Chapter 3

I looked at Ralph in disbelief, a dull pain stabbing at my heart. I had loved him and trusted him enough to reveal the broken parts of myself. Now, those pieces had become weapons he could use against me. For a moment, he seemed to realize what he had said. His expression froze. But the next second, it hardened again into cold certainty. He grabbed my chin and looked down at me. "Get on your knees and apologize to Raven! Do it, or the wedding is off immediately! "We're not even legally married yet. You do realize what canceling the wedding now would mean, don't you?" His eyes, once full of tender affection, now brimmed with threats and icy resolve. Yet beneath the coldness was a quiet certainty. He was sure I loved him and couldn't let him go. He believed I would endure everything for the sake of our ten years together and kneel to apologize to Raven. She looked at me provocatively, out of Ralph's line of sight, her eyes sparkling with victorious mischief. But when he had asked, "When did you become so wicked?", it stabbed me like a knife in my already scarred heart. I should have gotten used to it by then, but hearing it from the person closest to me still hurt. I sneered. "Then cancel the wedding." Ralph's jaw tightened. "Fine. As you wish. The wedding's off. "Go home. Think about what you did wrong. When you figure it out, then we'll talk about the wedding again." With that, he picked up Raven and strode out of the banquet hall. She looked back and made a face at me. The remaining guests shifted awkwardly. I stepped onto the stage and began my apology. "Please accept my sincere apologies for the unfortunate events you witnessed today. The wedding has been canceled, and I regret any inconvenience this may have caused. Thank you for your understanding." After all the guests had left, Ralph's mother, Edith Wilhelm, called me back home. "On your knees!" Her harsh, unfair attitude made my heart sink. "I didn't do anything wrong. Why should I kneel?" Edith didn't waste time arguing. With a sharp command, the butler stepped in and forced me to the ground. The tip of her shoe hooked under my chin, lifting it as she sneered, "You've been with my son for ten years, and now you've gone and held a grand wedding. Who's going to want you now? If you want the Sadler family to put up with you, you'd better do as I say. "Calling off the wedding with Ralph over something as small as Raven making you sign an agreement?" I stared coldly at Edith, all jewels and makeup. She had been warm and friendly when we first met. Now that she was convinced I couldn't leave Ralph, she didn't even bother pretending anymore. "That's a Virginity Transfer Agreement!" I said. She admired her manicure, unfazed. "So what? Raven was just testing you. She's Ralph's sister. You really think she could take his first night? After the wedding, he'd still end up in your bed. "Raven's right. Men face plenty of temptations out there. You need to be more understanding. If you can't handle a little test like this, how do you expect to marry into the Sadler family?" I kept my voice calm. "Was this really just a test? Raven is his adopted sister. They are not related by blood." Edith jumped to her feet, her voice sharp. "That's impossible! Ralph only sees her as a sister. If there were anything between them, you wouldn't have had a chance! "Get out! Apologize to Ralph and Raven. You can only come back to marry him once they forgive you." I let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Mrs. Sadler… I hope you won't regret what you've done today."