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

me into a room; it wasn’t any random room;

not to let his presence affect me but just as always, I fail big time. As long as we are in

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

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

really looking for us or my mother was using that as an excuse to leave us in a

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

my cheek. There is a cute frown on his face as he

That confirms it.

that he sounds concerned, however. Darkness clouds his features and I know

telling him 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

place in my heart. I didn’t get rid of the

asks. “It almost looks like

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

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

be convinced, but something else holds his

on my neck. I lightly touch the diamond necklace. It was a gift from his grandmother. He must have recognized it.

week before she died. She told me to wear it on my

of surprise and anguish crossed his handsome features. I know

of jewelry. I’ve always

to the way his forehead creases as