Chapter 4
The morning of the wedding arrived bright and merciless.
My bridal suite was full of movement.
Makeup artists.
Stylists.
Bridesmaids.
Flowers being adjusted, dresses being steamed, voices hushed and excited.
I sat in front of the mirror and let them transform me into the beautiful, obedient bride everyone expected.
Mia fastened my veil in silence.
When the others finally stepped out, she met my eyes in the reflection.
“Last chance.”
I shook my head.
“No.”
She nodded once.
Then she reached into her bag and handed me a small wireless earpiece.
“In case anything goes wrong. My brother’s downstairs with security.”
I took it and slipped it into place beneath my hair.
My mother entered next.
She was elegant in silver, composed as ever, but her eyes softened when she saw me.
“You look beautiful.”
I swallowed hard.
“So did the fool at her execution,” I said quietly.
My mother almost smiled.
Then she came to stand behind me, resting both hands on my shoulders.
“Listen to me, Caroline. Today does not ruin you. What he did does not define you. No matter what happens in that hall, you walk out with your head high. Do you understand?”
I met her gaze in the mirror and nodded.
A knock sounded.
Five minutes.
The wedding coordinator’s voice trembled slightly through the door.
When everyone left again, I stood alone for one breathless moment.
The room was too still.
On the chaise near the window lay my bouquet.
On the table beside it, my phone lit up.
A message from Isaac.
Ready to become Mrs. Gerald?
I stared at the words.
Then I set the phone face down and picked up my bouquet.
No, I thought.
But I am ready to end you.
The music began.
The doors opened.
And every eye in the room turned toward me.
For one surreal moment, it felt exactly like the dream I had once believed in.
Rows of guests rose to their feet.
Cameras angled in.
The livestream light blinked red from the back of the hall.
White flowers arched overhead.
At the end of the aisle stood Isaac, handsome and polished, wearing the expression of a man about to claim his prize.
I took the first step.
Then another.
My father walked beside me, steady and silent.
When we reached the altar, Isaac extended his hand.
I placed mine in his.
His fingers curled around mine possessively.
“You’re breathtaking,” he murmured.
I smiled.
“So are you.”
The ceremony began.
The officiant spoke.
Vows were recited.
Guests dabbed at their eyes.
The entire thing was almost unbearably perfect.
Then came the moment before the final blessing, when the ceremonial montage was meant to play on the giant screen.
Isaac squeezed my hand.
There was anticipation in his eyes.
Excitement.
Cruel, eager excitement.
He thought this was the moment he would ruin me.
The lights dimmed.
The screen flickered to life.
At first, there was only darkness.
Isaac’s smile remained.
Then his own voice echoed through the ballroom.
“Caroline Hart? She still thinks I’m in love with her.”
Silence hit the room like a blast wave.
Isaac’s head snapped toward the screen.
Beside me, I felt his grip vanish.
Evelyn’s voice followed.
“And after the ceremony?”
Then Isaac again, clear and merciless.
“During the live broadcast, I’ll call it off in front of everyone. I’ll tell them I can’t marry a woman who chased another man for years and settled for me only after she got rejected. Her reputation will be finished.”
Gasps erupted across the hall.
Someone dropped a glass.
My mother did not move.
My father’s face turned to stone.
The recording continued.
Laughter.
Kissing.
Hotel footage.
Photos of Isaac and Evelyn entering suites together.
Credit card statements.
Messages.
Dates.
Proof.
The room descended into chaos.
Isaac lunged toward the technicians.
“Turn it off!”
But security was already moving.
Mia’s brother stepped in front of the control booth.
The screen kept playing.
And when it finally ended, the silence that followed was even worse.
Isaac turned to me, white with disbelief.
“Caroline—”
I pulled my hand from his as if burned.
“No,” I said into the microphone. “You don’t get to speak yet.”