The scorn in Gabriel’s eyes burned even brighter, as if the idea of making me his mistress was some grand favor I should feel grateful for.
With his arms crossed over his chest, Gabriel sneered at me alongside his friends. “Fine, then. When the time comes, everyone here can take turns—one night each. Let’s make it fun.”
The makeup artist, unable to hold back any longer, stepped forward to defend me.
“Mr. Prince, Ms. Waller IS having her wedding here today. As a member of the Prince Family, surely you’re aware that Sir Zachary Prince, the head of the family, is marrying Ms. Waller today?”
Her words landed like a bombshell, silencing the room for a brief moment—before laughter erupted like thunder.
Gabriel’s expression darkened instantly. With a swift kick, he sent the makeup artist sprawling into the corner. Blood trickled down her forehead, but he spared her only a cold, disdainful glance.
“A lowly makeup artist dares to make up stories using my uncle’s name?
“Everyone in town knows my uncle is marrying his dream woman today. Spread any more baseless rumors and I’ll rip that lying mouth of yours apart.”
Gabriel’s reputation for cruelty was infamous across the town. When he made a threat, he meant it.
The makeup artist turned pale, frozen in place and too terrified to even breathe. Her wide, fearful eyes turned to me, as if pleading for help.
Not wanting to escalate the situation with my wedding just moments away, I decided to let it go and move to another room to fix my makeup.
Before I could leave, Gabriel grabbed my veil in a firm grip and yanked it violently. “This veil was designed personally by my uncle. It even carries his private insignia. Nora, where did you steal it from?”
The veil had been fastened with hairpins and when it was torn away, I felt a sharp, searing pain as if my scalp had split open.
While serving time in prison for Gabriel, I once had my head bashed open.
I was allergic to anesthesia, so I endured thirty stitches without feeling a shred of pain. But now, the searing pain made my vision blur and darken.
Fighting through the agony, I reached out with trembling hands to grab a corner of the veil and repeated in a low.
With steady voice, I said, “Gabriel, I’ll say it one more time. Today is MY wedding to your uncle. This veil was custom-made for me by him. I didn’t steal—”
Before I could finish, Gabriel grabbed my face and yanked hard at my lips.