"My family's been pushing hard for me to marry. I dropped you hints, plenty of them. You haven't forgotten that, have you?"
"Aisha, I, Jude Henson, have never abased myself like this for any woman!"
"So everything happening right now, you brought it on yourself!"
Each word came out low and furious, ringing through the hospital lobby.
Jude shut his eyes and breathed in deep, over and over, working to cool the anger down.
When he opened them again, most of the fire had drained out.
A faint sneer had taken its place at the corner of his mouth.
"Aisha, I know about the wedding dress your mother sent you."
"Since you've already decided to marry me, I can make an allowance for it."
"On one condition. You wait until Blanche and I are divorced."
"As for when that divorce happens, that depends on how you behave."
He finished, took a call from Blanche, then turned and walked off.
I stayed where I was, one hand carefully cradling the gauzy skirt of the gown, and wiped my eyes dry.
Then I dialed my father.
"Papa, the matchmaking gathering at Summer Ranch in three days. I want to go."
"Jude Henson. I'm not marrying him anymore."
After booking a flight back to the northern highlands, I took off the gown, stitched it carefully back together, and folded it neatly into my suitcase.
Jude pushed the door open and saw me packing.
He froze for a few seconds, then spoke without much interest.
"I know dresses like that are something you people start preparing as girls. But this is New York, not the highlands."
"If you want to marry me, you wear a white wedding gown."
As he said it, he loosened his tie, pulled out his phone, and held it up in front of me.
A full screen of white gowns, every style there was.
"Blanche and I are having our wedding. In three days."
"These are the ones she passed over. You can pick something from them."
"Once she and I divorce, you'll get to wear it."
His words still came wrapped in barbs.
I listened in silence and said nothing.
A few seconds later he set the phone down and spoke coldly.
"Blanche's mother had a real fright today. Go to the hospital and apologize to her."
"That's the first step. Show me you're sincere—"
"I won't."
"What did you say?!"
Stunned that I'd refused, Jude's voice climbed several notches.
"Aisha, do you still want to marry me or not?!"
"Now! Right now! Come with me and apologize!"
His face was tight with temper as he gripped my wrist hard.
"Aisha, I'm giving you one last chance. Are you going to apologize or not?!"
"Jude. I'm not going."
"Not now, and not ever."
I looked him straight in the eye and said every word of it.
His grip on my hand clamped down all at once.
"Aisha, you're coming with me whether you want to or not!"
He dragged me the whole way, and he'd just hauled me to the door when Blanche came rushing in.
"Jude, I've been so worried."
"My mother's not doing well..."
She wrapped herself around him, sobbing softly.
I stood off to the side and watched. Then Blanche suddenly lifted her head.
"Aisha, have your parents send over a few more bags of wild medicinal herbs!"
"This time, I won't make Jude give away the slot for fixing your mother's leg."
Her words slid past my ear.
I went rigid, a few seconds of pure disbelief.
"Jude, is what Blanche said true?"
"You gave away my mother's treatment slot on purpose?"
"Do you have any idea? Because she missed that treatment, her leg is crippled for the rest of her life?!"
