I Died in Darkness, So You Could Wake in Guilt

I knew it was real because I used to have an identical one.

Back then, my father even dislocated both my wrists to snatch the bracelets and pay off his debts.

James had even given that bracelet to her.

Seeing my expression, Jordyn curled her lips and let go of my hand.

Before I could catch it, the bracelet fell to the ground and broke into pieces. She looked like she was about to cry.

"Jennie, I just said it was Mrs. Jorgensen's keepsake. Why did you smash it?"

The next second, I was slapped to the ground, my ears were buzzing and James gritted his teeth.

"Jennie, you still look down on my mother, don't you? You threw away that bracelet back then and you want to destroy this one too!"

I subconsciously defended myself. "I didn't, I really like it."

Jordyn huddled into James' arms.

"It seems Jennie didn't mean to smash it. She just liked my bracelet too much and accidentally dropped it while trying to grab it."

James scoffed, "So that's it. Back then, Miss Jarquín looked down on my bracelet and tossed it aside. Now that you've heard it's a symbol of the Jorgensens' matriarch, you regret it and are desperate to snatch it back?"

He looked down at me.

"Didn't you say you'd compensate me? Now, adding that bracelet from back then, what will you use to compensate me? You've destroyed my mother's last keepsake. How about using the inheritance your mother left you to pay it back?"

I stayed silent, not answering.

James was so angry he laughed instead, then nodded.

"What? Can't bear to part with it? Fine. Then we'll do this my way."

He didn't spare me another glance, turning and leaving with Jordyn.

I wasn't lying. If I could, I would give everything to compensate James, but that inheritance was long gone.

I gave a bitter smile. Even if I explained it like that, James probably wouldn't believe me.

Soon, the wedding day arrived and James took me to the wedding scene.

There was no wedding dress, ring, or blessing and it was nothing like the wedding in my dream.

James, who was proposing, had a sarcastic look on his face.

"Jennie Jarquín, do you want to marry me?"

Even so, I nodded solemnly and answered.

"I do."

Because when I was eighteen, I had promised James that I would marry him, whether we were rich or poor.

The moment I finished answering, a burst of laughter broke out from the audience.

"Haha! James, this shameless woman actually believed you'd marry her!"

"She really can swallow her pride just to marry into the Jorgensens. If I'd known how easy it was to marry the Jarquíns' precious daughter, I would've shown up with five million cash. She'd probably kneel and lick my shoes!"

The ridicule around me was like a needle piercing my head, making it impossible to think properly.

Was the wedding … fake?

James' gaze swept over me.

"I told you, you're paying me back my way. Compensation? Look at yourself now, this used-up body of yours isn't even worth a cent. Just use yourself to pay off the debt for Jordyn's bracelet."

I struggled to understand what James meant.

Then he flung my hand away and turned to leave without looking back.

At that moment, all the spotlights in the venue shone on me.

"Everyone, she used to be the lady of the Jarquíns. Starting bid: one dollar."

The light blinded me and my blood ran cold. I instinctively reached out in the direction James had left.

James sat below the stage, watching me, his expression completely unfazed.

It was then that I realized James was serious.