---- You rich girls are all the same-spoiled! If I'd known, I never would have agreed to this match. I should've let him be with Sophie instead!" Her words turned to sobs, painting me as manipulative, high-maintenance, and unworthy of their precious son. I wondered how Jayden had twisted the truth so thoroughly to them over the years. They complained about me now, but had they forgotten how they fawned over me in the beginning? Every visit to their home ended with them nudging me to stay the night, calling me" daughter-in-law" like it was already written in stone. Their family had relied on mine for years. And now, with a little money in their pockets, they suddenly found fault in everything I did-said I was extravagant, looked down on me for my background. Yes, I'd studied abroad. But I came back with a degree, just like anyone else. Why should I be looked down upon? What made Sophie, with her ---- local degree, so superior? The bitterness stirred, but I kept it buried, and let sorrow show on my face. "You're right. If you're so dissatisfied with me, then maybe-since Jayden and I haven't married yet-we should just call it off. From now on, let's go our separate ways. It might save us all from suffering later." Just then, Jayden's mother's face flickered with the shadow of a smile. She opened her mouth to speak, but her husband cut in, placing a firm hand on her arm. "Leah," he said gently, "let's not be hasty. We're still planning to look for him. Marriage isn't something to joke about. It's not just on-again, off -again. Don't make a decision out of anger. We only said those things because we were worried."