Chapter 6
A passerby took me to the hospital.
After confirming my bones weren’t severely damaged, I dragged my swollen ankle onto the first plane out–didn’t even glance back.
By the next morning, the Montgomery heir’s surprise wedding was breaking the internet.
The Blackwood brothers blew up my phone immediately.
Nathan: “Pulling this runaway crap again? Whatever. I forgive you. Now get your ass back home.”
Marcus: “Rose, where the hell are you? Why does the Montgomery heir’s wife have YOUR exact
name?”
I stared at the marriage certificate in my hands and blocked both their numbers without hesitation.
Then I collapsed on the couch and posted a pic of me and Jack Montgomery’s marriage license for the whole world to see.
Mom looked at me with that sad, worried face, pressing an ice pack gently against my ankle.
“Look at what you’ve done to yourself.”
“We can’t even have a proper wedding now–it’ll have to wait. Thank God old Mrs. Montgomery has
taken a liking to you, or else…”
I couldn’t bring myself to tell Mom about the nightmare at the Blackwood house.
Living under someone else’s roof? It’s not all that bad, honestly.
The worst was falling from paradise straight into hell.
I leaned into Mom’s embrace, forcing a smile like everything was fine.
“It’s okay. Everything will work out.”
Physical wounds heal eventually.
1721
And even the worst memories fade with time.
All that drama and old beef? It’s too messy to untangle.
Better to throw it all behind me and dive headfirst into whatever comes next.
Mom had our family doctor examine my ankle.
Once he gave the all–clear, she took me to meet the Montgomery matriarch.
The Montgomerys–old money, deep roots, serious influence.
The whole drive there, Mom wouldn’t stop going on about every little thing I needed to watch out for
My heart was racing like crazy, but the moment I saw Mrs. Montgomery, this strange calm washed
over me.
Mrs. Montgomery had silver hair but the face of someone decades younger, with eyes that radiated
warmth.
When she spotted me, her whole face lit up with genuine joy.
“Oh, my dear granddaughter–in–law! I’ve been dying to meet you finally!”
“For years I’ve been asking your mother to bring you around, but she’s kept you all to herself–like some precious jewel she couldn’t bear to share.”
I smiled politely. “My health wasn’t great. I spent most of my childhood recovering in Atlantic City.”
“Well, Jack will make it up to you good later. That boy’s been holed up at the temple meditating lately, but I think his time there is almost up. After the wedding, I’ll make sure he properly apologizes.”
The funny thing is, I still hadn’t even met my so–called husband face–to–face.
He didn’t even show up when we got the marriage certificate.
Just sent some assistant to collect my documents.
Less than thirty minutes later, the certificate was in my hands.
Seeing me lost in thought, Mrs. Montgomery have assumed I felt slighted.
17:21
Slapped Today Crowned Tomorrow
4.8%
Chapter 6
Before I could say anything, she had someone bring out an ancient family jade bracelet and slipped
it onto my wrist.
Slapped Today, Crowned Tomorrow
