Chapter 2

The next morning, Jessica said she'd take me to check out the suite.

I asked offhandedly, "Whose is it?"

She looked surprised. "You don't know?"

Adam acted like it was no big deal. "I was gonna tell you after it was all set up."

The Bennett family lived right here in this beach city.

Last year, when we talked about getting married, Adam said he wanted to settle down here.

I always thought it was a plan. Until the car stopped in front of a new building, and he put the keys in my hand. "It's our wedding house."

The hurt I'd been holding back last night finally eased up a little.

Adam looked at me and smiled. "Are you touched?"

"Who's touched?" I shot back.

"Stubborn as ever," he teased.

He squeezed my hand. "Weren't you giving me the cold shoulder last night? You're exhausting to cheer up."

The elevator doors slid open.

Vivian was standing right there.

She raised her hand and pressed her index finger to the smart lock.

There was a beep, and the door opened.

My smile vanished.

She walked in wearing slippers, calling out to the workers inside, totally at home. "Move that painting a little to the left. Emily likes it with more breathing room, not too crowded."

She acted like this was her own place.

When she saw me, she came over with a big smile. "Surprised? I've been watching over this place for you for more than two months."

I didn't step inside. "Why does she get to open the door?"

Adam frowned. "She's been helping with the renovations, so I added her fingerprint to the lock."

"Why her?"

"I've been busy with work, and she's got some free time lately."

Vivian raised her hand right away. "I'm the workhorse here. You guys better treat me to a big meal later."

I stared at the door she'd opened. "Why did Vivian get access to my wedding house before I did?"

The whole room went silent.

Vivian's smile faded.

Adam, though, was the first to get annoyed. "It'sa fingerprint. She's here every day checking on the renovations. How else is she supposed to get in?"

"Then why didn't you tell me where the house was?" I asked.

"I wanted to surprise you."

"So she gets to know, but I don't?"

Adam pressed his tongue against his cheek. "Emily, I spent millions on this house for us to get married. Are you upset because Vivian got in two months before you?"

"Yes," I answered so fast that he was taken aback for a second.

Jessica couldn't help but jump in. "Vivi's been running around for you guys for months. She picked out the couch and the lights the way you like them. You don't thank her, and now you're grilling her like she's a suspect?"

I turned to her. "So I should thank her for moving into my wedding house before I do?"

Vivian's face went pale.

Adam's expression darkened instantly. "Don't be so mean. She'shelping us out."

He leaned in, lowering his voice. "You're going to live here every day. She'scoming in to help a few times. Who's really getting the better deal here?"

I didn't say anything.

Adam looked like he was at a loss with me, so he pulled out his phone and opened the lock management app. "All right. If it really bothers you, I'll delete it right now."

He deleted Vivian's fingerprint right in front of me.

Then he grabbed my hand and pressed my index finger to the lock. "Let's add yours."

The screen showed that the fingerprint was added successfully.

Jessica let out a sigh of relief.

Vivian smiled. "There, happy now?"

But I stared at my hand.

It was supposed to be my wedding house. And yet, my fingerprint was the last one to go in. And yet, my fingerprint was the last one to go in.

Before we left, Adam handed the keys back to me. "Don't lose them. This time, they're really yours."

I held the keys in my hand. The cold metal pressed into my palm.

I didn't say another word.