Chapter 41 Let’s run!

Chapter 41 Let’s run!
Grace
I made up my mind to go ahead with the wedding, but I had just one condition. I will be planning it myself and not with Matt's mom or the planner that she hired. I have no problem with her, I just didn't want to be in their home until the wedding and without canceling her help, I'd be stuck with her. 
“Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!! I really wanted to do this with you.” Abby exclaimed when I told her we’d be doing the planning together.
“Really? But you never mentioned it. I would have definitely squeezed you in there somehow. I thought it wasn’t your thing, that’s why I didn’t ask you.” I replied and she chuckled.
“What? You know I love planning! But before I could say anything about it, you told me Evelyn was handling it. My excitement was over the moon then anyway. I’ve got it now but it just feels flat. I’m not so excited planning this when I know the issues surrounding it.” She retorted and I took a deep sigh. 
“I know right, but that’s water under the bridge so let’s not go there.” I chimed in and that was it. 
We talked about other things and Abby started coming up with ideas.
“Wow… I’m quite impressed.” I let out when I saw how amazing her ideas were.
“I told you I’ve been ready for this right from the start.” She replied…
The next day, we decided to go check out wedding dresses. Abby had a few bridal stores in mind so she drove us there. 
“So what’s going to happen to the wedding dress your planner had designed for you?” Abby asked during the drive. I hadn’t even thought about that so I just looked at her and shrugged. 
“I don’t know, and I really don’t care. She’s probably sell it or give it out. Either way, it’s none of my business.” I replied and she nodded. 
“Yeah, right. You don’t need it because I’m going to get you the most beautiful wedding dress and when you walk down the aisle, you’re going to look like the queen that you are.” She let out and I smiled. 
“I just wish I’d be walking down the aisle with my Prince Charming and not that pathetic ass of a man.” I replied.
“I’m so sorry you have to go through this, my love.” She consoled me. 
We soon forgot all about that when we pulled at the store. We were welcomed were and led straight to a room. Abby had given them a detailed description of what we wanted and a lady who seemed like a designer attended to us. 
We were still going through the catalogue when my phone started ringing. I checked and it was my mom. 
“Hey mom,” I let out.
“How are you doing my love?” She replied. 
“I’m doing well, Abby and I are at the bridal shop trying to get my wedding dress.” I said. She went quiet for a long second and I was about to ask what was wrong when she picked up again.
“Thank you so much, darling. I know a lot of things has happened and you have a lot of things going through your mind, I just want you to know that you’re doing the right thing. You’re saving our family from trouble and we would ever be grateful to you for that. Your dad can’t stop talking about you and how he doesn’t deserve you…” she went on and on, talking about the sacrifice I was making for the family. 
“It’s okay mom.” I finally said. 
We hung up and I took a deep sigh which caught Abby’s attention. She looked at me intently, trying to read me but she couldn’t. 
“What’s wrong? Was that your mom?” She asked and I went on to tell her everything my mom said. 
“I love your mom so much but this honestly feels like a charade. I mean, it’s bad enough that they let this happen because of their mistake. Now they are trying to manipulate you while at it.” She let out while I took a deep sigh. She was absolutely right. Of course, my mom cares about me so much, my dad too. They both do but her call was to make sure I hadn’t changed my mind and that I never do. 
“I think you should run. And you don’t have to worry because you’re not leaning alone. We’d both run.” She let out and I almost burst into laughter because she sounded so ridiculous to me. 
“I know how it sounds but if you think about it. You’ll see that it actually makes a lot of sense, and if you’re worried about money, I have some money saved that would sustain us for some time. The car is outside.” She let out and I just couldn’t hold back the laughter at that point. 
“What are you even saying right now, Abby?” I quizzed amid the laughter. 
“I’m saying the car is outside and if we leave now, we would be in cousin’s city by morning.” She replied and I laughed even more but when I saw the straight look on her face, I knew she wasn’t just pulling my legs. 
“You know I can’t do that, right? I can’t leave and there’s no way I’m letting you abandon your life just to elope with me.” I let out. 
“But you are not happy here, Grace and it’s just about to get worse.” She pressed and I could hear deep concern in her words.
“I’m a big girl, I can handle it. I can’t leave, Abby. Running away would be selfish of me knowing it would land my dad in jail, my mom on the streets, and the family ruined forever.” I replied while she took a deep breath. 
“What about Theo then? Don’t you think he can do something about…”
“No, I don’t want to hear it please.” I cut in before she could finish. 
“Theo used me and he doesn’t mean anything to me anymore. And he can’t even do anything about this because he cause the whole thing in the first place.” I added…