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Her features grow mutinous.
"And I’m not trying to excuse my actions." I turn to my son. "I’m not trying to show you up.”
Felix scoffs. "I don’t believe you. Never have. Never will. You’re a selfish bastard. You only think of yourself."
I wince again. "I deserve that, and all your anger. I did not mean for this to happen, believe me. It was… Something beyond my control. I couldn’t stop myself."
"That’s your excuse?" He levels a look filled with so much scorn in my direction, that I feel my cheeks redden.
"The one thing I laid claim to. The one thing I wanted to make mine. And you couldn’t resist screwing it up?” He spits out.
I see Vivian stiffen at his words.
"You’re the one who screwed it up, when you did a runner on your own wedding."
My son’s face grows so red, I’m sure he’s going to have a cardiac event.
"Felix, please?—"
"Fuck you, Quentin." The next second, he throws himself at me. I see him coming and could step aside but choose not to. I deserve his anger and his hate, and it's better he takes it out on me than keep it inside.
He slams into my chest. I take his weight without flinching. My son, however, lets out an anguished yell. He grabs his shoulder and, with pain-filled eyes, glares at me. "You’re an arsehole."
"I am."
"I told you not to come. I told you I didn’t want you here. I knew you’d send everything tits up.” His chest heaves.
I open my mouth to point out it was he who, in fact, started the ball rolling in that direction, then wisely rein myself in.
"Did you hurt yourself?" I reach for him, but he steps back.
"Don’t touch me. I don’t want anything to do with you,” Felix yells.
"How dare you, father and son, play with my emotions?” Vivian stamps her foot. “How dare you embarrass me like this? It was bad enough what you did." She jerks her chin in Felix’s direction. "Then you"—she trains her gaze on me—"make it a thousand times worse. Did you think you could make up for what Felix did by substituting yourself? Did you think I'd be so relieved to be getting married to someone—anyone—I'd jump at your offer? I'm not some pawn or possession for you to stake a claim to. I'm not the prize in some twisted competition."
"Vivi— " Felix begins.
"Vivian—" I say at the same time.
“Will the two of you keep quiet?” She plants her palms on her hips, and glowers between us. “I have had enough of the both of you.”
“But—” I take a step forward, and she shakes her head.
“Haven’t you done enough for one day? Will you please leave me alone?”
She spins around and walks down the aisle. The crowd of people part, and head held high, she glides away. I make to go after her, but her father rolls to a stop in front of me. I pause, torn between stepping around him to follow her and standing here, letting her go.
He looks me up and down. "What are your intentions toward my daughter?"
She stalks to the door. In a flash, I see my future slipping away from me, and I know I have a choice to make. "Vivian!" I call out.
3
Vivian
"Another." I slide the empty shot glass of tequila toward the bartender. He obliges me. When he’s filled it to the brim, I throw it back.
The alcohol sets off a trail of heat in its wake as it slides down my throat. When it hits my stomach, the warmth shakes loose to my extremities. It’s my second shot, and already, my head feels light. It feels like I’m floating. It’s not a bad feeling for someone who, right about now, should have been a married woman. I glance at the empty ring finger of my left hand. Felix dumped me. Which is a relief, but also means I’ll have to move out of the flat I share with him. I stiffen. Oh, my god. How did that slip my mind?
