Chapter 3

The next day, I still went to the city hall. I wanted to see whether Hunter would actually come.

At 9:15 am, I saw Hunter's car pull up across the street. When the car door opened, the tightness in my chest eased. I even instinctively fixed my hair.

All he needed to do was say, "Natalie, I'm here."

With that, I might have swallowed all of last night's hurt one more time.

But then, his phone rang, and he answered it. I didn't know what Tiffany said on the other end, but his expression changed immediately.

The next second, Hunter turned and got back into the car. The sound of the car door closing was soft, yet it was as loud as the sound of my heart breaking.

Ten minutes later, Tiffany posted on her social media. "I told him I didn't want to be alone, and he really came back."

In the photo, Hunter was holding the hand that was hooked to an IV.

At 9:40 am, Gabriel arrived at the city hall. When he got out of the car, his face showed the exhaustion of someone who hadn't slept well.

"Stop waiting. Hunter can't make it today," he said.

I looked at him and said, "I saw him."

Gabriel froze for a moment. He opened his mouth, but in the end, he merely said, "Tiff's allergic reaction flared up again last night. She can't handle any emotional stress."

I asked, "So I can?"

Gabriel frowned. "Natalie, don't keep asking questions like that."

He walked closer, speaking as though he were trying to comfort me. "You'll have a wedding, and you'll have a rightful status. You'll be Mrs. Sinclair. But what does Tiff have? She only has a few friends like us."

I put away my documents and turned to leave.

Gabriel grabbed my arm and asked, "Where are you going?"

"The wedding planning company," I replied.

He visibly relaxed upon hearing that. "To confirm the schedule?"

I nodded.

His expression eased. "That's more like it. Don't throw everything into chaos. The one who'll end up looking bad is you."

…

At the wedding planning company, the planner looked a little uncomfortable. She pushed the materials for the welcome display toward me.

On the screen was a photo of Hunter standing in the middle, with Tiffany and me on either side. It had been taken at Tiffany's birthday party last year. She wore a white dress and held onto Hunter's arm, looking more like the bride than anyone else.

I stood off to the side, still holding the cake knife I'd used to cut her birthday cake.

Even the welcome message had been changed to "Thank you for witnessing our ten years together."

But why did "our ten years" include not only Hunter and me, but also Tiffany as well?

I kept scrolling through the schedule and found that everything had been changed. The wedding vows even included a section thanking Tiffany.

I asked the planner, "Who approved this?"

The planner answered cautiously, "Mr. Sinclair."

Seeing the look on my face, Gabriel immediately said, "It's only the welcome display, not the main stage. Tiff never really had a family growing up. She just wants to feel involved."

I looked at him incredulously. "It's my wedding. What does she need to be involved in?"

Gabriel's voice deepened as he warned, "Don't be so harsh, Natalie."

Just then, Hunter called. The moment I answered, he asked, "Have you seen the schedule?"

"I have."

"Tiff cried all night, saying she felt like an outsider. I had them add a few more photos."

I asked, "Do you really think that's appropriate?"

Hunter's tone grew impatient. "What's inappropriate about it? She's the maid of honor, and she's a mutual friend of ours. Tomorrow, you're marrying me, not a screen."

I continued scrolling. When I reached the jewelry confirmation page, my finger stopped.

The note read, "Ms. West will model the pearl earrings for the pre-wedding promotional video."

Those pearl earrings had been my mother's. Before she died, she told me she hoped I would wear them on my wedding day.

"Why did you let Tiffany wear my mother's earrings?" I asked.

Hunter fell silent for a moment before explaining, "She was only trying them on—"

"Mom left those to me."

"I know," he replied.

I laughed in disbelief. "You knew, and you still let her wear them?"

On the other end of the line, Tiffany began crying softly. "Hunter, forget it. I won't wear them. Natalie must think I'm not worthy…"

Hunter's voice immediately softened. "Don't say that."

But when he spoke to me again, his tone turned cold once more. "Natalie, Tiff is only trying them on to help you film the preview video. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this?"

I said, "Give them back."

Hunter didn't respond.

Then, Gabriel suddenly spoke from beside me. "Natalie, if your mom were still here, she wouldn't hold something like this against a young woman."

I shot him a piercing look.

The conference room fell silent.

My gaze seemed to intimidate Gabriel for a moment, but he continued anyway. "Did I say anything wrong? Your mom would've definitely wanted you to be more generous. You're making such a scene over a pair of earrings. She wouldn't be happy if she saw this."

I slapped him across the face.

Hunter's cold voice came through the phone. "Natalie, did you hit him?"

Gabriel's face turned to the side, and his eyes were filled with disbelief. "Natalie, you've become someone I don't even recognize anymore!"

I ignored him, picked up my bag, and walked out.

From my phone speaker, I heard Hunter say, "If you walk out now, don't expect to see me home tonight."

I stopped in my tracks and said, "Whatever."