The Billion-Dollar Secret

R

o my mother; I was waiting for one of them to double

lling me stupid and naive for beli

eyes up as I waited for something; anything; that would hint at this being a large and expensive joke. Perhaps

sing a scene," Mom informed, drilling the information to me so painfully slow li

k them if they had all gone crazy, but I had

e next two weeks? When were you all going to tell me? If I hadn't caught them

had told you. This is nobody's fault

All of you," I c

ry

out of the room, save for my mother, who cl

, I wouldn't have had much of a problem with

g this path." She walked up to me, using her thumb

she has to get married to an equally strong heir of another com

er sorry expression morphe

d leaving my face and rendering me cold. "What is so wrong

at my expense,"

h by her, but I chose to leave things the way they were and not address them. I b

ith a sigh, walking toward

d you're sure about causing a scene, do not att

asked questions. I had avoided dinner with them all because of what they had all done to me, and I had acc

my day was in the hospital, where my littl

ot avoid, even if I wan

thought in my head that they were probably kissing on the altar o

into the living room in the light pink dress she had picked out for me. I

azing," I retort

t the foot of the stairs, waiting f

our vision. I raised my brows at the heaviness of the dress,

voice wavering. She used the tissue she has been h

t to the bottom of the stairs. She turned to me

and walking towards the door and away from t

ate to turn back and go to your room if you believe you're go

o the car and remained quiet for

your lawfully wedded husband, to love and respe

d

Baxter, take

o be mindfully present in an event like that. If I tried to focus on the unbelievable thing that was happening,

s, they had just kissed, and everyone a

ther. I was being spoon-fed my own bad luck and f

e reception, my mother r

cameras everywhere," Mom told

at?" I qu

all of this happened. You don't know how sorry I am that we did this to you, but I'm a

our own wedding to the man who wa

est when she blurted the one thing I

put your brother in that con