Chapter 3

Megan dressed up and went out with Lucas for Valentine's Day.

Lucas accompanied Megan on a shopping trip and at a bridal store, Megan stopped by.

Megan shyly said, "Lucas, will you try it with me?"

Lucas didn't say no and I followed them both into the bridal store.

Megan tried on wedding dresses one by one.

I think of the old days, when my dad hadn't made the offer to let me get married.

He thinks I'm simple and kind and have no agenda.

He was very nice to me and would introduce me to everyone around him.

Would take me to all kinds of dinners and make me the center of attention by privately ordering me the most beautiful dresses.

There was a time when I was filled with girlish anticipation, trying on wedding dresses one by one and asking Lucas if they looked good.

Lucas bought all the wedding dresses I tried on, hugged me and said, "You look good in all of them."

I laughed and asked him, "Why did you buy so many? You can only wear one for marriage."

Lucas doted, "Then we'll tie the knot many, many times."

I pretended to be angry and said, "Do you still want to marry me, before divorcing me?"

Lucas said seriously, "I mean, I would marry you many, many times if you would marry me."

I'm pretty sure Lucas really loved me.

Then my dad went to the casino and lost the company and everything he owned, but my mom was dead by then, and I wasn't in the position to promise to help him fill the hole.

Before I could tell Lucas the truth about everything that happened, he actually found Lucas and made a deal with him with the truth.

Lucas fumed and later confronted me and I was dumbfounded.

All I could say was, "I'm sorry I lied to you in the first place, but he threatened me with my mom and I just couldn't help it!"

Lucas asked back, "Then why didn't you tell me earlier?"

Because of my dad, I was never a believer in love.

At first, I really just thought of it as a trade.

But by the time I fell deeply into the bargain, I no longer knew how to speak.

I tried to explain, but Lucas just pinned me down with red eyes and said harshly, "Zoe, you're such a liar."

Then later, Megan saw the wedding dresses.

She ruined the wedding dress on the grounds that it didn't look good and she had to design it for me.

I've tried to stop it, but Lucas just hugs Megan and says, "Your vision is definitely the best. You can change it any way you want."

I watched Megan cut holes in her wedding dress.

It wasn't a wedding dress she cut up, it was my dream of marrying Lucas.

Until Megan cut the last wedding dress and I clutched it to my bosom and bit Megan.

Megan was bleeding from my bite, but her mouth was still saying, "I'm sorry Zoe, it's all my fault."

Lucas asked me to apologize to her, and I wouldn't.

Lucas threatened me with a wedding dress, and eventually, I apologized to Megan.

It was only when he heard my compromise that Lucas was satisfied to put a stop to the drama by taking Megan away.