Page 53 of Third Degree

I looked outside to see the garden, surrounded by my parents’ guards, as the backyard was transformed into the wedding reception oftheirdreams.

It would be misleading to say the last few weeks went by slowly because, honestly, it felt like I’d just blinked, and now, suddenly, I was stuck here. It felt like time had played a cruel trick on me, and I found myself trapped in this place indefinitely. The shock of it all still lingered, refusing to fade away.

“Gianna! Come downstairs for a final fitting of your dress before the big day,” my mother screamed, her voice echoing through our home.

The house was large, but it wasn’t a mega-mansion like the one my cousins had when I first met Elio. My mother loved the garden like me, so what we lacked inside in terms of space doubled on the outside. We had quite a large lot with plenty of acreage.

The greenhouse was on a corner of our property, and under any other circumstances, I would have loved to have my wedding here.

Unfortunately, this place just reminded me of the doom and gloom of the life I was born into.

My mother had been planning my wedding, though, for the past… twelve years because none of them had any hope that I would find a man on my own.

They had all assumed I would lose in the deal, which I suppose they were all right about.

“Coming!” I screamed back down to her.

It wasn’t my mom’s fault. In fact, I always empathized with her. I knew that she had wanted the same kind of life as I did. I was given the same opportunities, so I knew she was just doing what she could to survive.

I grabbed my phone when I saw I had a few missed text messages from my group of friends.

Tatum:How did I go on a honeymoon then come home and find out Daphne just up and left?! WHAT THE FUCK?! WHERE ARE YOU?

Maeve:I think we need to send a search and rescue.

Chels:Second.

I couldn’t bear to reveal the truth to my friends just yet. I needed time to process and come to terms with the twisted reality I found myself in. Before I could even begin to compose a message to them, I had to grapple with the daunting issue of whom I would be forced to marry.

Perhaps if my new husband “allowed” it, I could eventually visit my friends and explain the torment I had endured in person.

The sound of my phone interrupted my thoughts.

I was grateful to see that Chelsea was the one on the line. I missed my friend’s conversations. I missed thechismebetween us. I missed… them. Being vulnerable and doing things like going to clubs or being with friends, although uncomfortable, could feel fulfilling too. It was much better than the loneliness that plagued me at my parents’ house.

“Hey.” I grabbed the phone and decided it was best to answer it.

“What the heck, Daphne? I am actually kind of pissed at you.” She was also going through somewhat of a breakup with Julian’s brother Alex, so I knew to take everything with a pinch of salt.

“I know,” I responded, throwing myself back onto the bed. So much for going downstairs to my mother andherwedding dress.

“That’s all you have to say?” She sounded quite ticked off.

“I don’t know what else to say.” I let out a deep breath. “I had to come home quickly because my parents forced me.”

“You are almost thirty-one! How can they force you?”

Le sigh. She would never understand, and that’s what sucked about it too.

“Well, I am thirty-one tomorrow,” I huffed.

“Ugh. You make it so hard to be mad at you when it’s your fucking birthday.”

I laughed at my friend.

“I promise that I will be back soon.” Lie. “I will come to explain everything in person. I just need a couple months to sort things out with my family.”

“You swear?” she pressed.

---