Chapter 2

The moment Stuart saw me, he didn't flinch or look away out of guilt.

Instead he walked out with Pat, straight up to where I stood.

The air dropped a few degrees, and the guests kept up their chatter.

"Alison's back all of a sudden!"

"Huh, why did the mood just turn so weird?"

"You don't know? Stuart was Alison's fiance in the first place. For some reason, while she was locked up, he changed his mind and decided to marry the Hensons' adopted daughter."

"How could Alison take that? So here she is, back to make a scene."

"Damn, I didn't expect it to be this explosive. One man, two sisters at once—"

"Watch your mouth!"

Every word landed in our ears, and it put Pat in a difficult spot.

As if she felt she'd stolen her sister's man, and would have relatives and friends whispering behind her back.

Stuart tightened his grip on her hand, as if to lend her strength, to stand with her through it all.

He looked at me, and there was nothing in his eyes but cold.

"Alison, so you've come back to make trouble for us?"

It forced a bitter laugh out of me.

I'd spent every effort behind bars just trying to get out and find him, because I wanted to see him.

I knew nothing of what had happened, and the moment I came back I found him about to marry Pat.

Make trouble?

What gave them the right to pin "unreasonable" on me?

"I only want to ask you one thing."

Mother stepped out, terrified I'd do something to Pat, guarding her like a hen over her chick.

The pain stabbed through me again, and my hands clenched into fists.

"Why did all of you work together to deceive me?"

"Because you've always been jealous, ever since you were little. Whatever you wanted, you had to have it."

"You're too extreme. That's why I didn't dare turn you down when you confessed to me. I was afraid you'd take revenge."

"But the one I love is Pat, the woman who saved my life more than once. Not you."

"Just look at this time. You even ran an old man down. What were you thinking!"

With that, the old man who'd staged the accident against me stepped out and began his performance.

Everyone believed him, convinced I really was extreme and vengeful.

"No wonder Stuart wants to marry Pat. In his place, I wouldn't dare marry a woman like that either."

"Isn't that the truth? Cross her the wrong day and you could lose your life."

Only when Pat heard every ugly remark turned on me did she let out a satisfied breath.

"Sister, let go and give us your blessing!"

"Love can't be forced."

"Even if you meant to kill me today, I still wouldn't back down."

She stepped forward and threw out her arm in front of Stuart, shielding him.

How ridiculous. A moment ago she was hiding behind a man, afraid of being whispered about.

Now that the tide had turned, here she was playing the good one, rushing in to save the day.

Mabel tried to talk me down too.

"Alison, it's already come to this. Just accept your fate!"

"Accept my fate?"

"You know better than anyone what kind of person I am."

"And that old man staged the whole—"

"Alison!!!"

Mother raised her voice to cut me off.

"You will let them go through with this. No more trouble."

"If you insist on making a scene, I'll see to it your father knows no peace in his grave."

My eyes went wide, staring at her in disbelief.

Words that cruel were not what a wife should say of her dead husband, nor what a mother should say to her daughter.

My breath caught, and my heart felt like it might stop.

"You want me to do nothing, to stand there quietly and bless them through their engagement party?"

"Yes!"

Pat turned and went back inside, and when she came out again she was carrying two cups of wine.

"Sister, I'm begging you, give us your blessing."

The wine was held out to me, and everyone was forcing me to bow my head.

If I didn't take it, every vile word would turn on me. If I did, I became the villain in their mouths.

Afraid I'd cause a scene, Mother brought up my father again and again.

Using his grave to force me to bow to the adopted daughter.

I looked at her, my eyes full of grief, and she looked away from me.

I put out my hand. "Leave his grave alone. I'll drink it!"