Chapter 2

"By the power vested in me, the groom may now kiss the bride..."

The priest’s voice was still echoing in my ears, but William’s expression had turned incredibly strange.

"Grace got into a car accident..." he muttered.

He hadn’t even picked up the phone that was buzzing in his pocket yet. He just "knew" she was in trouble.

Looking at the raw panic in his eyes, my heart felt like it had been plunged into freezing water.

The memories of my past life rushed back like a tidal wave.

The terrifying helplessness of being drugged.

The rough, disgusting hands of Mark Vance tearing at my bridal gown.

William’s face as he sat on the sofa, laughing and saying I "deserved it."

The humiliating video, and the bone-chilling wind as I fell from the vineyard balcony.

William’s hands trembled as he finally answered the call. "Grace, hold on. I’m coming. I’ll be right there."

Hanging up, William shook off my hand—the hand that was supposed to receive the ring. "Ann, Grace is in trouble. I have to go to her right now. Be reasonable. This is a matter of life and death."

I raised my hand and slapped him across the face. Hard.

The sharp smack echoed through the grand cathedral. The guests instantly fell dead silent.

He cupped his cheek, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Ann, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Seeing the disgust and self-righteousness in his eyes, I knew. He had regressed, too. Just like me.

"You’re right," I said, my voice dead calm. "I’m not going to make a scene."

I slowly took off my own engagement ring. In front of hundreds of high-society guests, I tossed it directly into the nearby champagne tower.

The crystal glasses clinked and shattered. "The wedding is off. Get the hell out."

The crowd erupted into whispers.

William stood frozen, then knitted his brows, looking at me like I was just throwing a childish tantrum.

"Ann, don't play games right now. Grace is waiting for me at the ER. I’ll explain everything when I get back."

He turned to leave. I stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

"No need to explain. If you walk out, you walk out. But let’s make one thing clear to everyone here—you are walking out on me. I didn't kick you out."

Without even looking back, he threw a loud statement to the crowd: "Ann wants to cancel the wedding. I respect her decision." Then, he rushed out of the cathedral.

His parents’ faces turned instantly green. They swarmed me, shouting accusations.

"Ann! William left to save a life! How can you be so incredibly selfish?"

"You’re throwing a fit like this before you’re even officially married? How are the two of you supposed to build a life together?"

My parents instantly flared up, stepping forward to defend me.

I held my dad’s arm and shook my head, signaling him to stop.

William’s parents took my silence as submission. "Figure it out yourselves," his father huffed, leading their guests toward the exit.

The massive venue emptied out by half in minutes. The remaining guests were whispering and pointing at me.

My dad was shaking with rage, wanting to chase them down for an explanation.

I held him back, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number I hadn’t called in a very long time.

"Arthur," I said when the line connected. "When you said you wanted to marry me last time... did you mean it?"

"As long as I’m breathing, Ann. Always."

"I’m short of a groom at my wedding right now. How fast can you get here?"

"Fifteen minutes."

I hung up, looking up at my shocked parents, and then down at the wedding ring resting at the bottom of a champagne glass.