Chapter 6
580words
I lost count of how many times.
Without emotion, I blocked his number and switched off my phone.
Leo Growthn wheeled over to me. "It's not too late to change your mind."
I glanced at the stars outside, then looked away.
The wedding came the next day.
Evan Growth's eyes were bloodshot, the veins stark against the white. He didn't even notice the hair clinging to his immaculate suit.
He stared at me throughout the entire ceremony.
Finally, the officiant asked, "Miss Jones, do you take Mr. Leo Growthn as your husband, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?"
I extended my hand, about to answer.
Suddenly, Evan Growth burst from the crowd like a madman.
"I object!"
"Come back with me!"
The guests gasped in collective shock.
"Isn't that the younger Zhou son?"
"Christ, what's he doing?"
"You don't know? The bride was Evan Growth's girlfriend."
"Holy shit, now that's drama."
Evan Growth's eyes burned into mine.
"Cecilia Jones, what the hell are you doing? Have you lost your mind? This little stunt has gone far enough. Come home. Now."
I met his gaze with cold contempt.
"Weren't you the one who suggested I marry your brother? What changed?"
Evan Growth's face darkened. "You're my girlfriend. This is cheating."
"Girlfriend? Did you forget calling me filthy when I was pregnant with your child before dumping me?"
I laughed bitterly.
"Even if I am cheating, I learned from the master. If you can have your little thing with your 'sister' Lynn Miller, why can't I marry your brother?"
Evan Growth's germaphobia and vegetarianism are matched only by his obsession with public image.
His eyes bulged with fury.
"Cecilia Jones, are you doing this deliberately? Trying to humiliate me in front of everyone?"
Before I could answer, Lynn Miller stepped forward.
"Sister-in-law—no, I should say big sister-in-law now. You've completely misunderstood my relationship with Yansheng. We've been friends since childhood. We're just close, that's all. But you and his brother—"
"Close friends."
I closed my eyes briefly.
"Some 'friendship.' I didn't know 'friends' sleep together."
"I didn't know 'friends' abandon their girlfriends when they're sick, magically cure their germaphobia for 'friends,' and prioritize their 'friend's' children over their own."
The crowd erupted in whispers.
"Just call yourself a homewrecker and be done with it."
"My brother and I sure as hell don't act like that."
Lynn Miller's face flushed crimson.
Evan Growth's expression grew even darker.
After a tense silence, he unclenched his fists and looked at me.
"Let me ask you one thing—are you really going to marry Leo Growthn today?"
"Yes."
Evan Growth nearly screamed his next words.
"He's a cripple! What are you marrying him for? What can he possibly give you?"
In my wedding dress, I turned to face Evan Growth, enunciating each word:
"He won't make me wash my hands until my skin peels off. He won't force me to eat vegetarian food every day. He won't have 'female friends' on the side. And he certainly won't call me filthy for carrying his child.
What about you, Evan Growth?"
Evan Growth's lips went white. He lunged for my hand.
"We can talk about all this later. Just come home with me now."
Just as his fingers brushed mine, Leo Growthn—silent until now—finally spoke.
"Back off!"
"Evan Growth, I've tolerated your bullshit for years, but are you seriously trying to manhandle my wife?"
