3
The moment my father said that, Alison only cried harder.
She looked ready to faint, her lips trembling.
"Sandy, I really didn't—" she pleaded, eyes swimming with tears.
The way she looked at me, one more word about her wrongdoing and she'd collapse right there on the spot.
I stepped forward, out from behind my father.
My eyes went to the hand she had pressed to her stomach.
Honestly, with acting like that, it was a waste she hadn't gone into film.
I gave a small smile. "Stomach cramps, and yet you still managed to drag yourself here to apologize. Alison, you really are hard on yourself."
The second the words left my mouth, her tears stopped cold.
She hurried to explain, "Sandy, I only came because I wanted to say sorry to you in person. I pushed through the pain to be here. How could you think that of me... Is that really the kind of vicious woman I am, in your eyes?"
Luke jumped in at once, his brows knotted tight enough to crush a fly. "Sandra, Ali's in this state and you're still being snide? It's one engagement dinner. What's wrong with pushing it back? Do you really have to be this petty?"
His logic almost made me laugh, and in that instant whatever love I had left for him scattered for good.
"Just one engagement dinner?" I said coldly.
"Luke, easy for you to say. Do you have any idea that this stunt of yours has humiliated the entire Pruitt family?"
Before Luke could answer, Alison started trembling again.
Her voice went so faint it was almost lost. "It's all my fault... I'll leave right now. Luke, you stay... I can get to the hospital on my own..." And with that she moved to push away from him and head for the door.
But Luke couldn't bear to let her go alone. He pulled her back and held her tight.
His eyes went colder still when they turned to me. "Are you determined to make sure no one saves face today?"
"Me?" I twisted the corner of my mouth.
"From start to finish, it's the two of you shameless people causing this scene. Since you've got no one but Alison in your heart, then go and live your life with her. This engagement is off. I'm calling it off today."
Luke froze. Clearly he hadn't expected me, who had always done whatever he said, to call off the engagement so bluntly.
After a long silence, he finally spoke. "You sure?"
"I'm sure."
I met his gaze and said it plainly, one word at a time, without a shred of hesitation.
Five years of my youth thrown to the dogs was still better than a lifetime trapped in the mud.
His face darkened at once. He stared at me for a while, as if trying to make sure I wasn't just saying it in anger.
But my face stayed calm and unmoved. I didn't even furrow my brow.
The last trace of hope in his eyes slowly sank.
After a long moment, he pushed out one line. "Sandra, don't you regret this."
I smiled. "Don't worry, I definitely won't. And I hope you won't either."
