Before the Bells Ring

Three days before the wedding, the church called to inform me that my fiancé had changed the date.

When I went to ask him why, I walked in on him throwing a bachelor party with his friends.

"Samuel, this was the day Claire personally chose. Why would you suddenly change it?" someone asked.

Samuel Gordon stubbed out his cigarette, looking utterly nonchalant.

"Because that day happens to be Janet's birthday," he said. "I need to celebrate it with her."

The room fell silent in shock.

"Aren't you afraid Claire will find out and kill you? Have you forgotten what she did before?"

At the mention of my name, Samuel gave an icy snort.

"That was all in the past. Claire loves me to death now. She even took three bullets for me once, so how could she ever bring herself to hurt me?"

I stood at the doorway, watching the snow fall behind me, and let out a long sigh.

Five days later, he stood in an empty church, frantically calling my phone.

"Did you forget? It's our wedding day!"

"I didn't forget," I said.

In another church, wearing a wedding gown, I was saying "I do" to another man.

I picked out the wedding date myself, bright and early.

It was supposed to be the day Samuel Gordon would shout our love from the rooftops for the whole world to hear.

My dad even skipped out on a deal worth millions, flying in from Francoria just for me.

However, Samuel's offhand comment made it all meaningless.

I stared at the snowflake melting in my hand, a bitter ache spreading through my chest.

"So, Samuel, when are you going to break the news to Claire?" asked the guy next to him in the private room.

Samuel flicked his hand, clearly annoyed.

"Why bother telling her? She's been all in on this wedding lately; she's probably figured it out by now."

He checked his watch. "The fact she hasn't come after me just proves I'm right. Claire will go along with whatever I decide."

The guy lifted his glass in a salute, "That's our Mr. Gordon. Remember how Claire turned Twilight City inside out to get your attention? And now, just a few years later, you've got her eating out of your hand."

"If her tough-as-nails father, the Don, knew how meek his little heiress has gotten, he'd probably keel over."

Samuel's laugh was tinged with smugness, and his eyes sparkled with triumph.

Then his phone buzzed, and he smirked as he read the message.

"Let's tidy up, folks. My darling's on her way."

Everyone exchanged confused looks, not sure what to make of it.

I spun around on instinct and saw a girl in a pink coat dashing toward the hotel.

She stopped in front of me, gave her umbrella a shake, and dumped it into my arms like I was some bellboy.

I snorted and tossed the umbrella right back at her.

"Ah---"

She yelped, clutching the back of her head. "Who the heck thinks they can hit me?!"

She spotted the umbrella on the ground and immediately swung her hand up at me.

However, in a flash, I had her wrist in a vice grip, and she was sweating bullets from the pain.

"Janet, is that you?"

I stared down at her face, one I recognized all too well from Samuel's old photo albums, where he admitted she was an ex.

I did not make a big deal about it. I mean, when I was falling for Samuel, I shrugged off a whole parade of exes just like her.

However, I never thought he would actually postpone our wedding for her. That thought made my grip tighten until she was frantically batting at my hand.

"Release me! Let go! You're breaking my hand!"

Yet, her pleas only made me squeeze harder.

Then came the slam of a door.

Samuel shoved me against a pillar, and I hit the ground hard.

"Janet!" His voice was laced with concern as he cradled her wrist, his eyes soft. "Are you okay? Does it hurt?"

Tears brimmed in her eyes as she pointed at me, the picture of innocence wronged. "She attacked me, this waitress, and I didn't even do anything!"

"Waitress?" Samuel spun around, fury rising. "How dare a waitress lay a finger on my…"

He stopped short, his gaze locking on me sprawled on the floor.

"Your what?" I brushed off the blood from my hand and met his gaze with an icy stare.

The others gathered around, their faces a mix of shock and concern. "Ms. Jones, what brings you here?"

I ignored them, my eyes fixed on Samuel, repeating my question. "Your what?"

He faltered, finally muttering, "My friend."

As he clung to Janet's hand, I could not help but scoff.

His annoyance was clear as day.

"Claire, why do you always lash out at any woman who comes near me?

"Say you're sorry to my friend Janet, or forget about the wedding."

He was the one who cheated, but then he stood there, all high and mighty.

The crowd backed him up. "Claire, you're going too far."

"Seriously, ease up on the control. What's it gonna be like when you're married?"

...

I took it all in silence, then my gaze landed on Janet Lloyd.

She stood there, chest out, looking like the cat that got the cream.

"Apologize?" I let out a derisive laugh. "Sure, I can apologize."

Samuel's face relaxed for a split second, and the scorn in the room thickened.

"I just wonder who here can actually handle my apology."

That caught everyone off guard, and their eyes flicked to Samuel.

He was scowling at me, as icy as the day we met.

A sharp pain hit my heart, but I kept my cool.

"Samuel, remember who my dad is.

"And don't forget who got you where you are today."

He did not get a chance to answer. Dad's Underboss came rushing in.

"Ms. Jones, Don Jones has thrown a feast, and I'm here to take you and Mr. Gordon home."

I glanced at Samuel and his new squeeze, clinging to him like a lifeline.

"Looks like Mr. Gordon's too busy for home right now.

"We should head out, not spoil Mr. Gordon's bachelor bash."

"Claire!" Samuel's voice dropped, a mix of warning and annoyance.

However, he still joined me in the car.

No surprise there. With the Gordon family's big meeting on the horizon, he needed Dad's backing. He would not dare snub him.

However, he was stubborn. Once he settled into the passenger seat, he clammed up, his fingers dancing over his phone in silence.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of his screen as he typed out a message.

[Sweetheart, don't be mad. I've got a surprise for you tomorrow when we meet.]

He only looked up after sending it, and that's when I broke the silence.

"Samuel, do you remember what June 4th is?"