I stopped the assistant from opening the curtain, listening carefully. I certainly didn’t want to be the only one standing at the har kent month,
“That’s rich. Should I be warm and friendly to my brother’s girlfriend? And friends? No thanks, not appropriate. I’m getting marred
“Tou.”
I signaled to the assistant, who pulled the curtain open.
The conversation halted as 1 appeared.
Seeing the stunned admiration in all their eyes–including Lucas, who had just rushed in–made me completely satisfied.
When people are awestruck by you, the money spent is worth every penny.
While I was admiring myself, Jackson leaned in and whispered: “How did these two suddenly show up here?”
“Take some photos! We look so damn good in this mirror.”
Jackson was being all smug next to me, and I was just about to grab the phone to snap some pics when Lucas suddenly spoke up.
“You’re getting married? How did I not know about this?”
Then his furrowed brow suddenly relaxed, and his tone lightened: “Jackson, Riley might not know better, but you? Marriage isn’t something you rush into without telling Mom and Dad. What will people think? Stop acting like children.”
Olivia’s expression, which had been tense, brightened slightly at his words.
Since Jackson’s own brother didn’t know about their wedding, it must be some kind of act they were putting on.
“Bro, call Mom and Dad if you don’t believe us,” Jackson replied calmly, staring at him steadily.
Seeing we weren’t panicking, Lucas turned to me with a pale face: “Is it true?”
“Yes,” I answered simply.
Still disbelieving, he called his parents right in front of us–the result confirmed we were indeed getting married.
Under the dazzling lights, the four of us stood on opposite sides, no one speaking.
Lucas looked at me with confusion, and when our eyes met, I suddenly didn’t understand–if he didn’t care for me, why did he turn pale at the news of my marriage?
I instinctively clutched Jackson’s sleeve. Feeling my grip, he turned and patted my hand reassuringly.
“Can you leave now?” Jackson asked coldly.
Faced with his question, they looked at each other stiffly. Olivia forced a smile: “Riley, didn’t you once say I could be your bridesmaid?”
The slightly shy, fresh–faced Olivia from our youth had transformed into this perfectly made–up woman before me.
Back then, she had clutched my hand, her eyes full of sincerity, and said: “No matter which of us gets married first, we’ll be each other’s bridesmaids, watching her walk toward happiness.”
But now, Olivia, are you still that girl who wanted to see me find happiness?
You’re not.
Whether thinking of the past or realizing that childhood friends would no longer be friends as adults, I felt a bittersweet ache.
I softly said: “No, thank you.”
It felt like saying goodbye to a companion from my memories.
Phawna Domorso!
36.5%
Olivia’s face instantly turned asher, and she stumbled back a few steps,
“Riley.
I didn’t know how much sincerity was in her calls, but it didn’t matter anymore.
A
