Chapter 36

Catherine scrubbed her body over and over, trying to get rid of the marks. Her lower half throbbed so badly it was going numb. Her face was streaked with tears. What now? What should she do? The video of her was everywhere online. She hadn't dared step outside, holed up at home while swarms of reporters camped outside her door. But none of that mattered—what really mattered was whether William would forgive her, whether he would still be on her side. Panic had completely taken over her senses. She didn't even stop to think about what had gone wrong at the church. All she knew was that if William gave up on her, then she was finished. She called him again and again, but he never picked up. Not even his assistant—the one who handed her the drink before the ceremony—could be reached. Catherine felt like she was falling into a bottomless pit, her whole body going cold. Her wedding, her dream of becoming Mrs. Turner—it had all gone up in smoke. She broke down, sobbing hard. How had everythi