Page 1 of Remnants
PROLOGUE
FIVE YEARS AGO
“Wow.” My voice sounds stuffy due to the crying. “Your dress is so beautiful,” I say softly as she dabs at my face to stop the running makeup. Her frustrated expression softens slightly as she gives me a long stare.
I release a shaky breath while focusing on the twisted and torn tissue I have in my nervous grasp.
How am I supposed to admit this to her? And today of all days…
Everyone will be so upset, but maybe she can help me get out of here.
She is my big sister after all. I inhale deeply before looking back up at her.
“Jocelyn, I don’t think I’m supposed to marry James.” Her slender face falls as she stands up, rushing to shut and lock the door to our dressing room. She heads back to her original spot in front of me and begins—rougher than before—cleaning my face.
“James is a wealthy man. A wealthy man on his way to being an elite in his field, and he chose you . You will be set for life! He likes all your stupid ideas, including that ridiculous café bakery thing.”
I chew on my lip nervously. Actually, James hates my bakery idea.
“No wife of mine will be working. Plus being around all that sugar isn’t good for a person with your eating habits .”
Jocelyn knows this. Or, at least she should. I’ve told her several times that James doesn’t believe in me working.
“It’s not what you think. Jocelyn, I just don’t feel—” Jocelyn holds up her hand to silence me.
“You owe our family this after the absolute embarrassment and shame you put us through while you were in high school. We had to move…change churches. Daddy’s name was ruined!
This is a blessing, and a way to prove that whatever that was.
..” She curls her lip as if the memory fills her mouth with a rancid taste.
“It was a phase that you’re over. And now, mother and daddy don’t have to figure out how to continue to support you since you refused to go to college. ”
I wince at her sharp words as she finishes reapplying my makeup before jerking my face to look in the mirror. “It’s perfect. Now… stand up, suck it up, suck it in, and go out there and marry him. You owe us for not disowning you back then. Don’t think we will give you the same consideration again.”
“What if we don’t really love each other,” I say softly, trying once more as she shoves my bouquet in my hands before she scoffs. “What if I don’t love him?”
“Kaitlin, you’re getting married. Love has zero to do with it. This is a business transaction. You need to get tiny, stay doe-eyed and dim-witted, give him kids, and suck his cock when he says. In doing so, he supplies you with a ridiculous amount of cash. Now move.”