Chapter 3

"Joliet..." Michael turned back to me after Serena left, clearly about to try and smooth things over again.

But I cut him off before he could say anything else. "Michael, what's your relationship with Serena, really?"

Michael looked a little taken aback. "Didn't I already tell you? We grew up together. We're close friends."

"Are you sure about that?" I pressed.

There was a flicker of guilt in his eyes, but he still insisted, "Seriously, Joliet, it's been years. If there was anything between us, it would've happened by now."

That line sounded way too familiar.

It was the same excuse some guys always used to deflect questions about their so-called female friends.

But after what I just saw, there was no way I was buying it.

Seeing me stay silent, Michael probably thought I was buying his story.

He hurried over, pulled me to the vanity, and pushed me down into the chair.

He said, "Alright, if you're mad, just wait until after the wedding, okay?

"You can scold me or even hit me then, but right now, you need to get your makeup done.

"We've already wasted so much time. If you don't hurry, we won't make it in time."

The chair was still warm from where Serena had just been sitting. It made my skin crawl.

Michael kept trying to comfort me, murmuring reassurances by my side.

Lauren kept apologizing and quickly started applying my base makeup.

Thinking about all my friends and family who'd traveled so far to be here for my wedding, I started to hesitate.

Seeing me go quiet, Michael finally let out a sigh of relief.

He placed his hands gently on my shoulders and soothed me, "Honey, just focus on your makeup.

"Let Lauren make you stunning, so you'll be the most beautiful bride.

"I'm heading off to change now, and I'll come back to get you in a bit, okay?"

I was still fuming inside and had no intention of replying to him.

Just as I was still suspecting what was really going on between Michael and Serena, Serena called out loudly from the dressing room, "Hey, Michael, can you help me with my zipper? I can't reach it."

The moment she said that, Lauren's brush shook a little in her hand.

Noticing my anger starting to rise again, Lauren quickly jumped in, "Let me do it. It's not really the groom's place. I'll handle it."

My face was stormy as I glared at Michael in the mirror, who was standing right behind me.

I snapped, "Is that what you call a 'friend', Michael?

"Who asks someone else's husband to zip up their dress?"

Michael looked a bit awkward, but he still tried to defend Serena. "That's just how Serena is. She's always been bold and carefree. She doesn't really care about these things.

"Don't take it to heart. Besides, I didn't even help her with the zipper, did I?"

I said, "Sure, you didn't do it this time. But who knows what you two have done when I'm not around?"

That really hit a nerve with Michael.

His face darkened. "Don't push it, Joliet," he warned, his voice dropping. "You're just looking for a fight first thing in the morning."

Looking for a fight? Who was really the one looking for a fight here?

First thing in the morning, his so-called "friend" got her makeup done before me, and then had the nerve to ask him to zip up her dress right in front of me.

I was just about to fire back when Lauren came out of the dressing room, looking awkward as hell.

Right behind Lauren, Serena, with her makeup only half done, was making her way over in a black gothic wedding dress with a black wedding veil.

I'd already chosen the bridesmaids' dresses well in advance.

I even carefully asked Serena for her size and preferences.

Back then, she acted so easygoing, saying, "I'm fine with anything. Just pick something simple."

Now, the drastic shift in her attitude made sense.

Turned out, the day she joined my bridesmaid squad, she'd already prepared her own dress.

No wonder she hadn't cared about what dress I chose back then.

Lauren and I both stared in absolute shock. Lauren, especially, looked completely floored.

I bet she'd never run into something this wild in all her years in the business.

Lauren looked at me, showing a look caught between wanting to say something and being totally at a loss.

In the middle of all that tension, Michael, who'd just been arguing with me, suddenly let out a laugh. "Serena, what are you doing? What's that?"

Serena shot him a playful look. "I put this on just for you. Surprise! Do you like it?"

Michael rubbed his forehead, looking both amused and resigned.

He turned to Serena and said, "Come on, why are you dressed like that?"

Serena just laughed it off, acting like it was no big deal. "I'm here to mourn the death of your freedom. RIP to the bachelor life."

After saying that, she glanced over at me, making sure I got the message.

Having someone drop such bad vibes at my wedding? Anyone with a brain would totally lose it.

But Michael acted like he didn't even notice. He said, "Alright, you win."