My mother-in-law's expression shifted—shock to anger to helplessness.
I bit my lip hard. "Mrs. James! Don't listen to Jordan's lies—please help us!"
No one outside dared to come in. She was our only chance.
But the pity in her eyes vanished. Panic replaced it. "Luna, just cooperate! It'll be over soon! I just remembered—I have something to do!"
She fled without looking back.
Bang!
The door swung shut. In that split second, I caught the looks on those men's faces outside.
The door closed, cutting off every last hope for me and my best friend.
I glared at the men in front of me. "Don't push it!"
"Jordan, if you don't want to marry me, just say so! But you can't humiliate me like this!"
He shook his head.
"Luna, I never said I wouldn't marry you. Just be good and finish the game."
Leon snorted. "Jordan, I'm bored with that game. Let's switch to something new."
I bit through my lip, screaming with everything I had. "What else do you want?"
"Animals!"
My best friend and I fought back with all our strength, but we were no match for them.
Jordan didn't refuse. He glanced toward the door.
Something glinted in Leon's eyes. He shoved me onto the bed, his head diving under the wedding dress.
My best friend's clothes were ripped to shreds. Two men pounced on her.
My vision went red. I was on the verge of breaking.
Then—hurried footsteps. The door slammed open.
"I want to see who dares touch anyone from Clearwater Village!"
Everyone froze.
I saw the neighbors rushing in, and the wire-tight tension in my chest finally snapped loose.
Miles Simmons took one look at the state of us and wordlessly shielded me and my best friend behind him. His face was black as thunder.
"Jordan James! This is how you treat people from Clearwater Village?"
His roar made every man who'd been so cocky a moment ago change color.
Jordan swallowed hard. "Chief Simmons, she… how could she be from your village? You must be mistaken."
The onlookers frowned.
Now that the villagers had arrived, those who'd been watching the spectacle followed them inside.
"What kind of logic is that? Just because Luna isn't from Clearwater Village, you think you can treat her like this?"
"Exactly! Grown men ganging up on a woman on her wedding day—have you no shame?"
With backup finally here, others who'd been too scared to speak up joined in.
My mother-in-law rushed over. The moment she saw Chief Simmons, her face twisted.
"Let's talk this out! It's all a misunderstanding!"
"Chief Simmons, right? Kids will be kids. Luna, hurry and tell him—if you keep this up, you'll miss the auspicious hour!"
She shot me frantic, meaningful looks.
Jordan panicked too. "Luna! What are you standing there for? Don't tell me you actually want to cause a scene today?"
"Come on, it was just a joke! Don't blow this out of proportion!"
His scolding almost made me laugh.
Chief Simmons's face was ashen. He turned to me, asking what I wanted to do.
"Luna, this kind of man is an animal. Do you really still want to marry him?"
Everyone held their breath.
I stared coldly at those disgusting men and spoke, word by word:
"The wedding is off. And I want them to pay for this."
