Chapter 4

Only then did I notice Renee standing behind the door.

She had her hand raised to her mouth, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and a smile she was trying to swallow. When she finally spoke, her voice came out stiff and thin.

"It's wonderful that you're so understanding, Serena. I'm really happy for Derek."

I didn't respond. My eyes had landed on her earrings. They were the same ones I had seen advertised as a free gift with a jewelry purchase.

My eyes stung, but I smiled anyway. Men really did have a talent for making every last thing count.

"Serena, you're not getting any younger. We can't keep putting the wedding off. Let's do it next week." Derek's voice was bright with excitement.

I pushed down the cold feeling spreading through my chest and nodded. "Whatever you want."

They had barely walked out the door before my parents called.

"Serena, the moment the Yates family heard you'd agreed, they sent over an entire room full of gifts. When are you thinking of having the wedding?"

"Next week," I said.

I pulled the ring off my finger and dropped it in the trash. Then I stood there and looked at the lock screen photo of Derek and me in our engagement shoot.

"I'm done waiting," I said quietly.

…

The Yates family booked the wedding at the finest venue in Ashville. When I told Derek the name of the hotel, his face creased with displeasure. He only agreed once I mentioned that my parents had offered to add a substantial sum to my inheritance as part of the arrangement.

"Serena, this is the dress my mom wore on her own wedding day. See how much our family thinks of you."

Derek held out a garment with several large tears in the fabric. Renee pressed her lips together and looked away, but not before I caught the amusement in her eyes.

I was about to say something when the room erupted. A wedding gown arrived, carried in by a team of security personnel. It was encased and handled as though it were made of glass.

The attendant leading the procession shot a look at Derek's mother, Ursula Watson, and Renee. "Back up, please! This gown belongs to the future Mrs. Yates. It's worth 80 million dollars. If anything happens to it, you can't afford to replace it."

Ursula and Renee scrambled out of the way.

The gown was only the beginning. Behind it came a set of crystal stemware valued at 30 million, and after that, a diamond ring worth 200 million.

One piece after another was brought in, each more extraordinary than the last. The room had gone completely silent by the time the last item was set down.

"Is this what they mean by the wedding of the century? I would give anything to be that bride."

"Please. Only a fool throws money away on things like this. It's all just a show. Nothing impressive about it."

"Serena, don't go getting any ideas. A sensible life is a good life."

As Ursula and Renee spoke, their eyes remained fixed on the jewels laid out across the room, undisguised envy written across both their faces.

I smiled. "Don't worry. I won't."

Ursula visibly relaxed.

Derek gave my shoulder a satisfied pat. "Now that's the Serena I know. This is exactly the kind of woman who deserves to be my wife."

I said nothing. But deep down, I was already laughing.

Derek loved playing the simple, humble man. He was going to enjoy this gift whether he wanted to or not. I turned and walked into the dressing room.

…

Third-Person POV

An hour later, Derek's entire family had gathered downstairs. The Spencers' side was nowhere to be seen, and neither was Serena. Upstairs, the noise had been building for some time.

"Derek, what if she ran?" someone muttered under their breath.

"Not a chance." Derek shook his head with complete certainty. "Serena has waited ten years for me. She's not going anywhere."

Though he said it with confidence, his palms were sweating.

Half an hour later, a group of people appeared at the entrance. Derek exhaled and let a slow, satisfied smile take over his face.

"I told you. Serena would never walk out on our wedding. She loves me too much to leave."

Then the voices carried in from the entrance hall, bright and buzzing with excitement.

"Ms. Spencer and Mr. Yates were always the right match. Old money belongs with old money."

"I heard the Yates family practically emptied half their fortune just to secure this marriage."

Derek went very still. Then he pushed through the crowd and grabbed the nearest person by the arm, his eyes wild.

"Who did you say... is marrying into the Yates family?"

"Serena Spencer. The only daughter of the Spencer family."