Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39641 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 198(@200wpm)___ 159(@250wpm)___ 132(@300wpm)
It floods through my mind. My parents brought me a glass of sweet tea as I read my book in the living room. They were out to go do some shopping and visit a friend out in Arlington and wouldn't be home until late, so I smiled, knowing that I'd enjoy the silence for a bit. In the process of getting comfortable, I accidentally knocked over the tea and cleaned it up right before my sister walked in claiming to have forgotten her phone. "It's in your hand," I say, pointing to it. She blushes, and then turns and leaves. I only get into the second page when I see a shadow in front of me. It's Brandon. He looks pissed, and he's glaring right at me. I slap my book closed. “What are you doing here?” I demand, wanting to know why he's here and how he got in. My parents promised me that he wouldn't be allowed back here again.
"You and I are getting married, Jules. I'm tired of you turning me down, and I'm sure as fuck not letting you end up with that biker asshole."
"I'm not marrying you. I'm not doing a damn thing with you." I look for my phone and remember it's in my purse. Shit. I need to get it and call the cops. He has to get the fuck out of my house before I punch him in the nuts. I move to stand, and he's on me in a second, going in to give me a kiss. I shove him back before he can get his lips on me, but that's an error in judgement and I've pissed him off. I feel the breeze as his hand flies through the air, slapping me hard and sending me onto the sofa. I cry out and clasp my face. He’s not done with me, though. He lands on top of me, his knees on the outside of mine as he grabs my hair and yanks it back.
“Bitch, don’t ever try to push me away again.” His hand squeezes my left one hard. I feel the cold metal as he attempts to slide a ring on my finger, but I’m not having it. I fight him, and then I feel the pain in my finger and wrist. I don’t know how bad it is, but I know that I have to try and wrestle out of this before he kills me. I can’t see this ending in a good way.
He continues to hit me and then tugs on my clothes. Scrambling, I barely make it out of his grasp when he pulls out a knife, slicing me on the arm. He doesn’t stop there as his attack continues. It isn’t until I hear a noise and he lets off just a bit that I can finally break free. I kick him in the nuts and send him to the ground, only to see Anthony grabbing him by the throat.
“Jules, honey? Are you okay?” I startle out of my thoughts to see my mother-in-law and Roxie in our bedroom.
“Sorry. I didn’t hear you come in.”
She swipes a tear off my cheek that I didn’t know I’d shed. “We didn’t mean to rush in, but we could hear you crying.”
“I guess I’m not as good as I thought I was.” I look at my hand.
“I’m going to call my brother.”
“Oh, no. Don’t, please. I’m fine. I want to marry him. It’s just…seeing my hand reminded me of the attack. It’s the first time that I let it play out in my head.”
My mother-in-law hugs me. “Well, let’s wash away those ugly memories and make some beautiful ones.”
“Thank you. The both of you. It’s absolutely wonderful to actually feel welcomed into your family.”
“Ugh, I got here as quick as I could, but nursing a baby isn’t as easy as I thought,” Penny mutters, rushing through my open bedroom door. “Goodness,” she says, closing the door so no one hears her.
“I’m fine, Pen. Just a little emotional.”
"Well, girl, it's your wedding day, and we don't want Blade coming here dragging you down the aisle, so let's get you ready to be married."
"Okay. Let's do this. I want to marry Anthony. I've been waiting for him for over eight months now. I have to have my man."
"Good. I'll call in the makeup artist and photographer."
"What? You hired all of these people?" I ask my sister-in-law.
"Yes, girl. It's our wedding present to you and Anthony, so go wash your ass and let's get this show on the road." I shower in a hurry and climb out as Roxie brings me the pretty robe she picked out for me as a must-have for the wedding prep. I feel beautiful already, and we haven't even gotten to the hair and makeup.
An hour later, I look in the mirror and smile back at myself. "Wow."