Page 4

What good would wearing a fairytale wedding gown do when she didn't even know a single thing about her bridegroom?
It was only three weeks ago that she had fainted at his feet, and Annie had thrown a glass of ice-cold water at Summerine's face to revive her.
"You could've ruined everything for us, you idiot,"her mother had hissed.
"I—-I—-"
"You're lucky Mr. Harcourt is such a pragmatic man. He's already signed the contract. Wedding banns will be posted by tonight, and a notice of your engagement will be in tomorrow's papers."
And that was that.
Ryu Harcourt hadn't come back to their home since, and without any access to a mobile phone or the Internet, Summerine hadn'tbeen able to contact him herself. The only recourse left to her was to muster the courage to stand up to her parents.
But each time she had attempted to speak, Summerine would find herself the object of their hard gazes, her courage would flee, and that was why...
It had to be now or never.
And so she lifted her chin and practiced looking serious in front of the mirror.
Because that was important, right?
She had to look serious to be taken seriously.
Right?
Summerine's heart started thudding as soon as she made herself imagine it was her parents standing in front of her.
Mother. Father. I want to speak to you.
Her knees quaked as she imagined the derision in her parents' gazes upon hearing this.
I mean it.
And I won't take no for an answer.
Rehearsing the words already had her stomach twisting itself in knots, but Summerine somehow found it in herself to press on.
You'll probably hate me for what I have to say, and I'm sorry for that.
You probably won't forgive me either, but I can no longer just do nothing.
I'm twenty, two. I'm a full-fledged adult with a fully functioning brain.
And so there is no way I will marry someone I haven't even—-
Summerine forgot the rest of her speech when the door to the bridal suite suddenly opened.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Annie closed the door behind her, and Summerine's hands started to perspire when her mother turned to her.
"You're already three minutes late," her mother snapped. "Have we not taught you better?"
"I—-I—-"
Annie's gaze narrowed, and Summerine paled when she realized what her mother was staring at. She hurriedly unclenched her fists, but Annie's lips had already tightened in annoyance.
"Must you be so dramatic about this?"