Chapter 5 " Raven , are you okay ... " ] Both my bridesmaids looked like hell , but they were still trying to comfort me . [ ] The emotions I'd been holding back suddenly cracked wide open . [ ] My eyes started burning . I wiped them hard and put my arms around my friends . [ ] " I'm fine . After today's circus , at least I know what the Harper family is really like . " [ ] Mia sniffled . " That Penny is nothing but a troublemaker ! " ] Amy was also indignant : " The Harper family just let that bitch babble on stage , sabotaging Raven and humiliating her . And that good - for - nothing Grayson didn't even step in to stop it . I think the whole lot of them are rotten ! " ] ] Even without her telling me , I already knew . [ ] Grayson's parents had never approved of me as their daughter - in - law . When we got engaged and our families met , they immediately started complaining that I came from a single - parent household . ] Then they decided my education was too advanced - said female PhDs were too domineering and would probably walk all over their son . I was already uncomfortable with their attitude back then . But Grayson sweet - talked me , practically got on his knees begging me to go through with the wedding . Looking back , I let his smooth words cloud my judgment . Back then , Grayson and I met at a hiking event . [ ] He pursued me for a whole year before I agreed to date him . ] We were together for five years . ] During that time , I knew he had close guy friends and female friends too . But he never introduced me to any of them . [ ] As a boyfriend , he seemed pretty decent . [ ] Thoughtful , gentle , always putting me first . ] After we got together , he stopped going out drinking with friends . Even work functions - he'd always give me a heads up . ] YEDALA MAL Chapter 5 He said he was willing to be whipped for me . [ ] That in his world , his wife would always come first . Back then , I actually believed what he was saying . ] Now I realize it was all just manipulation . [] The night before our wedding , when I finally met his buddies , I should have seen the warning signs . His friends weren't friendly toward me at all . [ ] Especially Penny . It was obvious Penny had feelings for Grayson - I could see it immediately . The fact that they'd never gotten together all these years was probably just because neither had made the first move . ]] My appearance was just an inconvenient accident . [ ] If I'd known how this would end , I never would have agreed to marry him . [ ] He deserved to be stuck with Penny . ] ] The more I thought about it , the more frustrated I got . ] I started crying from pure anger . ] ] That's when my mom finally showed up . She took one look at my disheveled state and her face went white with shock . " What happened ... Raven , why do you look like this ? " My bridesmaids filled her in on everything . [ ] My mom started shaking with rage . She turned around and headed straight for the reception hall , saying she was going to get justice for me . " My precious daughter , and they treated her like garbage ! " ] " Those bastards ! I'm going to have words with them ! " ] ] I stopped her . " Don't bother . There's no reasoning with people like that . " }] " Trying to argue with them will just make us angrier . " [ ] " Mom , I don't want to go through with this wedding . If I actually married him , God knows how much hell I'd have to endure after , " 16 The Move & NUMAR 2.9 % Chapter 5 My mom put her arms around me , her eyes red with tears , and nodded firmly . [ ] " Raven , whatever you decide , I support you . My only wish is for you to be happy . " [ ] The four of us took a cab back to the hotel . I booked a flight home for first thing the next morning . I didn't want to spend another second in this awful place .