4: 4
The wedding fell apart.
The guests had come to bless the couple. Now they were here for the show.
The story spread fast until everyone had heard it.
The Gilberts couldn't hold their heads up.
At his mother's prompting, Jayden texted me.
"Gabriella, blowing this up won't do you any good. Push it too far and you'll never get through the Gilbert family's door."
"My mom has a big heart. She says you're young, so a little willfulness is only natural. So she's willing to give you a chance."
The corner of my mouth curved.
I wrote back.
"Oh? Go on."
Jayden thought I'd caved.
His tone hardened.
"Now that's what a smart woman sounds like. Buy some gifts, come apologize to my mom in person, I'll put in a few good words for you, and we'll call the whole thing settled."
Then.
He sent me a list.
All high-end women's clothing.
And at the end, a photo.
A kneeling cushion, made of foam.
I let out a scoff.
"You mean kneel and bow my head?"
"Just once, enough to make the point. It's the Gilbert family's custom. See, I was worried you'd be uncomfortable on the floor, so I bought you a foam cushion special."
I sneered inside.
But I replied.
"You really are thoughtful."
Three days later.
I carried a bulging bag.
And knocked on the Gilberts' door.
The living room was packed.
Every one of the Gilbert relatives had come.
Along with a few unfamiliar faces, holding professional camera gear.
At the head of the room.
Mrs. Gilbert sat in a chair, arrogance all over her face.
At her feet.
That kneeling cushion, laid out neatly.
When they saw me come in.
Every face turned scornful.
The whispers started.
*She really came, just like they said, meek as anything.*
*That's called knowing which way the wind blows. Otherwise the Gilberts would drop her, and who'd ever marry her then?*
*If she'd known it'd come to this, why act up in the first place?*
Mrs. Gilbert spoke down at me from her seat.
"Gabriella, it's good that you came on your own to admit you were wrong. Just kneel now and bow your head, and I'll let everything that happened before go."
Then.
She shot the strangers a look.
The camera lenses clicked on, one after another, all trained on the cushion.
I laughed to myself.
She really had it all worked out. The moment I knelt, the Gilberts would win back every ounce of face.
I said: "No rush. Let's have a look at what's in the bag first."
