Chapter 2 - The Guest of Dishonor
By 1:30 p.m., the bridal suite at the luxury venue in downtown Nashville was humming with activity. The hair stylist was curling my maid of honor's hair—except Olivia wasn't there yet. My mother had texted me ten times, begging me to pick up my phone, promising that they could arrange a private meeting with Nathan before the guests took their seats.
I ignored every single message.
Instead, I sat in the plush velvet chair, watching my reflection in the mirror. My wedding dress—a stunning, custom-made lace gown with a dramatic cathedral train—hung from the brass rack in the corner. It looked like a shroud.
The door opened, and Nathan stepped inside. Per tradition, he wasn't supposed to see me before the ceremony, but he had used his groom’s pass to slip past the coordinator. He looked incredibly handsome in his custom black tuxedo, a confident, dazzling smile on his face. The smile of a man who thought he had successfully played everyone in the room.
"Hey, beautiful," Nathan said, walking up behind my chair and placing his hands on my shoulders. His touch made my skin crawl, but I forced my muscles to remain relaxed. "Your mom said you were acting a little distant this morning. Everything okay? You look pale."
"Just thinking about the future, Nathan," I said, meeting his eyes in the mirror. "Thinking about how much my life is about to change today."
"It's going to change for the better," he promised, leaning down to kiss the top of my head. I subtly leaned forward, avoiding his lips. "The investment papers are already on the table in the VIP lounge. The moment the reception starts, your dad and I sign them. Hawthorne Logistics gets its cash infusion, and you and I get to fly to Bora Bora as a powerhouse couple. We win, Emily. Everyone wins."
"Everyone?" I asked softly. "What about Olivia?"
Nathan’s hands stiffened slightly on my shoulders. The confident gleam in his eyes wavered for a fraction of a second before he recovered his mask. "Olivia? What about her? She’s the maid of honor. She looks great."
"She does," I nodded, standing up and turning to face him. I reached out, gently straightening his silk bow tie. "I just hope she doesn't get too exhausted today. Being on your feet all day can be hard on a woman. Especially in her condition."
Nathan's face drained of color. His mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out. He stared at me, searching my face to see how much I knew.
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"Emily... what are you talking about?" he stammered, his voice losing its smooth, corporate cadence.
"Oh, don't worry about it now, darling," I smiled, patting his chest. "We have a whole church full of Nashville’s elite waiting for us. Go get ready. I’ll see you at the altar."
