Chapter 2
The hotel entrance was lined with a red carpet.
As I stepped out of the car, James was already there, his palm open and waiting to help me out.
The guests crowded around, cheering and teasing us.
"The groom really knows how to dote on his bride."
"What a perfect match! Olivia's got it good."
As I stepped out of the car in my high heels, I nearly twisted my ankle right at the edge of the red carpet.
James caught me for a second, then quickly released his hold.
He turned around to help Katherine out of the car.
Katherine stepped out, smiling at the relatives.
"James is so thoughtful. He even oversaw every detail of the new house renovation, just so Olivia wouldn't have to worry about a thing," she said.
Chloe snorted sarcastically beside me. "Yeah, so thoughtful, he even remembered his secretary's shoe size."
I was about to speak when my mom walked up.
She was dressed in a burgundy dress, her eyes red and puffy.
"What happened to your makeup?" she asked.
Her fingers brushed the ruined makeup on my collarbone, and her expression changed.
"James, did you two have a fight on the way here?" she asked.
James hurried back over.
"No, the sink in the new house is a bit high, and Olivia's not used to it yet," he replied.
Katherine was quick to chime in.
"Genevieve, girls can be a bit pampered sometimes. It's nothing unusual. I'll have someone pick out a cute step stool for her."
My mom's smile stiffened.
"A step stool?" she repeated.
With all the guests watching, she let it go.
My dad walked over from the sign-in table.
"Olivia, is everything alright?" he asked.
That question nearly made me break down.
James stepped forward and took my dad's hand before I could respond.
"Christopher, I promise I'll take good care of Olivia today," he said.
But my dad kept his grip firm, refusing to let go.
"You should call me 'uncle' first," my dad said.
The air froze for a moment.
James's expression flickered, but he quickly forced a smile.
"Uncle, sorry, I was just a bit too eager," he said.
Katherine's face soured. "Christopher, the ceremony's about to start."
My dad didn't even glance her way.
The host rushed over, script in hand.
"James, Olivia, before you walk in, we've got a quick interview, just a couple questions about the new house and your love story," he said.
James said quietly. "Cancel the interview."
The host awkwardly glanced at Katherine.
"But Katherine specifically requested this. She wanted the guests to see your sweet moments together," the host said.
Katherine put on a smile and tried to smooth things over.
"Why cancel it? Everyone loves seeing this kind of thing."
The big screen lit up.
Photos of the new house started popping up one after another on the screen.
The living room, the kitchen, the walk-in closet, the master bedroom, the bathroom.
Every single one looked perfect.
Every photo felt like a stranger to me.
The host grabbed the mic and kicked things off with a big smile.
"I heard James personally oversaw the renovation of this new house. Every detail is a testament to his love for his bride," the host said.
The crowd erupted in applause.
James's hand landed on the small of my back, a silent warning.
"Olivia, smile for the camera," he said.
The screen switched to the kitchen island.
The host leaned in, mic in hand. "Olivia, do you like cooking? The height of this island counter looks pretty professional."
Someone in the crowd let out a chuckle.
"The bride's clearly spoiled. She doesn't even have to cook."
I glanced at James.
"Maybe Emily should answer that," I said.
The crowd around the mic fell silent.
The host was caught off guard. "Emily?"
Emily was in the second row, her white suit making her stand out like a sore thumb in the crowd.
She hadn't expected me to call her out; just for a moment, panic flickered in her eyes.
Katherine jumped in first.
"Olivia, don't say things like that," she said.
"I'm not joking," I replied.
A sharp buzz crackled through the mic.
I continued, "The kitchen island was built for her, the closet rod is set at her height, and there are shoes in her size right by the door."
The crowd exploded in whispers and gasps.
James's grip on my waist tightened. "Olivia."
I winced in pain.
My dad stepped forward and clamped down hard on James's wrist.
"Take your hand off her," he said.
Relatives from both sides jumped to their feet.
The host looked lost, not sure if he should cut the mic or not.
Emily's eyes welled up with tears.
"Olivia, I swear I didn't mean anything by it," she said.
Her voice was quiet, but the people in the front row heard every word.
"I was just worried James would be overwhelmed. He works so hard. I only helped out with the renovation, I never thought you'd see me like this," she said.
She kept her tears in check, not letting herself break down.
People started shooting me strange looks.
Katherine quickly pulled Emily into a hug.
"Emily's just too naive, really," Katherine said.
That just made the crowd even more chaotic.
Chloe was about to storm over, she was so mad.
I grabbed her arm, my fingers cold as ice.
James leaned in, his lips almost touching my ear. "If you drop it now, I'll pretend none of this ever happened."
The photos kept rolling on the screen.
The next photo flashed onto the screen, it was the master bedroom, right by the bedside.
On the nightstand sat an aroma diffuser, with a tiny label stuck to the bottle.
Emily.
The moment I saw that name, my heart dropped.
The host noticed it too and scrambled for the remote, trying to switch the slide.
But the screen just froze.
In the sea of wedding decor, the name "Emily" stood out, sharp and unmistakable.