Chapter 71 Wedding Weekend Chaos
I had always considered weddings to be a mix of glitter and torture. The happy couple gets their perfect day, and everyone else is left desperately trying to act like their life was just as perfect.
Today, apparently, it was my turn to star in that miserable supporting role.
The invitation had come a week ago: the board member's wedding. "Plus one," it read, a cruel little phrase that immediately gave me palpitations.
Plus one? Who was I supposed to bring? Lucas was out of the picture, thank God-and out of my life, preferably permanently. Damian? Ha! As if I would dare. And going alone? The thought made me want to hide under the nearest chaise lounge and call it a night.
And that's when, like the universe was finally being mildly considerate, Brian called.
"Hey, Elena," his voice came through the speaker, warm and familiar. "Guess who's in town for the weekend?"
I blinked. Brian, my best friend, my confidant, the one person I could laugh with until I cried, had flown in without warning. Perfect timing. Pure, unplanned luck.
"You're serious?" I asked, heart lifting. "Right when... well, when I needed someone?"
"Of course I'm serious. Surprise!" His laugh was infectious. "I thought I'd drop by, catch you off guard, make sure you're not drowning in work and tragic romantic nonsense."
That was enough. I didn't have to think twice. Brian was coming with me. Problem solved.
The day of the wedding arrived, and I was bustling with nerves and last-minute adjustments.
The dress I had carefully chosen clung to me in all the right ways, the heels made me feel taller than I was, and my hair had somehow decided to cooperate. I felt... good. Confident, even.
We arrived at the grand hall where the wedding was taking place, and my heart skipped a beat-not because of the flowers or the candles, but because of who was already there.
Damian.
Of course, he was there, looking impossibly perfect in his tuxedo. His hair was styled, his jawline sharp, and that infuriating, maddeningly confident look was plastered across his face.
But what caught my eye wasn't him-no, it was the way his eyes had narrowed slightly as they scanned the crowd and then landed on me.
And my chest tightened because he wasn't just looking at me-he was watching me with Brian. My best friend. Handsome, charming, and now holding my purse as we approached the main hall.
Damian's expression flickered, and for the first time since... everything, I saw something raw. Something like... jealousy.
I tried not to laugh, tried not to notice the heat in his eyes as we walked past. Brian, completely unaware of the storm he was stepping into, gave me his signature goofy grin.
"Relax," he whispered. "It's a wedding. No drama... yet."
"Brian, you don't understand-" I began, but his teasing smirk cut me off.
"Then tell me. Spill it."
I sighed, knowing that there was no point in holding it in anymore. We slipped past the crowded hall into a quiet corner near the balcony. The city skyline glimmered behind us, lights twinkling like stars. And there, I let it all out.
"I'm pregnant," I said, voice barely above a whisper. "With Damian's baby. And he doesn't know. He has no idea. And I... I don't know if he'll even accept it. Or... or if he even... feels anything for me anymore."
Brian's expression softened instantly. "Whoa," he said, letting out a low whistle. "That's... that's a lot."
"I know!" I cried, running a hand through my hair. "I can't tell him yet. I'm terrified. And he's... he's out there, being happy with someone else. He's with Rachael. I mean, she's everywhere. And I... I just feel like I'm drowning."
Brian's hand squeezed mine gently, grounding me in the chaos of my own thoughts. He leaned down for a quick, almost protective forehead kiss. "You'll be okay," he murmured, voice soft and steady. "Even if the world feels like it's spinning out of control."
I blinked, momentarily stunned by the tenderness. That small gesture was enough to make my chest ache with gratitude-and something else I refused to name. I nodded mutely, letting him pull away.
"Now go," he whispered, a playful glint in his eye. "Go make friends. Charm people. Act like the stunning social butterfly you are. I'll be here, keeping an eye on the storm."
I gave him a shaky smile and let him drift into the crowd, already weaving between groups of well-dressed guests, laughing at someone's joke, introducing himself to a few of the board members I didn't even know. Classic Brian-effortlessly making everyone adore him.
He made his way toward me, purposeful, like a predator spotting its prey. I stayed by the railing, letting him approach, heart hammering in my chest.
“I see you’ve got a new boyfriend,” he said casually, his tone smooth but edged with something sharper. Something like accusation, wrapped in a velvet glove.
I stared straight at him, my expression neutral, my eyes locked on his. I didn’t blink. I didn’t answer. I refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.
“Is that him?” Damian pressed, stepping closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear. “The one responsible for this… for the pregnancy?”
The words hit me like a thunderclap. My jaw tightened. My pulse spiked. I didn’t speak. I couldn’t. Every part of me wanted to scream at him: It’s you. It’s always been you. But instead, I let the silence stretch between us like a taut wire, ready to snap.
His eyes searched mine, desperation flickering behind the usual composure, a dangerous edge in his gaze. He was trying to read me, trying to force a crack in my armor. And I could see it—the anger, the confusion, the jealousy all coiling beneath that perfect, cold exterior.
I didn’t move, didn’t flinch, just let him stew in the tension. My hand brushed the small swell in my stomach, a silent, stubborn reminder that no one—no matter how handsome, infuriating, or piercing—was going to intimidate me into revealing my secret.
“You’re going to answer me, aren’t you?” he said finally, voice low, controlled, but with a trembling undertone. “I need to know. Is he… is it him?”
Still nothing. Not a word. Just my eyes, steady and unyielding, fixed on his
Damian’s hand twitched, like he wanted to reach for me, to shake me, to demand the truth. But he didn’t. He just stared, a storm barely contained behind his steel-blue eyes. I could practically feel the tension radiating off him, the dangerous hum of suppressed fury and disbelief.
Finally, he took a step back, his jaw tight, every line in his body coiled with frustration. “You’re impossible,” he muttered under his breath, half to himself, half to me. His gaze lingered, fierce and unblinking, like he was trying to memorize every detail of me, every flicker of emotion he couldn’t name.
And then, without another word, he turned sharply, slipping back into the crowd to join Rachael. She was standing nearby, her smile predatory, eyes gleaming with satisfaction. And for the first time, I felt the full sting of what this evening had become—a battlefield of desires, secrets, and unspoken truths.
I exhaled, pressing my hand to my stomach again. Brian returned at just that moment, smiling, oblivious to the tension that had just played out in the span of seconds. “Ready for the next dance?” he asked cheerfully, looping his arm through mine.
I laughed, a shaky, hollow sound, and allowed him to pull me toward the dance floor. The music swept around us, lights spinning like stars in a galaxy where only we existed for a moment.
But my mind didn’t leave Damian. His words, his gaze, the sharp edges of his jealousy—they lingered in my chest like a brand. I could feel the unspoken question hanging between us, festering.
I didn’t answer. I didn’t need to. But somewhere deep inside, I knew this was just the beginning. Tonight, I had exposed the tension, let him taste a hint of the truth without revealing it all. And when the time came, when the stakes were higher, he would have no idea what hit him.
For now, I danced with Brian, laughed at his jokes, let the world see a façade of calm and happiness. But the fire behind my eyes—the fire that only Damian knew existed—was burning hotter than ever.
He was jealous. Furious. Angry. And he had no idea what the real truth was.
And that, I realized with a wicked little thrill, gave me all the power I needed.