The Silent Bride

a's

. Her well-groomed hand clutched the back of the dining chair as if she may

my finger while maintaining eye contact. I also wanted

y head snapped up at her piercing to

ead. Nancy wasn't the type to simply disa

of hair away from her face. "How would you know? All y

didn't wince. Instead, I reache

called her

ut of my grasp and read the message. "Do you think I'm stupid?

ignored me when I pointed to the phone. "She has ran away." She muttered, more to herself than to

I kept in my pocket

back. Nancy

oice had stopped."Do you know what Derrick Crawford's family will do if

made her choices, but the words wouldn't come. They hadn't sinc

d, and I felt si

replac

grasp and landed on the

thed, but not

most sensible thing in the world, as if she hadn't ju

ll notice the difference if you wear a

of my head, but she closed the gap between us

dia," she hissed. "You owe this famil

slap. I stared at her, unable

lly typed on my phone, sho

er. You don't have her... distractions. You'll do what's needed for this

t I couldn't because of the silence inside of me. I gra

t prepared for this. I d

g in this marriage. It is about forming coalitions and protecting our future. Derri

just the walls; it was her control, her expectations, and the

lie. To pretend to

ink we'll survive the scandal if Nancy's disappearance gets out? This

pty, and bitter laugh

ly answer I co

ave a choi

mphant sparkle in her eye,

ike vultures, a group of stylists swooped down on the house,

yanking at the hem of the dress. "Nancy

urge to sign, but what was the

d physically exhausted. Curling up o

you o

est friend, Elise, ap

N

diately, sh

id your mom do s

nt of hesita

me marry Nan

y blinked for what felt like an e

be serious, Nad

. She has already

ut you? What

want? I wanted to run, to scream, to fi

It doesn't matt

ied righ

you don't have to do

r the keyboard, I gazed at

the door. Without waiting for permission, m

nish the details tomorrow. You wi

idn't trust an

at the ceiling. I could still hear Elise's words, but they se

cognized myself as I stood in front of the mirror

her voice softer than usu

I typed a single word on my

hy

ile wavered. "Because it's

me, I thoug

opulent estate where the wedding would be held. This was more

like a slap. Reporters yelled questions, cameras

an expression that was impossible to read. He was tal

I got out of the car. This was

is was just the start of a far darker sto