Chapter 4

Jayden didn't expect me to show up.

"So you finally came to find me?"

I ignored that and kept talking.

"What is it exactly the two of you are trying to give me? A graceful way out?"

"You're the ones who spread lies about me, and now you call it giving me a way out?"

Jayden caught the chill in my voice and answered impatiently.

"Amelia, that's enough."

"Don't scare Shirley. She didn't do it on purpose."

"Who could have known it would spread like that? And besides, isn't it the truth anyway?"

Shirley hid behind Jayden, her eyes full of provocation.

I looked at Jayden and said, not believing what I was hearing,

"So you think I was with you for your money too, is that it?"

Jayden didn't answer. His eyes, which had been on me, started to slide away.

"If that's how it is, then let's not get married at all."

I went to find Martin.

"I'm sorry. I dragged you into all this."

Martin was quiet for a moment, then said slowly,

"It's fine. I'm used to it."

The words came out calm, but they held a bottomless kind of bitterness.

I transferred him a sum of money.

This time I made him take it.

The last few days had been a whirlwind.

I'd wanted to finally get some rest, but then a message came from the wedding planner.

By the time I rushed over, Jayden was there laughing and chatting with Shirley.

"What if I switched out the flowers for the wedding to chrysanthemums? Do you think Amelia would like that?"

"White chrysanthemums would be even better. They symbolize how pure and spotless your love is."

Jayden agreed to Shirley's suggestion without a second's thought.

"Whatever you say."

"She'll definitely love it."

Shirley flipped idly through the catalog, then tossed it aside.

"But honestly, I'd love to wear a wedding dress too. Walking down the aisle with you, Jayden, must feel amazing!"

"I really envy Amelia. Imagine having a boyfriend as wonderful as you."

Jayden raised an eyebrow. "That's nothing. I could walk it with you once, couldn't I?"

Shirley gave him a giggling little kiss on the cheek.

"Jayden, you're so good to me."

"But if Amelia found out, I don't know if she'd be angry."

Jayden tapped the bridge of Shirley's nose, doting.

"Don't worry. Amelia's just some poor kid from the sticks."

"She'd never bear to leave me."

I froze where I stood.

So that was the real reason he'd let Shirley bully me so shamelessly all this time.

"Miss Summers, you're here?"

A staff member nearby recognized me and greeted me.

The two over there heard it and saw me too.

Shirley greeted me brightly.

"Amelia, what brings you here?"

"Didn't Martin come with you?"

I turned my head and looked at her.

"Why shouldn't I be here?"

"This is my wedding with Jayden. What are you doing here?"

Shirley's face went pale, and she looked to Jayden for help.

He was leaning back against the sofa, both arms spread across it.

"Shirley just came to help us with ideas. What's the problem, is that not allowed?"

He looked at me with something complicated in his eyes.

"Shirley just suggested changing all the flowers at the wedding to chrysanthemums. I think it's a great idea. What do you say?"

I took a step back. "Chrysanthemums, to mourn you?"

Jayden's face darkened.

Shirley instantly moved in front of him, playing the protector.

"Amelia, what are you saying!"

"I was kindly helping plan the wedding for you and Jayden, and you go and call him a dead man!"

Jayden's face was so grim it looked like it might drip.

"Amelia, have you finished reflecting on yourself? Did you come to apologize to me?"

"But do you really think you look like someone here to apologize?"

I pulled the ring off my finger and threw it straight at Jayden.

"I'm not here to apologize."

"I'm here to call off the wedding."