The Sergeant Major's Surprise Bride

The Sergeant Major's Surprise Bride

Barclay Hsu

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My father' s eyes always gleamed when he spoke of the family pact. Whichever daughter got the higher SAT scores and into a prestigious university would marry Mark Johnson, the town' s golden boy. The loser would marry David Wilson, a rumored delinquent from the poorer side of town. This wasn't just a family discussion; this was a replay. In my first life, I was the smart one. I got the top scores, the prestigious university acceptance. I married Mark, lived in a beautiful house. But "golden boy" Mark turned into a monster. After my sister Jessica, forced to marry David, died of an overdose, Mark blamed me. He became cruel, then violent. When I was pregnant with his child, he pushed me from our balcony. "If you hadn't rigged the scores, Jessica would be alive!" he' d screamed, his face twisted. Then darkness. I remember the fall, the pain, the utter betrayal. My perfect life had been a terrifying lie. Killed by the man I married, carrying his child. How could a dream turn into such a brutal nightmare? But then I was back. Living it all again. This time, I remembered everything. This time, I would not repeat the past. This time, I would not marry Mark Johnson. Even if it meant marrying the outcast, David Wilson.

Introduction

My father's eyes always gleamed when he spoke of the family pact.

Whichever daughter got the higher SAT scores and into a prestigious university would marry Mark Johnson, the town's golden boy.

The loser would marry David Wilson, a rumored delinquent from the poorer side of town.

This wasn't just a family discussion; this was a replay.

In my first life, I was the smart one. I got the top scores, the prestigious university acceptance. I married Mark, lived in a beautiful house.

But "golden boy" Mark turned into a monster.

After my sister Jessica, forced to marry David, died of an overdose, Mark blamed me. He became cruel, then violent.

When I was pregnant with his child, he pushed me from our balcony.

"If you hadn't rigged the scores, Jessica would be alive!" he'd screamed, his face twisted.

Then darkness.

I remember the fall, the pain, the utter betrayal. My perfect life had been a terrifying lie.

Killed by the man I married, carrying his child.

How could a dream turn into such a brutal nightmare?

But then I was back. Living it all again.

This time, I remembered everything.

This time, I would not repeat the past.

This time, I would not marry Mark Johnson. Even if it meant marrying the outcast, David Wilson.

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