Chapter 2 - THE MARRIAGE NOBODY WAS SUPPOSED TO KNOW ABOUT
Madison dropped her champagne glass.
It shattered against the floor.
Derek stared at Victor.
“Your what?”
Victor looked at him.
“My wife.”
Graham Hayes slowly sat down.
The groomsman who had spilled the wine stepped backward.
Harper felt three hundred pairs of eyes settle on her.
She had imagined this moment differently.
Perhaps a quiet announcement.
A family dinner.
A photograph released after she and Victor had decided they were ready.
Not this.
Not with wine drying against her skin.
Not at Derek's wedding.
Victor leaned toward her.
“Are you all right?”
She nodded.
“Just overwhelmed.”
His expression softened.
“We can leave.”
Harper looked toward Derek.
The man who had once told her she wasn't good enough for his future.
Now he looked as though the future had walked into the room and refused to shake his hand.
“Harper,” Derek whispered.
She turned.
“What?”
“You're married?”
“Yes.”
“To him?”
Harper looked at Victor.
Then smiled.
“Yes.”
Derek's face twisted.
“How?”
The question was so insulting that Harper almost laughed.
Victor's expression hardened.
“Careful.”
Derek swallowed.
Harper raised one hand.
“It's fine.”
Then she looked directly at her ex.
“I met someone who liked me exactly as I was.”
Derek said nothing.
Harper continued.
“And I married him.”
May you like
Victor squeezed her hand.
For the first time that evening, Harper smiled without forcing it.
