Chapter 8: Ghosts Behind Doors

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• The Vows We Fake    Chapter 32: Ghosts With Hero Complexes

  “Amara,” Zane said, looking me in the eye, “I care about you.” I tamed down the buzz that started zipping through my veins. “You don’t. It’s your hero complex speaking.” He shook his head. “I don’t know why, but when I look at you, I don’t feel like I’m lying when I say I care.” I backed away. “Don’t do this.” “Amara—” “No!” My fists curled. “Don’t say my name like that. Like it still means something to you.” “It does.” I was shaking now. Whether from the cold or the fury, I couldn’t tell. “This is the worst kind of punishment. You think being near you, watching you with her, isn't already killing me? Now you want to play protector, to make it worse? You’ve had a thousand opportunities to step in, Zane. Just when I want to resign? What kind of freak control show is this? Do you enjoy hurting me?” Slowly, he stepped forward. “I’m not trying to hurt you.” “You are hurting me!” I shouted. “Every single day I’m here. Every moment you look at me like you don’t remember, and then l

• The Vows We Fake    Chaoter 31: Tied in Green

  I sat alone on the far end of the banquet wing’s service hallway, my back pressed against the cold wall, knees drawn to my chest. My badge hung limp from my neck. The whispers now had teeth. Every eye that caught mine was filled with suspicion. Someone said I was trying to “climb” Zane by stealing. Another claimed she always “knew something was off” about me. Leah had tried to comfort me, but even she looked shaken. “You should go home, dear,” she’d said gently, placing a soft hand on my shoulder. I had only shaken my head. “If I leave now, it’ll look like I’m guilty.” I finally decided that it’s best I leave on my own terms after writing the resignation letter. Now, if only I could muster up the strength to write it. I heard footsteps, steady and confident, approaching from the elevator. I didn’t bother lifting my head. “Amara Ibe?” a deep male voice said. I looked up to see a suited hotel concierge holding out a sealed envelope. “This was dropped off at the front desk for ‘E

• The Vows We Fake    Chapter 30: Cracks in The Foundation

  There are whispers now. Not the kind that float softly through the air like background noise. These whispers cling like smoke; thick and suffocating. They pause when I enter a room, then resume when I turn my back. The first time I heard the whispers, I was in the vendor hallway at the Riverglass Pavilion. Two florists, one from Tuscany and the other from London, stood by the espresso cart murmuring between sips. “Did you hear about the planner? Something about a missing bracelet… Sera’s, I think.” “Zane’s fiancée?” the other asked, eyes wide, excitement disguised as concern. “Apparently she didn’t press charges. Must be out of pity.” They stopped talking the moment they noticed me. I gave them a stiff nod, my cheeks burning. But the look in their eyes said it all. My whole personality as a decorated planner had gone down the drain.. all they saw me as was the woman who might’ve stolen something from a billionaire’s bride. I walked past them with my head high, but inside, my che

• The Vows We Fake    Chapter 29: Survival of The Broken

  Zane had been silent through it all. And then he coughed. “Amara,” Zane said. “There seems to be another confusion about the bridesmaid fabric.” “I have the approved sample in my file,” I said evenly, handing it over. “The decorator received it a week ago.” Sera snatched it, lips pursing. “This isn’t blush taupe. This is mauve. Mauve is a funeral color.” “It’s the exact swatch you signed off on. You wrote the initials yourself.” “I did not.” Sera turned to Zane. “I think she’s deliberately undermining things. There have been too many mistakes lately.” “Sera, I’m too busy to play cat and mouse with you. I frankly don’t care about your wedding. I want to do my job and get paid.” Sera‘s nostrils flared. She was angry; I could tell. She was like a kettle soon to boil over. She turned to her fiancé. “Zane? What do you have to say about this?” We both turned to him. Sera narrowed her eyes at him, silently daring him to take my side. I lowered my expectations to the barest minimum. Of

• The Vows We Fake    Chapter 28: The Whisper Campaign

  I stood beside the massive arched window in the bridal showroom, clipboard pressed to my chest, my jaw aching from clenching. Outside, deliveries came and went like clockwork. Inside, chaos was brewing hot. “Does anyone know why the cake vendor didn’t arrive?” Sera’s voice echoed in the room. “I was under the impression today was the tasting. Wasn’t it, Amara?” I turned, spine straight, and offered a placid smile. “There was a scheduling shift. They’re due in tomorrow. I sent a revised itinerary yesterday morning.” “Oh.” Sera blinked dramatically, glancing around as if performing for invisible cameras. “I must’ve missed that… or maybe it didn’t come through. It’s hard to keep track with all the confusion lately.” “I'll forward it again.” I caught the brief look exchanged between the florist and Sera’s stylist. Thy didn’t have to speak to show that they had new opinions about me, and not positive ones. The seed was already planted. Another note in the growing chorus of whispers ab

• The Vows We Fake    Chapter 27: Ivory and Lavender

  The next morning, I woke early, bloodshot eyes and a heart heavy as stone. The days to come seemed daunting, but I had hardened my mind. Get through this wedding… and get it over with. Leah was already buzzing around with my tablet and schedule, trying to drag me into professionalism, but I barely heard her. Another venue inspection loomed ahead, and Zane had insisted I be there in person. Something about “vision synergy.” When I got the email, I’d almost thrown the tablet across the room. But I went. Because that’s what professionals do. And also because he was my employer. I had to go. Bellmare Estate was a breathtaking cliffside estate, marble and glass, bathed in late-morning light. The kind of place you’d dream of marrying someone you loved. It was eerie. I remember the strange feeling I got when I heard that the couple I was working for chose Bellmare. That was the venue of choice for me and Zane five years ago. Now that I think about it… why did Zane chose Bellmare when he di