Page 6 of The Marriage Negotiation

I ignored everyone and headed straight for the front doors so I could hail a taxi to take me to the venue. Renting a car for the two days I'd be in California didn't seem worth it.

I climbed into the taxi the doorman had hailed for me and gave directions to the venue. That was another reason I hadn't rented a car. I needed these few minutes to prepare myself for the coming confrontation with Peter.

And I had no doubt that it would be a confrontation. Peter would be up to his usual antics. I knew that for a fact. I didn't think he could go a single second of his life without bullying someone. It was like oxygen for him.

I felt really bad for whoever he was marrying.

I groaned when we reached the wedding venue. That ride had not been long enough. I almost told him to drive around fora little longer, but I knew if I didn't get this over with, I never would.

I paid the driver and climbed out of the car. I drew in a deep breath and walked up the stairs to the main doors. I could hear the low murmur of voices as soon as I stepped inside.

I knew I was a bit early, but I had wanted to get a good seat, that being one at the back of the venue so I'd have a quick escape. It looked as if I had arrived before anyone else, but there was still a flurry of activity.

At first, I thought it was people getting everything ready for the ceremony, but I quickly realized that the workers were whispering amongst themselves. It was what they were whispering that had me so confused.

Had the wedding been cancelled?

What was going on here?

I stopped the first worker that passed by me and asked, "Can you tell me where the Scotton family is?"

I needed to talk to my mother and father and figure out what was going on here. Maybe I could go home early?

"Oh, um, I'm not sure exactly, but their wedding preparation room is the third door down on the second floor." She pointed behind me. "The stairs are right over there."

"Thank you."

I hurried up the stairs and down the hallway to the third door. Inside the room was silent so I wondered if anyone was inside. I knocked and waited. After a moment, the door opened and my father stood there.

I didn't like the grim look on his face.

"Dad, what's wrong?"

My father sighed and stepped back, allowing me to enter.

I quickly scanned the room, but only found my mother. "Where's Peter?" He should have been here.

"That seems to be the big question," my father replied.

"What?"

"Your idiot brother didn't come to the venue this morning," my father said. I was a little shocked. I had never heard him call my brother an idiot. "When he didn't show, I called the hotel only to find out that he checked out last night."

"He checked out?" I asked, astonished.

"He's just got cold feet," my mother said. "He's young. It's understandable. I just wish he had said something to me. I could have talked to him about it."

My eyebrows shot up when my father rolled his eyes.

Had his blinders finally fallen off?

"Does his fiancé know?" I asked.

My father shook his head and my mother let out a little sob.

"He's still getting ready for the ceremony," my father said. "His parents are with him and..."

"And what?"

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