Never yours

oria

and d

the corner of the room, his stare fixed on me li

this, Victoria," Mum called,

k the garment and

hout shame. A satin bow cinched beneath my chest, hugging my waist with a punishing elegance. The skirt flowed

ips ghosting over the glass as if

ck. Save me fro

ared back, silen

I ever fa

dress. When I turned, only Mum and Au

hispered to myself, forc

Mum said, her voice break

, strained smile.

pened the doo

staircase with hesitant grace, each st

the curb. A man about my father's age s

a'am, from the Vill

ed curtly, noting our expressi

while Teraza took the front. The engine pur

ching sunset. The sun dipped low, casting shadows across my skin like whispers of j

eserves

pulled me from

ly a twitch of my lips

sped by-strangers walking, laughing, rushi

n front of a qui

g light, casting jewel-toned shadows across the w

go on ahead,"

and exited, follo

My voice was firm. I n

nd tightened, rel

ust need to breathe

tance," I added. "When

pping away but

e, hands shaking. Pl

led a

ag

door s

lin

ch your lover?" a

around.

without ceremony, as

ere," he said coldly, lounging in the sea

" I snapped. "That's

e. "Give me

ed. "Ex

istractions." His v

n't be

snapping his fin

ing to the side, hidin

nly, we were presse

ess second, our

eg wedged between mine. His h

fr

sharp, expensive. The kind of fra

mine. Those lashes. That jawl

meone look

?" he asked, his voice oddly c

snatched the phone from my

ed. "You ha

over you," he said, his

e was lo

e your

ouldn't come. I just stared into h

ack, pocket

e waiting." Then he opened the door and lef

t fr

s. All this man had was a pre

anted. This isn't l

, I opened th

nce, I approached him slowly as h

e," Dad said gently,

fingers slip

ward-toward the altar, the vows,