My wedding with Gibson Amenoff had been postponed for the ninth time—this time because my mother had gotten into a car accident the day before the ceremony.
She suffered fifteen compound fractures all over her body and had been admitted to the ICU. She still hadn’t woken up.
When the doctor told me there was a very real chance my mother would remain in a coma, I could no longer hold it together. Tears streamed down my face.
On my way back to her hospital room, I stopped at a corner and overheard a conversation between Gibson and one of his friends.
“You had her pushed into the pool and given sleeping pills just to delay the wedding with Margery. Now, she and her mother have been in accidents, and Margery doesn’t even have a father. What are you planning to do next?”
Those words landed on me like ice.
Gibson was in a suit, still wearing the engagement token I had given him.
His voice was calm when he replied, “I’m not postponing anymore.”
His friend looked astonished. “Then what about you and Wanda?”
Gibson fell silent for a moment.
When he spoke again, his gaze softened.
“I’ve known Margery for a long time. Everyone expected me to marry her—I expected it too. If Wanda hadn’t appeared, I probably would have just gone through the motions and married her anyway.”
“You mean the one you like is Wanda, so why don’t you marry her?” his friend pressed in confusion.
Gibson let out a bitter little smile.
“I do love her, yeah. But Margery’s mother saved my father. She’s done us a great favor. I can’t just throw that away. The nine postponements were already my biggest struggle. I’ve already delayed so much time with Wanda. I can’t be selfish anymore.”
Hearing that, I couldn’t hold back any longer. Tears blurred my vision as I stumbled back to my mother’s room.
I never imagined that all nine previous wedding delays were because of my own groom.
He could have told me the truth. But instead, he chose to go this far.
I was pushed into a pool. I was drugged with sleeping pills. My mother and I were in an accident—and she still hasn’t woken up…
Wasn’t he afraid that we might never wake up?
That thought hardened my resolve.
There was no need for a tenth wedding. I didn’t want him anymore.
But the pain and suffering he caused my mother and me? I would make him pay—every last bit of it.
With that thought, I pulled out my phone and sent a message.
[I accept the position at your company. I’ll report for work in seven days.]
1
Margery’s POV
After I received the confirmation from the other party, I put my phone away.
The red light outside the operating room was still flashing when suddenly a group of people swept past me. They barged into my mother’s surgery with a single, terrible purpose.
I stared at the scene in disbelief.
“Mom!” I screamed and ran in.
The next second, a pair of rough hands ripped at my hair without mercy.
They dragged my mother out; her eyes were shut tight, her face contorted in pain. The wounds from the car accident opened again and bled profusely because of their rough handling.
“You lunatics! Who are you? Leave my mother alone! I’ll give you anything!” My voice broke on the last words.
They answered my plea with cruel laughter.
In an instant, they flung my mother to the floor.
There was a sickening crack; she went limp and collapsed.
I was pinned to the floor. Dozens of rough hands clamped at my throat and tore open my collar.
I wanted to die at that moment, but a white-hot hatred kept my eyes blazing red as I stared at them.
They seemed to enjoy it; one slap after another struck my face.
In the final instant before I lost consciousness, Gibson burst in with a handful of bodyguards.
He looked frantic as he scooped me up into his arms.
“Margery! You’re safe now. It’s over. I’m here. You don’t have to be afraid anymore.”
I clung to him, but my gaze was fixed on my mother’s motionless body.
Even though I had been rescued, my body felt cold and numb.
When I woke up again, I was lying in a hospital bed. Cold IV fluid coursed into my veins, and I shivered uncontrollably.
From the doorway, voices drifted in.
“Why did you do this, Wanda?” Gibson asked, his voice edged with frustration and confusion.
Hearing that name, my body froze.
Wanda’s flirty voice replied next.
“I know you didn’t want to marry Margery. I love you, so I wanted to help. Look, didn’t I do well? Her mother is dead. Margery certainly won’t want to have a wedding in the near future. She’s injured now and can’t cling to you anymore. Finally, we can talk like we used to.”
Then came the rustle of clothing. Through the gap in the door, I could see them embracing.
Wanda’s words cut into my chest like a steel blade.
My blood went cold and my whole body stiffened on the bed.
My mother and all of this was Wanda’s doing?
At the doorway, Gibson and Wanda were kissing, utterly absorbed in each other.
After a few moments, feeling moved, he said, “You didn’t have to do this. It’s okay. I’ll cover for everything you’ve done. You just love me too much.”
Wanda’s fair hands looped around his neck.
Then, they resumed their passionate kissing.
Gibson’s expression was unlike anything I had ever seen in our ten years together.
To everyone else, he was always composed, restrained, and rational. He never showed this side.
But now, in front of the woman who had killed my mother, he bared a different face!
Gibson and I had been engaged for five years.
My mother had worked for the Amenoffs; once, when Gibson’s father suffered a heart attack, she saved him.
Because of that, I had the chance to become engaged to Gibson.
The Amenoffs had treated me well, and even the usually aloof Gibson had shown me a special kindness. I had always believed he loved me and that I was special to him.
Even after our wedding was postponed nine times, I never once suspected him.
I never imagined the truth would be unveiled so cruelly, right before my eyes.
I curled my fingers until my palm ached.
I swore I would make Wanda and Gibson pay.
I would make them suffer the same miserable fate as my mother!
