I couldn't take it anymore. My hand flew up and connected with his face.
Smack!
The slap echoed through the room.
Jordan's eyes went wide, a red handprint blooming across his cheek. "Luna! What the hell are you doing?!"
I didn't care. I screamed at the top of my lungs. "Help! Someone help me!"
The groomsmen outside heard the commotion and crowded toward the door, trying to push their way in.
"What's going on?"
My best friend Amy Lambert shoved through, eyes blazing. She started toward me immediately.
But Jordan's voice turned ice-cold. "Amy, stay out of this. They're just playing a game with Luna."
Amy looked at my face—flushed with rage, nothing remotely playful about it.
I glared at the men surrounding me and spat out everything they'd just done.
Amy's expression shifted to horror. Her hands shook as she reached for me, trying to pull me toward the door.
But Jordan moved to block the exit. The others exchanged glances and closed in.
Amy and I locked eyes. We both felt it—something was very wrong.
My voice cracked. "Jordan! There are dozens of guests right outside. What exactly are you trying to do?"
He said nothing.
My stomach dropped.
Leon let out a low laugh. "Sister-in-law, the pickup game isn't over yet. We're just getting started." His eyes slid to Amy. "And your little friend here—pretty face, nice figure..."
He didn't need to finish. I knew exactly what that look meant.
Revulsion crawled over my skin. I grabbed Amy's arm and tried to force our way past them.
Two of them lunged. They seized our arms and legs and threw us both onto the bed.
"Why can't you just behave?" Leon loomed over us, his breath reeking of liquor. "Hold them down. Feed them the bananas."
One of the men grabbed Amy by the shoulders and shoved a banana toward her mouth.
Amy—sweet, sheltered Amy—had never seen anything like this. Her eyes instantly filled with tears.
I glared up at them through the rage. "You'll regret this. I swear I won't let any of you off!"
"Jordan! Is this your family's idea of wedding tradition—humiliating women? I'm calling the police!"
Jordan's gaze flickered. His voice came out thin, guilty. "Luna, it's just a joke. Just do it and we can move on. We'll miss the auspicious hour."
I must have been blind to ever fall for such a spineless coward.
I swallowed my fury. "Jordan, I'm not marrying you. Let us go before my family gets here—or I can't promise what happens next."
Jordan hesitated.
Leon cut in fast. "Jordan, she's not even your wife yet and you're already letting her boss you around? What happens after the wedding—she gonna walk all over you?"
He was getting worked up now. "It's just the bride pickup! You can't even handle this? If you let her go now, what will people say about you?" He sneered. "They'll say your household is run by women."
The other groomsmen piled on, voices overlapping in agreement.
Jordan's expression shifted, wavered. He looked at me, torn.
"Luna, Mom said nothing can go wrong on the wedding day, or our future will be cursed. Just... just bear with it."
Looking at that pathetic face, everything became crystal clear.
This marriage was never going to happen.
I pulled out my phone.
Leon charged at me and smashed it to the floor.
