2: THE U

uldn't

enthouse living room, replaying the video over a

because of what

. And

what Ethan's voice had sounded like before that recor

he morning, she

o tell he

t marry Ethan. She wouldn't. But she coul

came up, she le

didn't want to hear another excuse or let him twist the tr

still quiet wh

she let herself in

ment she saw Ivy standing in the doorw

itting up. "Sweethe

you to w

ce made her mother s

nts were sitting on the edge of the b

ord, Ivy handed he

o began

his face one after another conf

her covered her mou

he whispered.

I won't. But the wedding is today.

tion. is voice was colder than she'd ever he

t him. "Do you know wha

didn't give him th

because of that, I'll be remembered as the woman who got bet

ther reached

th me. They'll drag Dad into it too. His reputation, his business... peo

her loo

re what peo

can't be the reason everything

indow, wrapping her

king up.People were getting rea

people would hear about the

way," her mother said s

phone

gnore

ds later, i

n a

dding planner.Maybe someone ask

t bring her

mured. "There has to be a way to end

x hours pas

aring at the ceiling as if it might som

was only fou

sts arrived expecting to celebrate

efore the wh

ht her tea, but

ry now and then, his voice drifted through the door as he spoke to

forced hersel

ok a s

n she finally looked into the mirror, the wo

iest day of her life.Instead, it

sounded at he

" she sai

yes were swollen, the traces of

ther is calling the guests. We're telling everyone the weddin

ing to ask

kno

you tell

her hes

town because of a family

."So we're lying."W

dn't feel

y meant people would make up

ead faster

have a story about why the

t of them would end with

:47 p.m., he

wn nu

reen for several sec

el

vy

m. Familiar, though she co

is

ony

fr

he added. "I need to se

htened aroun

you get m

ow pe

tter of fact it only

tinued. I know about the video. I

est ti

you ne

coldly. "And I definitely don't need an

arpening. "The only thing we share is a last name. He's my

aid n

e continued. "One that

a problem yo

u d

remaine

o was abandoned at the altar. Your family's name will

harder than she

idn't

nce said

ny said. "But we need to meet before ev

ked. Why woul

onds, neither

ny finally

tand by and watch