AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes, and exactly why did you do that?”
“He’s a loser and he isn’t good for you.”
“He isn’t a loser, Dad. He’s a very smart man and a hard worker.”
My mother came walking over, smiling at me. “Hope, love, there you are. You ready for the big announcement tonight?” she said, wrapping her arm around my shoulder. “You really should have gotten a new dress,” she whispered in my ear, pushing me away from her and looking me over.
“This is brand new.”
“Well, it will have to do. It’s just not what I would have chosen for you to wear for such an announcement,” she said, her eyes running over me again in a judging way.
“That’s okay, because there isn’t going to be an announcement after all. Didn’t Daddy tell you?”
My mother looked from me to my father with a confused look on her face. “Beverly, Hope came home and shed some light on how ungrateful she is that we have put this marriage together.”
“Oh.” My mother turned and looked at me, “Hope?”
“Mom, please...” I begged. “I explained to Daddy that I’m with Carter, and he agreed to cancel everything.”
My mother let out a loud laugh. “Not that boy. He is nice and all, but honestly, Hope, grow up.”
“No. I would rather be with someone who loves me back than be with a domineering man. I would rather live in squalor than live with that!”
People started to look our way, including Trent’s parents. “Hope, you will stop this behavior right now,” my father demanded, gripping my arm.
“No, Daddy, I won’t.”
I turned to head back to our table when I saw Carter walking over our way. He walked right over, holding his hand out to my father. “Sir, good to see you again. Carter Malone.”
“Carter, nice to see you. How’s school?”
“Good, sir. I just received my final marks. Top two percent in my class. I take the BAR at the end of the summer.”
“I’m sure you’ll do very well. Then you will screw people just like your old man.” My mouth hung open as he dismissed Carter, as if he were nothing more than the dirt on the bottom of his shoe, then turned away with my mother to go speak with Trent’s parents.
“Dad, you are going to apologize to him right now,” I said, stomping my foot hard on the floor.
My father turned, glaring at me. “I’ve had enough. Now before you make any more of a scene and ruin the whole evening, I suggest you get to your seat and sit down.”
Carter grabbed my hand and pulled me away from my parents, making our way back to the table. All eyes followed, and murmurs and whispers floated through the air. I could feel my blood start to boil at the way both my parents had just treated Carter, and something in the bottom of my gut told me my father had lied to me and that another surprise was just around the corner.
“I’m sorry my father is such an asshole, Carter. This was a bad idea. I think maybe we should just go.”
Carter pulled the chair out for me and waited for me to sit down. I looked around the room and noticed Trent staring at us as Carter handed me my glass of champagne. “Just calm down, Hope. Tell me what happened.”
I was just about to start telling him the whole truth when out of nowhere came a very familiar voice calling to Carter. We both turned in the direction that it came from and saw Felice walking over to us.
“Felice,” Carter’s deep voice called out. I fought back the tears coming to my eyes when I saw her coming toward us. This night was getting worse by the second.
“Felice, what are you doing here?” he asked, placing his arm around my shoulders.
“My aunt and uncle are here. They sent the invite. My cousin apparently has an important announcement to make; I couldn’t miss it. I believe you know my cousin, Hope, Trent King,” she said, glaring at me, a smug smile coming across her face.
I stared back at her.
“Such a small world. I grew up with Trent. I never knew you were his cousin,” Carter said, moving behind me.
I went still and felt a funny kind of heat pour over me. Carter’s hand gripped my shoulder tighter. Felice went to say something, but my father cleared his throat into the microphone and started to speak. “I’ll see you later, Carter. It will be exciting to hear the announcement,” she drawled. “Hope, it was nice seeing you too. I can’t wait to see your reaction to the news.” She smiled, turned, and walked away.
