Chapter 1

It's my wedding day…Sean thought, standing in a daze. Having anxiously waited for this day for months, Sean didn't think ahead about how the day would go, and standing here now makes it a bit surreal.

The wedding march started, the audience lifting to their feet to allow the bride to walk in.

The little flower boys and girls were throwing flower petals on her feet as she walked past.

Her father finally handed her over with a nod, and he took his soon-to-be wife's arm, facing the priest.

Sean zoned out for most of it, making sure to say the right words when needed but most of the time, he was distracted by her beauty…and the exotic way she smelled.

That must be why he didn't hear the announcement in the first place.

“Sean!” Amelia hissed under her breath, jabbing him with her elbow.

“Ow!” He exclaimed, looking up. “What is it?”

Amelia's face was frozen into a weird expression of a half smile and half frown. “The priest asked you something.”

Sean faced the man officiating the ceremony, cursing his absentmindedness. 

“I'm sorry sir, could you please repeat that?”

The priest glanced at a piece of paper before speaking. “I asked if you brought along the $1 million?”

His eyes widened, wondering what money had to do with getting married. “What?” He looked around. “What $1 million?”

“The Cruz family demands such an amount from you, I thought you were aware.” The priest answers.

Sean’s hands which were joined together with Amelia's fell apart as he turned to face Amelia in shock.

“ Was this some sick joke?

“Of course not!” he faced her. “Why would you ask me to bring another money after considering all that I've done?!”

It was like looking at another person, Amelia's eyes had hardened. “Oh, please. Paying for a couple of things doesn't mean you've done the best. 

Besides, I thought $1 million was too small, but here you are ranting over it.” She snorted.

Sean's jaw dropped to the floor upon hearing these things. Was this a test, because he wasn't so sure of what was happening right now.

Why would she act like she didn't know the sacrifices that he had made for her?

In the past year, they met and started dating, Sean helped pay for her brother's wedding, and then after much pressure, he gave in and bought the house of her dreams as a wedding present…and it was crazy expensive.

The only way he could afford it was through loans, making him entrenched in several feet of debt.

“Amelia,” he called out slowly through clenched teeth. “If this is some sort of sick joke, you better stop it! People are watching.”

She snorts, her eyes hardening even more. It was like another persona had crept up revealing another person. “You're the only one here who thinks this is a joke, Sean. If you don't want to pay the money, then I'll walk right back through that door…only it'll be out of your life, permanently.”

Was she threatening to break up with me on our wedding day if I didn't pay?

The look in her eyes was scary, leaving him with no doubt that Amelia planned to carry out her threats.

He couldn't envision life without her, so he did the only thing he could.

Fell to his knees to beg.

Wrapping his arms around the back of her legs, he pleaded out ignoring the murmurings of the crowd. “Amelia please I'm begging you, if it's about the money I can raise that later and give it to you. We love each other so much, and that's why we should get married not for money.”

Amelia angrily pushed him away. “I loved you…because I thought you had money. Do you know how many rich guys I had to turn down to marry you?” She eyes him with disdain. “I regret dating you honestly, but I thought you were the better option. Although, what's the point of marrying you if you can't keep me and my family happy?”

“She's right, you know?” Amelia's mother Rose stepped in. “You would be lucky to get married to someone as beautiful, classy, and poised as my daughter.” Her smile then turned downright cruel. “She was kind enough to love you and agree to your proposal…not that anyone would want to marry someone like you.” She spat out that last word with disdain.

Sean couldn't take the insults anymore, watching them ridicule his efforts over the years. “You guys think you're so smart huh? Drain me of my hard-earned money, and then toss me to the curb when I'm unable to give in to your demands?” The more he talked about it, the larger his anger grew. 

“Over the past years that I've known your daughter, I've spent over a million dollars taking care of your family's debts and needs…if you want to kick me to the curb, then I'm going to have to demand that you remit every single penny.” He announced , taking delight in watching their faces fall into shock.