Chapter Four

Cole stood, a glass of champagne in one hand and a fork in the other. He gently tapped the fork against the glass, drawing everyone’s attention at the long dining table. The room quieted, conversations pausing mid-sentence. Plates of beautifully plated dishes sat untouched as eyes turned toward him.

Once he had the room, Cole set the fork down and extended his hand to Selene. She smiled and slipped her hand into his, rising to her feet beside him.

He cleared his throat.

“Tonight marks three years of being married to the most beautiful, graceful, and strong woman I’ve ever known,” he began. “And while her parents aren’t here to witness this moment, I know they live on in our hearts. Maybe even here with us in ways we can’t see.”

Selene’s smile softened as he glanced at her.

“Marrying Selene was the best decision I’ve ever made. I wake up every day feeling lucky to call her mine. She’s not just my wife—she’s my partner, my peace, my home. My soulmate.”

He turned to her and kissed the back of her hand, earning soft “awws” from around the table. He chuckled lightly before continuing.

“I actually prepared a two-thousand, five-hundred-word speech,” he said, raising a brow.

Gasps and laughter followed.

“But I’ll spare you all. I’ll keep it simple.”

He looked at Selene again, eyes steady. “I want to grow old with you. And if I’m ever given the chance to do life all over again—I’d still choose you. Every single time. I love you, Selene Harrington.”

“I love you too, Cole Harrington,” she said, her voice warm, her smile beaming.

They leaned in for a short kiss before Cole lifted his glass.

“A toast—to love, life, and everything nice. Cheers.”

“Cheers!” the guests echoed, clinking glasses, laughter and soft chatter filling the room once more.

The soft chatter continued as everyone ate, the atmosphere light and joyful. When dinner ended, a medium-sized chocolate cake topped with strawberries was brought out. Selene and Cole cut it together, laughter and cheers echoing around them. Happiness in the air.

Afterward, music began to play and guests started dancing. Selene was laughing mid-spin with Yeshua, enjoying his playful commentary, when someone tapped her on the shoulder.

She turned and saw Damien.

“Can I have this dance?” he asked, a bit too urgently.

Selene blinked. “Maybe after I finish this one with Yeshua.”

Damien didn’t move. He stared at Yeshua until the poor guy looked visibly uncomfortable.

“Uh—we're done,” Yeshua mumbled, backing away quickly.

“Hey!” Selene called after him, but he was already gone.

She turned to Damien, frowning. “That was rude.”

He didn’t reply. Instead, he took her hand and pulled her gently into a dance.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his eyes scanning hers.

“Yeah,” she said, puzzled by his serious tone.

“You feel like peeing, right? You feel like going to the bathroom, right?”

Selene frowned. “No... I don’t.”

“Yes, you do,” he insisted, lowering his voice.

“I… really don’t,” she said, starting to feel uneasy.

“You need to go to the bathroom. Now.” Damien said, more firmly this time, his tone low and urgent.

Something in his eyes made her pause. A chill crawled up her spine. Slowly, Selene turned her head, scanning the room. Cole wasn’t there. Neither was Scarlett.

Her heart skipped.

She turned back to Damien and gently pulled out of his arms. “You're right. I need to go to the bathroom. Thank you.”

Then she walked off quickly, faster with every step.

Selene rushed out of the dining room, her steps quick but careful, her mind racing as she headed toward the bathroom. She didn’t know exactly what she was looking for, just that Damien's warning had unsettled her deeply. As she turned a corner, she froze. But she quickly took cover.

There they were.

Her heart shattered. The sender of the note had been right. Standing before her were Cole and Scarlett, kissing. Not a mistake. Not a hug that lingered too long, or a moment of closeness. It was a real, full, deliberate, passionate, open kiss. They didn’t even seem to care if anyone saw them. They were shamelessly kissing like two people who couldn’t wait any longer.

Her lips parted in shock, and tears began to fall before she could stop them. She clamped a hand over her mouth to stop the sob rising in her throat. Her thoughts were in a disarray.

This was the man who had just given a speech about loving her for life. The same man who called her his soulmate and the meaning of his life, the one who had promised he would love her forever. And here he was, kissing her best friend—the same woman who had cheered the loudest in the room when Cole praised her.

They didn’t even seem to care if someone saw them. They weren’t hiding. They were comfortable. Casual. Shameless.

The note had been right.

And maybe everyone already knew—everyone but her. Her chest tightened as the tears flowed. She felt foolish for smiling earlier, for believing in the lie that everything was fine.

Cole and Scarlett finally pulled away from each other, still holding each other close.

Scarlett sighed, a soft smile on her face. “I’ve missed you so much.” she whispered.

“I’ve missed you too,” Cole replied, his voice low.

“I never get to see you like before,” Scarlett said, her voice tinged with a little frustration.

“I’ve been busy. You know that,” Cole said, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

“But you always make time to see me, even when you’re busy,” Scarlett responded.

“I know. I’ll make it up to you on Thursday,” Cole said, before kissing her again shortly, this time on the lips.

Selene’s stomach twisted. Thursday. That was when Cole went out to play golf with Robin and the guys. He always left early. Always came back late.

So Robin knew?

Embarrassment and humiliation flooded through her. Selene staggered back a step, stunned. Her chest tightened. She felt sick.

The laughter she shared earlier. The toasts. The smiles. All of it suddenly felt like a cruel joke.

She had been celebrating a lie.

She quickly snapped out of her daze when she heard them laugh. They had said something—she didn’t catch what—but she wasn’t going to miss anything else.

“By the way, you had my bouquet of irises delivered to Selene today,” Scarlett said, playfully hitting Cole’s arm.

“How did you know?” Cole asked, a bit surprised.

“She called me, asking about Irises, and I figured it out.” Scarlett smirked.

“Do you think she might’ve caught on?” Cole asked, lowering his voice slightly.

“Who? Selene?” Scarlett said, then burst into laughter. “Please, don’t make me laugh. Selene’s literally the dumbest person I know. Sure, she’s smart in business, but when it comes to relationships? Clueless.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Cole chuckled. “I was so out of it today, I didn’t even know what I was doing. I had to play along the moment I heard her voice.”

Selene felt her will dissolve silently inside her. How could the two most important people in her life say these things about her? Like she meant nothing.

“You’re lucky she didn’t see the special letter you wrote, otherwise we’d have been dead,” Scarlett joked, leaning into him.

“Yeah,” Cole laughed, and without hesitation, they started kissing again.

That was it. Selene couldn’t take anymore. She turned and began to walk away, her legs stiff and her chest ached. Her heart didn’t feel broken anymore, it felt numb.

She reached the door to the dining hall… but couldn’t bring herself to push it open.

She just stood there. Staring.

“Wipe your tears. You wouldn't want anyone to see you like this.”

She heard a voice and turned to her side to find Damien standing there. He was wearing an olive top and black pant tailored suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, paired with a faded ash-black silk tie. A classic watch sat on his wrist, his clean and Glossy black Oxfords finished off the look.

His expression was laid-back, as always, those green eyes holding something unreadable. His jet-black hair was, as usual, perfectly in place. He looked nothing like Cole—neither in features nor demeanor. Damien was the spitting image of their mother, while Cole was a reflection of their father. It was as if their genes had chosen sides.

Her eyes dropped to the black handkerchief he had outstretched toward her. Slowly, she reached out, took it, and wiped her face.

“You sent me the letter,” she said after a moment, turning to look at him.

“Maybe I did. But that doesn’t matter. What are you going to do now, Selene?” Damien replied calmly.

“How long have you known?” she asked.

“That doesn’t matter,” he repeated.

“Who else knows?” she pressed, her voice trembling.

“That doesn’t matter either.”

“It matters to me,” Selene shot back, her breath shaky and her eyes still red.

Damien paused, then met her gaze. “So, what are you going to do, Selene? Are you going to let it continue? Divorce him? Or are you going to do the one thing that's been lingering on your mind?” He took a step toward the dining room door. “That’s left to you.”

Selene stared at him. “Why did you help me?” she asked softly.

“Because, Selene…” He paused, his hand on the doorknob. “You and I are alike.”

He didn’t turn to look at her again.

He simply opened the door, and walked in.