My Fiancé Ruined My Wedding Gown, but a Striking Cowboy at the Courthouse Saved Me

The Ultimatum

Before Taylor could process the cowboy's silent amusement, the heavy mahogany doors of the courthouse flew open. Derek, her fiancé, marched in with his face flushed red with anger. Right behind him was his mother, Patricia, her eyes cold and calculating, flanked by two lawyers carrying leather briefcases. The illusion of the loving family Taylor thought she was joining vanished instantly.

"Taylor, stop this childish nonsense!" Derek demanded, his voice echoing sharply. "You ran away from our own wedding. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for my family?"

Taylor turned to face him, her jaw tight. "Embarrassing? You dumped a bucket of stable mud on my wedding dress because you were too cowardly to tell your mother you wanted to marry me. You wanted me to call it off so you could keep your precious trust fund!"

Patricia stepped forward, a sneer twisting her features. She signaled to one of the lawyers, who quickly stepped up and presented a document. "We are not here to debate your dramatic fabrications, Taylor. You will sign this premarital release waiver immediately. If you do not, we will sue you for breach of contract and the cost of the ruined venue. You will leave this city with absolutely nothing."

Taylor felt the walls closing in. She had no money for lawyers, and her own family was hundreds of miles away. She looked at Derek, hoping to find a shred of the man she loved, but he only looked away, refusing to meet her gaze. He had chosen his inheritance over her. Just as her hand began to tremble, Austin stepped out from the shadow of the pillar, placing himself directly between Taylor and the predatory lawyers.

"I don't think she'll be signing anything today, ma'am," Austin said, his voice low and dangerous. "In fact, I think you're trespassing on private family matters."