Chapter 4
Just before I went to sleep, Ryan called me.
He asked, "Are you done causing trouble?"
I was confused. I asked, "What are you talking about?"
Ryan said, "Julia, do you really think these little games of yours can stop me from marrying Jessica?
"Let me tell you, even if the whole world turns against us, I'll still marry her. No one can get in my way. Got it?"
After all the drama today, I was completely drained.
I couldn't even be bothered to argue with him.
"Alright, if that's all, I'm hanging up," I said, not wanting to waste another second.
"Wait," Ryan called out to me, stopping me.
He said, "I'll send someone to pick you up for the wedding tomorrow. Don't be late."
I hung up the phone.
My phone started blowing up with notifications.
That was when it hit me; now I finally understood why Ryan had called.
Someone secretly filmed me and David in a messy scene, and the video blew up online.
The internet peanut gallery started recognizing me.
[Wait, isn't that Ryan Bennett's fiancée? How did she fall so far?]
[Which Bennett are you talking about?]
[Ryan Bennett. His proposal was everywhere online; did everyone just forget?]
[Wait, isn't he getting married tomorrow?]
[And the bride is his ex-fiancée's sister.]
[This is some juicy, rich family drama. I'm living for it.]
[This is like watching a live soap opera unfold.]
[What a tangled web these rich folks weave.]
[Any more juicy secrets? I'm camping here for updates.]
They discussed heatedly.
I set my phone down, feeling like my head was about to split open.
By now, I just couldn't care less about explaining anything to Ryan.
People who trusted me would always have my back, and for those who didn't, I was not gonna waste my breath trying to convince them.
My phone buzzed.
It was David asking if I made it home safely.
I sent: [Sorry, looks like I've dragged you into another mess.]
Now that I thought about it, whenever I was clear-headed, the thing I said to David most was sorry.
David didn't even acknowledge my apology. Instead, he sent: [Are you going to the wedding tomorrow?]
I didn't want to go.
But Ryan would never let me off the hook.
He would probably drag me there, no matter what.
He might even make me go up on stage and give them my blessing.
That was the only way he could kill all the online gossip and make Jessica the bride everyone cheered for.
That was just Ryan.
When he loved, he loved with everything he had.
And when he hated, he hated just as fiercely.
I didn't answer his question.
Instead, I sent: [Is something wrong?]
David: [Nothing, just checking in.]
David: [Maybe, you need a bodyguard?]
I was halfway through typing I don't need one when his next message popped up.
David: [You don't want Ryan to know about what you're dealing with, right? If anything happens, I can help cover for you.]
For once, I actually laughed at his joke.
I sent: [How exactly are you gonna cover for me? You want to get caught on camera again and crash their wedding?]
He replied casually: [If you want to, what's stopping you?]
My heart gave a little flutter.
The smile faded from my face.
I sent: [No need, Mr. Stone. I can handle the wedding on my own tomorrow.]
David was never the obedient type.
He was waiting downstairs at the crack of dawn.
By the time I finally came out, he was drenched in sweat.
Seeing him like that, I just couldn't bring myself to tell him to leave.
So in the end, we both hopped into Ryan's car together.
Just like I expected, Jessica had made sure the reporters were stationed right at the entrance, all set to greet me.
As soon as I got out of the car, she came straight at me, arms wide for a hug.
"Julia, you're finally here. I've been waiting for you forever," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
When she spotted David, she paused, clearly caught off guard.
Then she burst out laughing, making sure the cameras were rolling as she called out, "Hey, you must be Julia's boyfriend.
"You came. Why didn't you give me a heads-up? I could've had Ryan come out and wait for you guys, too."
My boyfriend?
The reporters were practically shoving their cameras in our faces.
"Ms. Carter, is this your new boyfriend?" one of them shouted.
"Are you bringing your boyfriend to your ex's wedding just to get back at him?" another asked.
"Wait, isn't this the guy from the video yesterday?" someone else said.
"Have you two been plotting this for ages, staging that video just to manipulate public opinion?" another reporter shouted.
Questions from the reporters came at us nonstop.
The flashes were so blinding that my head started to spin.
David stepped between me and the cameras, blocking the flashes from my eyes.
He kept his tone chill, giving a small smile. He said, "No comment.
"Why don't you all save your questions for our wedding day?
"This is someone else's big day, and we don't want to steal the spotlight."