I Dumped My Groom and Married My Childhood Crush in 30 Minutes novel · Chapter 16 of 24
Chapter 16: Operation Bride
Reese walked down the middle of the hall, and nobody tried to stop him.
He looked like a man who had slept in his car.
"Reese," Tobias said from the floor. "Don't."
"You told me to fix it," Reese said. "I'm fixing it."
He climbed the dais and set his phone against the microphone stand, and the club's speakers popped.
"My name is Reese Tolland. I held the camera at the church hall. I cut the video that said Annalise was crying."
A groan went through the room.
"I got fired Monday. My fiancée gave back the ring Tuesday. My mother hasn't answered my calls since Wednesday." He swallowed. "So I've got nothing left to lose, and I'm going to read you the group chat."
"You'll do no such thing," Eleanor said from her chair.
Conway had helped Tobias get her into it.
Her face had no color left.
"Mrs. Harcourt," Reese said, "I'm so sorry. But you're in it."
He tapped the screen.
Hattie crossed the floor, took the phone out of his hand and plugged it into the club's projector.
The wall behind the dais lit up.
White bubbles, blue bubbles, a list of names.
At the top, the chat was called "Operation Bride."
Nobody spoke.
Hattie stepped back, and a man in the front row cleared his throat.
He was the bank manager.
"I'll read it," he said.
He put on his glasses.
"Five months ago. Tobias writes: 'Mom says the nurse is getting too comfortable. She wants her shown what she is.'"
A ripple went through the crowd.
"Reese writes: 'Show her how?'"
"Tobias writes: 'Fake wedding. Mom pays. We film her cry in front of everyone and she'll never think she's better than us again.'"
"Reese: 'And if she says yes anyway?'"
"Tobias: 'She'll say yes. Mom says if she stays after that, she's ours for life.'"
Keep reading free with an account. Start I Dumped My Groom and Married My Childhood Crush in 30 Minutes from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.
← Chapter 15 · All chapters · Chapter 17 →
Want to keep talking to characters like these? Chat with AI romance characters: AI Boyfriend · AI Girlfriend · Dark Romance · Fantasy Romance · BL (Boys’ Love) · Billionaire Boyfriend · Mafia Boyfriend · Possessive Boyfriend · Hockey Boyfriend · Older Boyfriend · K-Drama Boyfriend · Anime Boyfriend · Vampire Boyfriend · Werewolf Boyfriend · Demon Boyfriend · Fae Romance · GL (Girls’ Love) · Anime Girlfriend · Goth & Alt Girlfriend · Gamer Girlfriend · Tsundere Girlfriend · Fantasy Girlfriend