The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn

The Unwanted Bride Of Atticus Fawn Chapter 17

~AUTUMN~

“What happened to your face?” My mother asks as I step out of the car. She was too occupied earlier to realize how red it was, just my luck that she chose to pay attention to me now.

“Anya slapped me,” I answer her. There was no use trying to hide it from her. My mother could always easily tell when I was lying.

She gasps, “I never liked that girl. Why would she hit you on your engagement night? If I’d known she would be so bitter, I would have never let her into our home.”

“I don’t know, mother; maybe it’s because I’m marrying her mate.” I point out, answering her question with the most obvious response.

My mother sighs, “that gives her no right to hit you. Why don’t you stand up for yourself more? You’ve always let that girl walk all over you. We grew you up to avoid confrontations and arguments, but that girl was never your real friend to begin with.”

“That’s not true.” I try to defend her. I know she’d just hit me, and what she did was wrong, but I still understood why she did it. I didn’t want to completely kick her out of my life because of one incident.

“It isn’t?” She asks. “So then, why did you cry whenever you returned home from spending time with her?”

I look away from my mother’s penetrating gaze. I cried because I had no choice but to see Atticus with her. Being her best friend left me no other option. I cried because I hated how much she hurt him. I cried because she always tried to put me down and tell me I wasn’t as pretty or popular as she was.

“Your silence proves my point.” She says as she takes my arm in hers. “It’s too late to put anything on your face now. We will have to fix you up inside.”

I didn’t know what I expected to see when I stepped inside, but nothing could prepare me for the hundreds of guests looking straight at me. I knew the wedding would be a big one; I didn’t think the engagement would also be this massive.

that half of our school was present. I was glad my mother was holding my hand as she guided me through the back, where

wasn’t any random room; this must be

dressed in his black tux. I try not to let his presence affect me but just as always,

his slow time examining me from head to toe. Does he not see my mother in the room with us? I don’t think he cares at this point. I squeeze my hands tightly into fists as I try to fight the nervousness. It’s

looking for us.” My mother says to me, breaking the silence. “I’ll go find him. See what you can

mother was

and I stop freaking breathing. He doesn’t stop until he’s a few inches away from my body. His eyes are locked on my face, and I have to wonder if he can see the mark that Anya left. If my mother could,

better look at my cheek. There is a

That confirms it.

clouds his features and I know that he’s getting angrier

Anya hit me would not make things easier on any of us. She was hurting. I was trying to be understanding. I might react similarly to her if I was in her position. We’ve been inseparable for years, and it’s the

she will always have a place in my heart. I didn’t get rid of the people I loved that easily. She would have to totally betray me for that

you sure?” He asks. “It almost looks like someone hit

still take her side in a situation like this. Knowing how much he loved her was enough of an

put some makeup over it, and I’ll join you. It really is nothing

but something else holds

necklace. It was a gift from his grandmother. He must have recognized it. I didn’t want to accept it, but she insisted. She was one of the kindest women I’ve ever

to me the week before she died. She told me to wear it on my engagement night as well

I know

“That necklace was her favorite piece of jewelry. I’ve always asked about it, but my grandfather never

fingers. My heart rate accelerates from his closeness. I’m drawn to the way his forehead creases