought the earlier lesson had taught me my place. Since it hadn't, he saw no reason to spare me any dignity.
“You think you get to decide? I already said it. Once you're inside the Gilbert family, there's no such thing as calling off the wedding.”
“Gilbert, what's this supposed to be? Keep it up and we can call the police.”
“Call the police? Go ahead. Want me to deal with you first?”
I stared them down, cold. They were only pushing this because none of my family had come, using that to lay down their rules over me. They'd figured it wrong.
“Julian, I'll say it one more time. This wedding is off. Let us leave. Otherwise, in five minutes, whatever happens is on you.”
“Still putting on airs. Once you're inside the Gilbert family, you're my son's wife, and it's only right that I discipline my daughter-in-law.”
Julian thought I was bluffing too. He'd already taken my phone. From start to finish I'd had no chance to reach the outside world.
“My mother's right. Stop wasting time. Apologize to my mother now and write the pledge.”
“I won't write it, and I won't set foot in your Gilbert family's door.”
“It's not up to you to refuse. We've got plenty of ways to make you do it.”
Just as they moved to lay hands on me, the assistant came stumbling in from outside.
“Mr. Gilbert, it's over, it's all over!”
