The Wedding He Stole From Me

So all of it had been a lie.

I don't know how long I sat there before I could move again.

I got up off the floor, pulled out my phone, and dialed a number—a former student my father had once sponsored.

“I need to leave. Can you help me?”

Two seconds of silence on the other end. Then a low male voice.

“Tomorrow. I'll come for you.”

I hung up and leaned against the wall.

Godfrey Delgado, I'm done with you.

Once I'd pulled myself together, I walked out of the restroom.

A hand shoved me from behind, and I went straight into the pool.

The woman responsible stood a few feet away, pointing at me and screaming.

“You shameless homewrecker! You think you can throw yourself at my husband? I'll make you pay for this today!”

I couldn't swim. Ice-cold water flooded my nose and mouth, and I thrashed, clawing at nothing.

People crowded around to watch. Not one of them spoke up for me.

My vision went dark, and I felt myself sinking, inch by inch.

At the very edge of despair, a strong hand locked around my waist and hauled me to shore.

I coughed until my lungs burned raw. Through the haze I heard someone calling my name.

“Gladys, you have to wake up. Wake up, come on.”

I opened my eyes and met Godfrey's—completely bloodshot.

The moment he saw me conscious, he pulled me into his arms.

“Gladys, you're finally awake.”

I pushed him away, my face white.

He hadn't expected that. He froze.

“Who are you?”

The woman who'd pushed me in was still shrieking.

“Young Mr. Delgado, don't let this little fox fool you! She seduced my husband……”

Before she could finish, one of the bodyguards backhanded her across the face.

Godfrey sat in his wheelchair, smiling coldly.

“I don't think you understand the situation. Gladys Mason is under my protection. Nobody touches her. Apologize.”

The bodyguard kicked the woman's knees out from under her.

She went still for a second, then her voice turned shrill.

“I knew it—she IS a homewrecker!”

“Everyone, look at this! Young Mr. Delgado just got married today and he's already shielding her—isn't that a slap in his own wife's face?”

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

My heart seized. I gripped the soaked hem of my dress without thinking.

But the next second, April came running over in her wedding gown.

She was still smiling, her voice gentle.

“Everyone, please don't misunderstand. Gladys is like a little sister to Godfrey and me. She's family.”

“Of course Godfrey's upset when he sees his little sister getting bullied. Right, Godfrey?”

She tilted her face up at him, smiling sweetly.

Godfrey's gaze fell on me. He said nothing.

April walked over to where I sat.

“Gladys, you're soaking wet—you'll catch cold. Let me take you to change.”

She reached down to help me up.

The next second, she pitched backward and fell hard to the ground.

She clutched her stomach, her face drained of color, tears spilling instantly.

“Godfrey, my stomach……the baby……”

Godfrey's expression changed completely.

He stood straight up out of the wheelchair, walked to April, and scooped her into his arms.

As he passed me, his steps faltered for half a beat. He left me with one sentence.

“You're going to give me an explanation for this.”

Before I could even change out of my wet clothes, two bodyguards seized my arms and dragged me into a car.

At the hospital, they threw me to the floor. Godfrey stood over me and gripped my chin.

“April is hemorrhaging. They don't know if the baby will survive.”

I looked up into his eyes.