As Julia promised before, she started planning my wedding with Christopher for me. She wanted to discuss it with Nathan but changed her mind when Isabelle returned. My mother was, after all, the more suitable person to be discussing my wedding with.
“What say I invite your mother for lunch? That way, we can get to know each other a little more. I mean, we’re going to be in-laws soon anyway. As for your father, I’m going to send someone to inform him. Whether he decides to come or not, that’s up to him. What do you think?” suggested Julia to me in all seriousness when I met her at the Lane residence.
In all honesty, I did not have much to say about the arrangements. Parents of the newlyweds were usually expected to be at the wedding, and mine were no exceptions. It was not like I could have a wedding without informing my parents.
“Thank you for the arrangements, Mrs. Lane. We’ll just do it your way. I’m fine with it.” My mother-in-law was so considerate that she had even considered my feelings and my relationship with the Tanners. I would be nitpicking if I were to find fault with her suggestions.
“You know what? Why don’t we make it a grandiose wedding? Go big or go home, right?” Christopher offered his own suggestion as he rubbed his chin.
“Can we not? I’d prefer to keep this just between our two families. We’ll have a good meal and enjoy each other’s company.” With a fork in my mouth, I shot down Christopher’s idea. “My mother is low-key, so I think she’d prefer our wedding to be a more private event.”
“Sure, that works too.”
Just like that, we made up our minds. I told Isabelle all about the wedding the next day, and she seemed fine with it. Still, she sighed when we were shopping, “You were just a little girl when I left you. Look at you now. All grown up and about to get married. The time has finally come for my daughter to leave me.”
“I’ll always be your little girl, even after I’m married.”
“We’ll see about that,” responded Isabelle with a soft smile.
With Isabelle and Christopher both at my side, I felt like the luckiest woman then. At least until I received a message from Benjamin, which reminded me that I had promised to send the man off at the airport. I knew it was something I had to tell Christopher, or else he would explode with jealousy.
“Hey, why don’t you go to the airport with me tomorrow?” I decided to try my luck after informing Christopher of my promise to Benjamin.
“And why the heck would I do that? I can forgive the man for being stupid, but he tried to hurt you. He should be thanking me for not giving him a good beating because that’s what he deserves.”
Christopher had not forgotten what Benjamin did to me at the Lane residence. Otherwise, Crystal’s trickery on Benjamin would not have been blown wide open. My husband always knew how to hold grudges, especially when it came to matters that involved me.
“You knew he only did it under Crystal’s influence. Besides, that’s in the past now. We’re just sending the man off. It’s no big deal.” Leaning against Christopher’s chest, I fiddled with the man’s bony fingers. After a moment of silence, I added, “If you don’t want me to go, I won’t.”
I knew better than to upset my husband over someone insignificant to me like Benjamin. After all, Benjamin was half the reason why Crystal could get to me.
“Just go and be done with it. I don’t want that man near you when this is over. Not even an inch!”
After getting up early in the morning the next day, I gave Isabelle a call. It took a while before the call was finally answered. From the other side, I could hear what sounded like smashing porcelain. “Mom? What’s going on over there?”
“It’s nothing. I just got a little careless. Give me a minute, and I’ll call you right back.” Isabelle put her phone down and wrapped her thin nightgown around her tighter. For a brief moment, the bruises hidden underneath them were revealed.
She stared at the man standing right in front of her as a cold gleam flashed in her eyes for a split second. In the next instant, she put on a pitiful expression and begged in a shaky voice, “Please. I’ll do whatever you say. Just calm down.”
The man stepped forward and grabbed Isabelle violently by the hair before warning her coldly, “You better! Or else, you’ll quickly learn the cost of disobeying me.”
