EVE OF CHAOS

Mia's POV

The weeks blurred together as I navigated opposing worlds. 

Mornings at Isabel's, feigning enthusiasm amid flower arrangements. Afternoons texting Tom about the proposal that would unravel everything I’d built.

I juggled these lives, each kept secret from the other, exhausting yet essential to my sanity.

On the morning of the wedding, I met Tom at a nearby coffee shop. He was seated with two cups in front of him.

"Are you ready?" he asked.

"Are you?" 

He smiled slightly. "I asked first."

I wrapped my hands around a hot cup as I decided if I wanna let the cat out of the bag yet by telling him…

I dated your son… I know Chris…

But revealing it could destroy everything because family ties, no matter how strained, ran deeper than I could control. 

"Listen," I said. "Come to the wedding alone. Just be a guest."

"Why?"

"Because you promised to follow my plan." I showed him a picture of a ring. "Buy this or something similar. It needs to look real."

Tom's eyes widened. "You want me to buy an engagement ring?"

"Exactly. Right after the bouquet toss — you can't miss it."

His gaze shifted, suspicion creeping in as he studied me. "What aren’t you telling me, Mia?"

"Nothing. Just promise you’ll do this."

“You’re taking this more seriously than I am.”

"You’re paying me, remember? Let me handle my end; you handle yours."

"I will."

"Promise me."

"I promise." He reached for my hand, reassuringly. "I'll be there with the ring."

I pulled away, rising to leave. "I have to go."

"Mia."

I paused. 

"Whatever you're planning," he warned, "make sure you know what you're doing."

"I do." 

With that, I walked out, leaving his questions behind.

***

The venue was this huge estate outside the city with gardens everywhere and a massive white tent set up on the lawn. When I pulled into the parking lot my hands were shaking on the steering wheel.

News vans were parked along the street. Camera crews setting up equipment on the grass. Photographers with huge lenses are already positioned to catch every moment.

Chris wasn't just some local rider anymore, he was everywhere, magazines and interviews and billboards, and apparently his wedding was important enough for national coverage.

Then I could imagine the stakes…

This was real.

And in a few hours I'd be standing in front of all those cameras, in front of Chris and Isabel and hundreds of people, and Tom would propose to me.

Everyone would see. Everyone would know I was marrying Chris's father.

I could still leave and text Tom right now, telling him to forget it, just drive away and never come back.

But then I thought about every moment I'd been thrown away and forgotten like I didn't matter at all.

No. I wasn't leaving…

I grabbed my bag and walked inside.

The bridal suite was complete chaos…

Isabel was already in her dress, this huge white thing with a train that took up half the room. Her makeup artist was working on her face while two other women messed with her hair. Bridesmaids were everywhere in various states of getting ready.

"Mia! Finally!" Isabel saw me and waved. "Where have you been? You're late!"

"Sorry. Traffic."

"Well hurry up. We're taking photos in twenty minutes."

I went to the bathroom and changed into the sage green dress Isabel had picked. It actually looked good, which annoyed me. I didn't want to look good for her wedding. But when I looked in the mirror the dress fit perfectly and I couldn't deny it was flattering.

I started doing my makeup. Foundation, concealer, a little blush. Keeping it simple because I didn't want to look like I was trying too hard.

But my hands were shaking throughout.

In a few hours Tom would be sitting in the audience. He'd watch the ceremony. And then after the bouquet toss he'd stand up and walk to the front and get down on one knee.

The cameras would go crazy. Everyone would gasp. Chris would realize what was happening.

That's if Tom eventually gets my sinister plan and stops it.

My hand slipped and I smeared mascara across my cheek.

Was I really doing this?

"Mia!" Isabel called. "Get out here, we need you for photos."

I wiped the mascara off and walked out, standing next to Isabel while the photographer took a hundred pictures of us smiling and holding bouquets and pretending everything was perfect.

The ceremony started at four.

We lined up outside the tent, bridesmaids in matching dresses, everyone in perfect formation. I could hear music starting inside and I could hear the guests getting quiet.

"Okay ladies!" The wedding planner was whispering instructions. "Mia, you're third. Count to five after the second bridesmaid starts walking."

For a widely known reason, my heart was beating fast despite trying to control it.

The first bridesmaid walked. Then the second.

Then it was my turn.

I stepped through the entrance and the aisle stretched out in front of me, white carpet and chairs full of people turning to look.

Cameras flashed everywhere…

At the end of the aisle, Chris stood next to the officiant in his perfect suit.

I started walking and then the music changed, got louder, and everyone stood up.

Isabel appeared at the entrance behind me in that massive dress, her father beside her, and the whole tent seemed to hold its breath.

She started down the aisle. I moved to the side with the other bridesmaids, taking my position, and watched as she walked past me toward Chris.

The spotlight followed her, making her dress glow white. Everyone was watching her, cameras flashing constantly, capturing every step.

I was right behind her in that light, standing with the other bridesmaids but close enough to feel the heat from the spotlight and close enough to be in frame for all those photos.

Isabel reached Chris and the music stopped.

She handed her bouquet to her maid of honor and took Chris's hands.

I looked up at him standing there just meters away from me.

Our eyes met for one second and everything came rushing back. Every time he'd touched me, every promise he'd made and broken, every moment I'd loved him and believed him and given him everything I had.

Anger hit me so hard my vision went white at the edges…

But underneath the anger was something else — It was quieter that I didn't want to feel.

Looking at his face as he looked at Isabel with so much love that I couldn't explain how it felt at that moment.

And I came to a conclusion — This was love.

This wasn't just ego or convenience or filling time until something better came along.

He'd found someone he actually wanted and it wasn't me. 

It was never going to be me…

The officiant started talking but I couldn't hear the words over the noise in my head.

Tom was out there somewhere in those rows of guests. 

He had a ring in his pocket. In a few hours he'd stand up and propose and everyone would see and Chris would know and the whole perfect day would explode.

That's what I wanted. That's what I'd planned.

So why did my chest feel like someone was standing on it?

I looked at Chris holding Isabel's hands and making promises I could see he meant, and I thought about what was going to happen when Tom stood up.

Thought about the cameras catching my face.

Thought about Chris looking at me and finally, finally seeing me.

Thought about whether that's what I actually wanted anymore or if I'd gotten so caught up in revenge that I'd forgotten what it would actually cost.

The spotlight was hot on my face. My dress felt too tight now —

No, it wasn't just the dress… Everything felt too tight. 

Thus, only one thing remains…

“To act or be acted upon?” That is the question.