Chapter 2 - THE AFTERMATH
The fallout was catastrophic.
Within twenty minutes, the church was empty. The caterers were packing up untouched food, and Chloe was having a full-blown meltdown in the bridal suite.
I sat in the parking lot next to my modified van, trying to catch my breath. The humid Georgia air felt suffocating. Suddenly, my parents marched out of the heavy oak doors, their faces twisted in fury.
“Are you happy now, Evelyn?” my father, David, snarled, pointing a finger at me. “You just destroyed your sister’s life. You couldn't just sit in the back and keep your mouth shut, could you?”
“David, leave her alone,” a sharp voice called out.
Eleanor Vance was walking toward us, her silk gown rustling against the pavement. Liam was right behind her.
“You have a lot of nerve, Eleanor,” my mother hissed. “You humiliated our family.”
“Your family humiliated itself,” Eleanor replied coldly. She turned to me, her eyes softening. “Evelyn, Liam and I are going to a quiet restaurant downtown. We would be honored if you joined us.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you!” my father shouted.
May you like
I looked at the parents who had let me burn, who had watched me suffer through dozens of skin grafts, and who had just blamed me for a cruelty I did not commit. I grabbed the steering wheel of my chair.
“I would love to join you, Eleanor,” I said, not looking back at my family as I rolled toward her car.
