Otto Sanchez stared me down like he'd never met me before.
In his eyes I had always been meek and long-suffering, loving him with a stubborn, self-effacing devotion that could never, on our wedding day, walk out in front of everyone.
He decided I was just putting on a show, sulking, and the corner of his mouth curled into a cold, mocking smile.
"Denise Henson, do you even know what you're saying?"
His voice climbed higher, sharp and dismissive, dripping with contempt.
"It's one wrong word. A tiny, trivial thing. And you have to blow it up into some big principle and turn a perfectly good wedding upside down?"
"You are completely impossible!"
I watched him, cold-eyed.
"Weren't you the one who said the wedding was off? I'm only agreeing."
Otto choked on that, his jaw clenching.
His parents stepped forward at once, dressing me down in front of everyone.
Katherine Sanchez frowned, her tone scathing.
"Denise, don't take this the wrong way, but your temperament really is dreadful. You never talk, you sit there dull as a mute, and you're contrary and touchy on top of it."
"Throwing a tantrum at something this important, at your own wedding? Who could put up with that?"
"Our Otto is young, accomplished, a success. He could have any kind of woman he wanted. His being willing to settle down honestly with you is a blessing beyond your wildest hopes. Don't sit in the middle of good fortune and fail to see it."
Saul Sanchez put on the same stern face and chimed in.
"It was just a little joke, no need to cling to it. What are people from a small, ordinary family like yours doing putting on grand-lady airs? Do as Otto says, finish the wedding, and stop making a spectacle for people to laugh at."
Lena Quinn's eyes reddened, and she played the wronged, sensible peacemaker.
"Denise, a wedding is the great event of a lifetime. Don't let your feelings run away with you. As long as you don't throw a fit and just get married properly, I promise I'll keep my distance from Otto from now on. I'll never get tangled up in your life again, all right?"
She said it generous and aggrieved, and the moment the words were out, tears came rolling down.
Otto's heart clearly broke for her, and his face filled with fury as he suddenly rounded on me and shouted.
"Denise Henson! You just have to keep pushing until you make her cry, is that it? What is it you're really after?!"
"Lena's the one stepping back and apologizing, promising to stay away from me, and you still won't let it go. Apologize to her, now!"
Before I could open my mouth, a cold, cutting man's voice cut in.
Aiden Henson stepped up and planted himself in front of me, tall and straight, staring dead at Otto.
"Her apology is something you can't afford!"
All eight of my brothers moved into place behind him, their presence filling the space.
Otto faltered for a moment, then slid back into the posture of a man who thought himself above us, his tone an aggrieved accusation.
"Aiden, even you're going to indulge Denise in this nonsense? It's a small thing, one apology, and you'd rather see both families lose face over it?"
"As long as Denise apologizes nicely to Lena, I'm willing to let it all go, and the wedding goes ahead as planned."
Benedict Henson let out a scoffing laugh, cold rolling up in his eyes, the pressure of him bearing down.
"Who exactly do you think you're threatening?"
"Otto Sanchez, I'd advise you to think before you speak. One more wrong word and I'll show you, right now, just how flimsy this so-called success of yours really is."
