The group lingered, reluctant to part. Rebecca looked at me sheepishly, "But if Kate doesn't want to believe me, I still don't want to live!"
Before she finished speaking, a heavy slap landed on my face. After a dizzying moment, I saw Mike's eyes wide with fury.
"Kate! When did you become so unreasonable? These are two human beings, breathing human lives, do you really want them to pay for your paranoia with their lives?"
This was the first time in five years of dating that he had hit me. My father was furious and wanted to retaliate, but I stopped him.
I gritted my teeth and looked at him coldly, “Mike, remember this slap. You’ll regret it.”
After a moment of surprise, guilt flashed in his eyes as he tried to take my hand, “Kate, I…”
I dodged his pull and rushed to Toby. With a look of horror on his face, I removed the gold rope.
“Since you’re being so secretive, the wedding is canceled. We’ll return the dowry in full. Your relatives can inform them themselves.”
With that, we turned and left. Dad glared at him fiercely. Downstairs, Mom looked conflicted.
“Kate, is the wedding really canceled?”