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.

present. I was glad my mother was

me into a room; it wasn’t any random room; this must be

his black tux. I try not to let his presence affect me but just as always, I fail big time. As long

hears the door close behind us, and I lose my breath when his gaze locks with mine. He takes 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

the silence. “I’ll go find him. See what you can do about the

mother was using that as an excuse to leave us in

inches away from my body. His eyes are locked on my face, and I have to wonder if he can see the mark that

lightly tilts my chin to get a better look at my cheek. There is a cute frown on

That confirms it.

features and

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 first

in my heart. I didn’t get rid of the people I loved that easily.

you sure?” He asks. “It almost looks

hit me—your mate. I wonder if Atticus would still take her side in a situation like this. Knowing how much he loved her was

some makeup over it, and I’ll join you. It really is

seem to be convinced, but something else holds his

recognized it. I didn’t want to accept it,

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

look of surprise and anguish crossed his handsome features. I know that speaking about

you were that close to her.” He admits. “That necklace was her favorite piece of jewelry. I’ve always asked about it, but my grandfather never told me you

his closeness. I’m drawn to the way his forehead creases as he continues to take a closer look, even his eyelashes were perfect. I still couldn’t get over how