Chapter 11

Just as Calista was trying to figure out how to break free from the hold of Noah's friends, a sharp voice cut through the chaos. "Let her go!" Calista flinched in surprise and turned toward the sound. But it wasn't Theodore, the man she was supposed to marry today. It was Patricia. Wearing a wedding dress, Patricia walked straight toward Noah. He opened his mouth to explain, "I—" But before he could finish, she brushed past him without hesitation and walked directly toward Calista. Without a word, she slapped Calista hard across the face. "I can't believe how shameless you are, Calista," she hissed. "You've been throwing yourself at my fiance like a desperate dog for years. And now you have the nerve to show up here on our wedding day—in a damn wedding dress—trying to steal him from me right at the courthouse? Really?" Calista was still restrained by Noah's friends. She couldn't move, couldn't dodge, and couldn't fight back. She had no choice but to endure the slap. Her ears ran