Chapter 188
“Distinguished guests, esteemed press, and beloved family,” Easton begins, standing under a lattice of glass and gold, his voice smooth and polished. “Today we bear witness to an extraordinary moment. The culmination of legacy and love. Six Ashfords. Three couples. One unforgettable day.”
Applause ripples. I watch from my designated seat near the end of the first row, after participating in the bridesmaids entrance, trying not to scrunch my nose. My palms sweat in my lace gloves.
I feel like I’m in the cockpit of a plane heading for the mountains.
Samuel and Marisol sit on the other side of the aisle, looking like the fourth couple being joined. Behind them sit Eliza’s and Valerie’s
parents.
Lara was explicit about neither Lily nor her father, Andrew, nor any of her brothers except Julian attending.
Samuel and Marisol have dutifully ignored me since I joined the bridal party, as if the one–on–one meeting and the fiasco in Nathan’s room never happened. Like I’m not worth the headspace. Inconsequential.
That might change after today.
I tune out as Easton drones on, diving into a flamboyant speech about love and legacy and how, beneath the opulence, lies devotion and intention.
Gag me.
But then, I tune back in when he says, “Let us begin,”–he waves his hands to the ballroom entrance-“with the youngest of our noble heirs–Peter Ashford and his beloved, Eliza Kinsley.”
The aisle shimmers with scattered petals released from a latch above as Peter and Eliza step forward hand in hand.
The string quartet swells as the crowd rises. My face splits into a smile that’s almost painful. They look so beautiful, so completely in love with each other.
I’m so glad they’re getting married first.
Peter’s voice cracks as he begins his vows. “You are my never–ending fix, Eliza. Not because you challenge me–though you do, effortlessly -but because when everything else fades, you remain. Unshakable. Real. Mine.
“So today, I promise to hold your hand even when we’re not competing, to press it to my chest so you never forget how much you move me. I promise to love you fiercely, to protect the light in you, and to keep choosing you in every heart–pounding moment–and every quiet one too.”
Eliza’s reply is breathless and tear–laced. “I never expected you, Peter, never expected this dizzying feeling of standing in a storm and sanctuary at the same time. Sometimes, you scare me in the way you see me, the way you love me. But I wouldn’t want it any other way. So I promise to stand beside you, even when the adrenaline fades. To hold your hand when your mind goes dark. To remind you that excitement is fleeting, but love–our love–is constant. It’s forever.”
Peter doesn’t wait for the proclamation, for permission. He cups her face and leans in, kissing Eliza with a ferocity I feel deep in my bones.
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Chapter 198
Fer a moment, even with everything poised to collapse, I feel real joy for them.
Then the moment is gone, and my joy is replaced by that annoyingly familiar feeling of nausea.
I wasn’t kidding last night. It’s going to kill me when Nathan says-
Easton’s voice returns. “Next, we welcome Nathan Ashford and his Val-”
He freezes, blinks in confusion. Then he presses a hand to his earpiece and clenches his jaw.
“There is…a minor change,” he says stiffly. “Stepping forward now will be Lucas Ashford and Lara Ellington.”
My eyes widen.
A million questions flood through me. What has happened? Is Nathan okay? Are they not getting married? Is he having second thoughts? Does this have anything to do with what happened last night?
Simultaneous relief–that I might not end up watching Valerie and Nathan get married–and dread–that the axe is seconds from dropping -floods through me.
Lucas’s perfectly curated mask is on as he faces Lara, only a hint of smugness shining through.
His tuxedo is sharp enough to cut through a steak, and he looks at Lara like a possession he’s just acquired and can’t wait to unbox.
He’s about to start his vows, but Lara cuts in. “Wait.” She exhales, rolling her shoulders. “Can I go first?”
My lips press together tightly, a pang going through me. She doesn’t want to hear him repeat the vows they practiced last night, doesn’t want to listen to him promise to love and honor her forever.
She starts without waiting for permission. “I grew up in rooms where posturing was currency,” she says clearly, clinically. “So I spent years teaching myself how to tell the truth.”
I see the confusion on Lucas‘ face. On Samuel’s and Marisol’s.
These aren’t the vows she recited yesterday.
“And now, Lucas,” Lara continues, chin held high. “I vow to you that transparency will be the foundation of our bond. That the world will see us as we are. And that the truth–no matter how uncomfortable and ugly–will always rise. I promise never to allow wealth erase consequence. To never let power shield evil.”
The hairs on my arms rise as she steps back. “I promise you, Lucas Ashford, that the world will know who you are, and you will never, ever hurt anyone ever again.”
A mechanical hum spreads through the room–through me.
High above us, a hidden panel in the domed ceiling peels open. A large projector begins to descend–slowly, ominously–suspended on polished cables.
The white backdrop on the stage is the perfect screen.
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Chapter 188
I close my eyes and take a deep breath as it flickers.
When I hear his voice, a little staticky and warbled, I know it’s started.
“Oh, April. You stupid, stupid girl.”
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
