Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95520 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 478(@200wpm)___ 382(@250wpm)___ 318(@300wpm)
A shiver runs through me. I shouldn’t want to cling to his words so easily. However, I’m on the verge of falling apart.
This is the last straw. All the pressure feels like it’s going to cave my lungs. In this moment, Bentley is like a lifeline I didn’t know I needed so much.
“Zah, baby, Dr. Richards hasn’t arrived yet, but he should be pulling in soon. He’ll be able to look after your mom,” Gilbert says.
Dr. Richards is a friend of Gilbert’s. I’m sure he does his job well, but I’m not waiting around for him or taking any chances. I’m taking my mom to the hospital to be checked out.
“I’m taking her to the hospital,” I say firmly.
“What about our guests?”
“Fu—”
“I will go inside and let everyone know what’s going on,” Erica says, cutting me off before I lose my shit.
“You can let them know tomorrow isn’t happening while you’re at it.”
“What? Zahirah, I’m sure your mom will be fine by tomorrow night. Let’s not be so hasty.”
I shove out of Bentley’s arms and stand. Grabbing Gilbert by the arm, I tug him out of earshot. He looks back at me nervously.
“That is my mom lying there. Take this as the sign it is. We need to call this off. Tell everyone my mom has fallen ill. She’s supposed to walk me down the aisle.
“I think everyone will understand if we postpone for now. In a few weeks, we’ll part amicably. Too much stress and needing to slow down or something. We’ll figure all that out,” I bite out.
“Is this because of him?”
“What? What are you talking about? What aren’t you getting? My mother just collapsed.”
I drop my voice. “This isn’t real. We should have called it off weeks ago. It has nothing to do with him.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’m sure I’m about to lose it on you. What’s the matter with you?”
I turn to go back to my mom as the ambulance pulls up. Gilbert grabs my arm to halt me. I turn to look at him with my brows knit.
“He’s only going to hurt you again. Don’t do this,” he pleads.
I shake my head to clear it. I’ve been missing something here, but I don’t have the time to process what. I need to get to my mom.
“Whatever, Gilbert. I’ll talk to you later. I have to go,” I say and pull my arm from his hold.
He bites out a curse but allows me to walk away. My mind is moving in a million directions. I’m not able to process any of it as I follow my mom into the ambulance.
I sit with my head in my hands, sobbing as we ride to the hospital. Once we arrive, Mom is rushed to a room and examined while I pace and wait.
It doesn’t take long before I’m led back to her room. Denzel, Bentley’s sister Lauren’s fiancé, is the attending doctor. I’m so glad to see him. He gives my shoulder a squeeze as I enter the room.
“She’s going to be fine,” he says before he walks out.
I take a seat by her bed and drop my head into my hands like on the ride here. I’m so confused and lost right now. My mother is a healthy woman, this is so out of the blue.
A hand on my shoulder causes me to lift my head. My mother is smiling at me with her soft-brown eyes.
“Now that I have your attention and that boy isn’t around to cut my questions off, I’d like you to explain to me what’s going on. Why are you hell-bent on marrying someone you don’t love?”
I scoff. “Aw, hell nah. Mom, did you just fake all this?”
“I’m a mother, I did what I needed to do to protect my baby. Now start talking, Zah. I know you’ve been hiding things since you came back home.
“I think Gilbert has been playing on your secrets and has been trying to trap you into a marriage he doesn’t intend to end.”
“Wait, you know?”
“That this entire wedding is bullpoopy? Girl, you think I’m one big fool, don’t you? You’re lucky I haven’t bopped you upside your head. You’re dragging a lot of good people into this mess, and most of all, you have Aaron smack in the middle.”
She shakes her head and purses her lips. Guilt begins to rise in my chest. I’m not even sure how I got here anymore.
“I can see you’re lost, baby. It’s written all over your face. Maybe if you talk it out with me, you will hear your answers for yourself,” my mother coaxes.
I look back at her as she searches my face. I try to think of where to start. I’ve wanted to tell her so much over the years, but the secrets started a long time ago.
“Start from the beginning, child. I’m here to listen.”