1

I pulled my phone back.

“Unlink the account.”

The smile froze on Sophie’s face.

“Amber, is that really necessary?”

Ethan glanced at her.

“Shut up.”

He straightened my earring and lowered his voice.

“You’re the bride today. She ran her mouth. I’ll make her apologize.

“Do me a favor and don’t make a scene.”

I asked, “Then what about me?”

He said, “You have me. You think I’d actually let you lose out?”

We’d already gotten our marriage license. All that was left was the ceremony.

Two days before the wedding, my card hit its daily limit. The deposit for my mom’s hospital transfer and the final wedding payment both needed large transactions that wouldn’t go through.

Ethan told me to put my money into the joint account.

The only person who could move the funds was him.

The joint account was linked to my phone number for security alerts.

He’d said, “Our money together, our hearts together.”

But then he turned around and gave Sophie access to the joint account.

Sophie sniffled and reached to take off the jacket.

That jacket had been on my shoulders that morning.

Now it was draped over Sophie.

Ethan pressed her hand down.

“Keep it on.”

I tapped “unlink.”

He grabbed my wrist.

“The ceremony’s about to start. You want to go through the account now and embarrass everyone?”

I said, “Isn’t the embarrassing part booking a love hotel?”

Sophie started crying.

“Amber, I just borrowed a room to shower.”

I smiled.

“Forgot your wallet, but forgot to delete the memo too?”

Ethan grabbed my hand and pressed it against his own face.

“Fine, hit me.

“Get it out of your system, then come up on stage with me.”

I pulled my hand back.

“Stop performing.”

Someone called from outside the door, “Bride and groom, it’s time.”

Ethan picked up my phone.

“I’ll handle it.”

The family group chat had already exploded.

Someone had screenshotted the deduction alert and posted it.

Merchant: Love hotel.

Note: One last fling before the wedding.

Comments piled up below.

“Mr. Greyson’s getting this wild?”

“Was this a surprise from the bride, or from the bridesmaid?”

Sophie turned to Ethan, eyes red.

“Ethan, I really didn’t know anyone would see it.”

Ethan picked up my phone.

“I’ll handle it.”

His message popped up in the group chat: The hotel room was a surprise Amber planned. Sophie was just helping with the booking.

The whole group was laughing at me, and Sophie even posted a blushing emoji.

Ethan handed my phone back.

“There. No one’s going to spread rumors now.”

I looked at him.

“You threw the blame on me and call that stopping the rumors?”

The music started. He took my hand and led me on stage.

The officiant joked, “I hear the bride prepared a surprise for the groom?”

The crowd hooted.

Ethan kissed my forehead.

“She’s shy. Don’t tease her.”

Someone shouted, “Did you like it, Mr. Greyson?”

He squeezed my hand.

“Loved it.”

Then he leaned close to my ear and said, “Smile.

“Keep that cold look on your face and people will think you can’t take a joke.”

In that moment, every laugh in the room hit me like a slap.

He was pretending to protect me.

In reality, he’d pinned that filthy label on me himself.

I slowly set down the bouquet.

“The wedding is off.”

Sophie laughed from below the stage.

“Thirteen hundred dollars, and you’re calling off the wedding?”

Ethan clamped down on my wrist.

“Amber, we’re on stage.

“You really have to do this now?”

“I’m not making a scene. I’m done.”

He scoffed.

“We already have the license. Walk out that door and you’re still my wife.”

“Then let’s get divorced.”