The Seer's Promise Chapter 1

My grandmother refused to close her eyes, her breath rattling in her chest. She made me swear a solemn oath right there on her deathbed.

On my wedding day, I had to be out of my house before 4 AM and the ceremony had to be complete by 7 AM.

Otherwise, the groom's entire family would befall a terrible disaster.

My grandma had been a seer her whole life, a woman whose predictions never missed the mark. Through my tears, I promised. I told my fiancé, Ryan, that even if it was just for my sake, he had to make sure the wedding party arrived on time.

He swore he would.

But on the morning of the wedding, the street outside was silent. The limousines were nowhere to be found.

My mom called his family, and my future mother-in-law’s cold laughter crackled through the speaker.

“What’s the rush? My son isn’t the one who made the oath!”

“You want him to pick her up? Fine. Add another $50,000 to the dowry.”

“Otherwise, the deal’s off!”

The sound of firecrackers and cheerful laughter still echoed from the street below my window. Friends and family, some having traveled across the country, had arrived the night before just to make sure I could leave for my wedding before the 4 AM deadline.

Hearing his mother’s words, a hot rage flooded through me. I ripped the decorative pins from my hair. “Mom, I’m not marrying him.”

My mom rushed over, pressing my hands down. “Sweetheart, don’t talk crazy. On your wedding day? You can’t just call it off.”

She sighed, her voice softening. “You’re pregnant. That’s why they think they have you cornered. Look at your belly.”

Pregnant? What baby?

I stared down at my stomach. It was soft, a little pudgy, the result of many late-night snacks. Nothing out of the ordinary. I looked up at my mom, confused. “Mom, what are you talking about?”

She gave me a slightly exasperated look. “That dinner we had with Ryan’s mother? You ran to the bathroom to throw up halfway through. You didn’t see the look in her eyes after that. Pure calculation. I could practically see the dollar signs.”

A vague memory surfaced. We had met with Ryan’s parents to finalize the wedding plans. The night before, I’d gone out for barbecue and had way too much. My acid reflux was acting up, and I’d felt nauseous all through dinner.

So that was it. That’s why his mother’s attitude had completely changed when I got back from the restroom. And to make it worse, I remembered complaining to Ryan that my period was late.

She thought I was pregnant. And my own mother, seeing the same signs, had just accepted their outrageous demands.