Left In The Past

I sneered. “You seem awfully sure I’m going to marry Cole.”

“What does that mean? Don’t tell me you still think you’re marrying Vincent Holt!” My father’s face turned stormy.

Then, he let out a scornful chuckle.

“Even if you really wanted to marry that cripple, it wouldn’t matter. The Holt family is clearly playing with you. If they were serious, the wedding gifts would’ve arrived by now. Let me make this clear once more: marrying Cole is your only option.”

With that, he shot me a glare and turned upstairs.

The wedding day arrived before long.

I was in my room getting my makeup done when Cole walked in with Lulu, who was draped in glittering jewels from head to toe.

Lulu said in a wounded tone, “Bethany, you’re not wearing the bracelet I gave you. Do you not like it?

Cole glanced impatiently at his watch, then snatched the bracelet and tossed it at me.

“Lulu gave you a gift. Instead of being thankful, you’ve got the nerve to turn your nose up at it. Just put it on! This wedding is just a formality anyway. Who are you getting all dolled up for? Come on, let’s just get it over with. I’ve got to take Lulu to the prenatal class after the wedding.”

I was just about to speak when my father’s furious voice barked from behind me.

“What are you dawdling for? Do you think Mr. Brody’s time is yours to waste? Look at your sister. She’s pregnant and still thinking about you! Why are you putting on such airs? Stop acting out all the time!”

I said coldly, “My mother gave birth to one daughter. Don’t pawn your mistress’s child off as my sister.”

My father’s face twisted in fury. “You wretched—”

Before he could finish, his phone rang.

The screen flashed with a name that turned his blood to ice.

[Holt Corp.]

Cole frowned. “Mr. Theroux, who is it? Why aren’t you answering it?”

Finally, my father managed to pull himself together and fumbled to pick up the call.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Theroux, the bridal escort fleet will arrive in ten minutes. Is the bride ready?”

“W-what? Mr. Holt is really going to marry Bethany?”

“Mr. Theroux, are you senile? Mr. Holt personally picked Miss Bethany as his fiancee. You think it’s a joke?”

My father tried to say something but could not utter a word.

After the call ended, Cole and Lulu, having clearly heard every word, stared in disbelief.

After a beat, Cole looked at me and sneered. “Bethany, you really expect us to believe the Holt family chose you?! Staging such a show just to get under my skin? You make me sick!”

Lulu quickly caught on. With feigned concern, she said, “Even if you wanted Cole’s attention, this is too much. If the Holt family finds out you dragged their name into this, you could take our family down with you!”

I rose to my feet and tossed aside the cheap bracelet she had given me. I said icily, “You might want to worry about yourselves first. Stealing the Holt family’s wedding gifts is not exactly a small offense.”

The disdain on their faces was clear as day because they were convinced that I was bluffing. They did not take my words seriously.

The look on my father’s face, however, was another story. His face cycled from pale to livid. He did not even notice as his phone slipped from his hand.

When I brought up the wedding gifts, it was like something clicked in his mind.

His eyes widened in panic as he snapped, “What wedding gifts? When were they delivered? What do you mean, they were stolen?”

I crossed my arms and met his gaze with calm indifference.

“Maybe you should ask your precious illegitimate daughter and the golden boy you’ve been groveling to.”

That was when their faces turned livid, too.

I did not want to get involved. So, I brushed past them and walked out.

I ignored the shouting and insults that trailed behind me.

As I left the house, a fleet of black luxury cars lined the driveway with bodyguards standing on either side.

At the center of it all sat Vincent in a wheelchair. He radiated an air of cold authority.

The trio who had chased after me skidded to a halt at the scene. Their faces were slack with horror. They froze in place in utter shock and were rendered speechless.

Then, in perfect unison, the bodyguards bowed to me. “Welcome, Mrs. Holt!”