Chapter 3 - The True Colors of a Groom
The air in the penthouse suite vanished as if a window had blown out at thirty thousand feet. Mom froze, her mouth slightly agape, while Dad’s hands dropped out of his pockets.
""What did you just say?"" Tessa whispered, the arrogance draining from her posture for the first time all night.
Nolan didn't blink. He walked past her to the wardrobe, pulled out his leather duffel bag, and began unceremoniously packing his suits. ""I said the party is over. I am checking out. You and your parents have until eleven o'clock checkout to figure out how to cover the remaining incidentals, because my corporate account is being detached from the front desk in five minutes.""
""Nolan, let's be reasonable here,"" Dad stammered, stepping forward with his palms raised in a desperate peace gesture. The bravado had completely vanished from his voice, replaced by the panicked tone of a man watching an astronomical tab land on his table. ""You two are married! You signed the papers this afternoon! You can't just throw away a marriage over a silly poolside misunderstanding! Think about your reputation! Think about the Pierce Engineering name!""
""My name is precisely why I'm walking away,"" Nolan said, zipping his bag with a sharp, decisive zip. ""I spent ten years building a firm that prides itself on structural integrity. I don't build houses on rotten foundations, and I certainly won't build a life with a woman whose soul is entirely hollow.""
""You love me!"" Tessa screamed, lunging forward to grab his arm, her manicured nails digging into his sleeve. ""You stood at that altar four hours ago and told everyone I was your dream come true! You can't just change your mind because of her! What does she have to do with us?!""
Nolan looked down at her hand on his forearm until she felt uncomfortable enough to let go.
""I loved an illusion, Tessa,"" he said coldly. ""I loved the charming, vibrant woman who volunteered at animal shelters when my partners were watching, the woman who claimed she valued loyalty and kindness above everything else. But tonight, when you shoved your sister into the water, your mask slipped. And when you stood on that deck laughing while she choked, the illusion died. I felt absolute, total disgust.""
Tessa backed away, shaking her head in frantic denial. ""You're crazy. You're having a panic attack. Mom, tell him he's crazy!""
Mom rushed to Tessa's side, glaring at me with eyes full of venom. ""This is your fault, Maren! Look at what you've done to your sister! You've ruined the happiest day of her life with your endless, self-pitying victim routine! If you had just laughed it off, none of this would be happening!""
""Leave her alone, Judith,"" Nolan commanded, his voice ringing with such raw authority that my mother snapped her mouth shut. ""Maren didn't say a single word. She didn't have to. Your actions spoke for you. The fact that neither of you even offered her a glass of water or checked if she had inhaled fluid into her lungs tells me everything I ever need to know about the Whitcomb family.""
Nolan turned to me. ""Maren, go into the guest room, put on your dry street clothes, and pack your bag. We are leaving.""
""She isn't going anywhere with you!"" Dad bellowed, his face turning an alarming shade of purple. ""She's our daughter! You're abandoning my family in a resort four hours from home!""
""Maren is twenty-nine years old, Philip,"" Nolan answered without turning around. ""She can make her own decisions. And if you take one step toward her, I will have the resort security remove you from the premises in handcuffs for domestic disturbance.""
May you like
I didn't hesitate. For twenty-three years, I had stayed silent to keep the peace. I had smiled through cruel jokes, apologized for bleeding on other people's carpets, and swallowed my dignity so Tessa could shine. But looking at Nolan standing between me and the people who were supposed to protect me, the heavy chains around my chest snapped.
I walked straight past my mother, into the guest bedroom, and closed the door.
