CHAPTER 10
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When I arrived at the courthouse, my fiancé hadn’t yet arrived. Instead, I ran into Griffin.
He was accompanied by his usual crowd of friends, presumably there to celebrate with him.
When they saw me in my wedding dress, their expressions turned strange—a familiar mix of mockery and contempt.
I knew exactly what they were thinking. They assumed I was there for Griffin again. After all, I’d followed him for twelve years, enduring countless heartbreaks and shedding endless tears without giving up.
Today was my thirtieth birthday, and in their minds, I was there to force him into marriage.
a
When Griffin saw me in my wedding dress, his face darkened instantly.
His expression twisted with barely controlled rage. “Didn’t I tell you not to come looking for me? Are you so desperate to marry me that you’d show up in a wedding dress to pressure me?”
I ignored his anger and said coldly, “I’m not here for you.”
But Griffin didn’t believe me. He looked at me with disgust. “Haven’t you made enough of a scene? If you’re not here for me, who else would you possibly be here for?”
He was so convinced I couldn’t live without him.
One of his friends looked me up and down with contempt. “I’ve never seen a woman with so little dignity. Showing up at the courthouse in a wedding dress to trap a man? Pathetic.”
Time was ticking by, and Chloe would arrive any minute.
Fearing we might cross paths, Griffin roughly pushed my hand away, hissing, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll leave now before I really lose my temper!”
I stumbled backward several steps before regaining my balance. Looking down at my bruised wrist, I felt strangely detached.
“Today’s my thirtieth birthday,” I said quietly.
“I know. You want me to marry you on your thirtieth birthday, but I’ve already told you–the company is still developing, and I’m not ready for marriage yet…” “But I can’t wait any longer.” I raised my head, my eyes completely calm.
I knew Griffin wouldn’t marry me. That’s why I was marrying someone else. However, Griffin and his friends interpreted my words as begging him to reconsider.
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12:23 PM Mon 12 May
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10
Griffin’s face hardened. “Tessa, are you deaf? I said I’m NOT marrying you today!” “God, I’ve never seen a woman with so little self–respect. You’re truly pathetic, Tessa. Griffin’s just unfortunate to have someone like you clinging to him,” one of his friends sneered, even shoving me.
“If you’re that desperate to get married on your thirtieth birthday, find someone else. I won’t be that person,” Griffin said cruelly.
He was absolutely certain I loved him too much to ever consider anyone else. This gave him the confidence to wound me with his harsh words, believing I’d still come crawling back like always.
The man who’d just shoved me whistled suggestively. “I’ll marry you, Tessa. I might be a player, but I’m fantastic in bed. How about giving me a try?”
His crude joke made my blood run cold.
“No thanks. I already have someone.”
“He’s just arriving from London. He should be here shortly.”
As soon as I said this, Griffin’s friends burst into laughter.
“Does this mystery man even exist? Someone who loves Griffin as much as you do, suddenly marrying someone else? You’re clearly making this up.”
“Haha! Watch her groom be a no–show.”
“I can’t believe how desperate she is, still clinging to Griffin after all this time.” Griffin listened to his friends, frowning with impatience. He didn’t want to waste more time arguing with me. “Tessa, I’ve told you repeatedly that I’m not ready for marriage. Are you incapable of understanding basic English? I. Am. Not. Marrying. You. Today.”
His mind was made up. Since I loved him so deeply, he could say whatever hurtful things he wanted now and easily make amends later with a small gift and some sweet talk.
It had worked for twelve years. No matter how cruelly he behaved, I always ran bąck to him in the end.
Griffin was becoming increasingly desperate to make me leave, but no matter what he said, I stood my ground.
“I understand completely, Griffin. But I’m not here to marry you. I’m here for someone else.”
Griffin scoffed. “You’re really going to keep up this ridiculous lie just to force my hand?”
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12:23 PM Mon 12 May
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“Tessa, when did you become so annoying?”
“Leave now, before I lose my patience!”
Griffin was growing more insistent.
With a single glance, his friends surrounded me, forcefully restraining me.
They were surprisingly strong–I couldn’t break free.
I needed to stay at the courthouse. If my fiancé arrived and couldn’t find me, he might think I’d changed my mind…
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