Chapter 2
“Stop making excuses,” Valda shot back, dismissive. “All men screw up. As long as he gets it together after the wedding, what’s the big deal? Now hurry up and stop keeping Jeff waiting!”
Valda didn’t care about Maeve’s sufferings at all–she was too busy holding on to the money she had in her grasp. She yanked Maeve out of bed, rushed her through a quick wash and change, and practically shoved her out the door toward city hall.
Standing outside the city hall, surrounded by couples buzzing with excitement and anticipation, Maeve was overwhelmed by a crushing sense of despair. She should’ve known–no one in her family cared about her feelings.
Her entire life had been controlled by her parents–the schools she went to, the friends she had, even the career she chose. She had been their good daughter for twenty three years, but today, she wasn’t going to let them control her anymore, especially not when it meant marrying a man who treated her like dirt.
At this moment, a bold idea struck her: to find someone else to marry and derail her family’s plans for good before Jeff even showed up. ‘But where the hell am I going to find someone to marry on such short notice?” she wondered.
Just then, a deep, chilling voice sliced through the air behind Maeve. “So, you’re telling me it took you this long to figure out my fiancée ran off with a bodyguard?”
Hearing that the man was in a similar boat, Maeve couldn’t help but turn to see who was speaking–it was a tall, impeccably dressed man standing under a nearby tree, his body angled so that she could see one side of him as he spoke on his phone.
He was devastatingly handsome, his dark suit tailored to perfection, radiating an air of commanding elegance. Even from several feet away, Maeve could feel the intense authority he exuded.
His lips twisted into a sardonic smile as he listened to the voice on the other end. “Don’t even bother looking,” he replied coolly. “Heh, are there really no other women out there? Do I seriously have to settle for someone who’s already run off with another man?”
“But Mr. McDaniel, Mr. Gilbert McDaniel insists you either find another suitable woman or just grab someone off the street. He’s made it clear: you’re getting married today no matter what. Otherwise…” The voice on the other end hesitated. “He wouldn’t go on living…”
A flicker of hope sparked in Maeve’s eyes as she quietly approached him.
Byron McDaniel rubbed his temples in frustration. His grandpa really knew how to push his buttons. Just as Byron was about to snap back, he suddenly felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
He turned to see a woman standing there, her voice barely above a whisper. “Excuse me, sir,” Maeve said tentatively. “I overheard your partner has run off. I was wondering if you’d like to marry me instead?”
21:40 Thu, Dec 26
