Chapter 2

I slipped back into the banquet hall without a sound.

As I walked through the room, guests kept raising their glasses to me. The crystal chandelier above us scattered tiny spots of light across the hall.

When I picked up a glass of red wine from the table, my hand shook.

I took a large sip, but I choked on it. I coughed until tears filled my eyes.

I closed my eyes and, for the first time, thought carefully about everything that had happened over the past five years.

He always peeled oranges for me, but Charlotte was the one who loved them.

Before every party, he personally picked out my dress. "You look beautiful in dark colors."

Now I understood why. Charlotte preferred light colors, and he didn't want me to steal her spotlight.

He always carried Band-Aids in his pocket, even though I never needed one. Charlotte's new shoes often rubbed her heels raw, and whenever that happened, Luca always had a Band-Aid ready for her.

Even the way he looked at Charlotte was different.

He often gave me a quiet smile. But when Charlotte was around, he laughed in short, restrained bursts he couldn't hold back.

When he looked at me, his heart glowed a soft candy pink. But when he watched Charlotte walk away, pale gold always appeared around him. It was the color of longing.

I thought he loved me, but he never did.

I closed my eyes and thought back to that night three months ago.

He hadn't come home until dawn, and he had already showered. I curled up in his arms, rested my hand on his chest, and asked who he had seen that day.

He kissed the top of my head and said he'd been at a business meeting. I believed him because the candy pink around him was so warm and bright. I had ignored the thick flash of slate blue buried beneath it.

Slate blue. The color of lies and betrayal!

"Nicole?" Luca came back into the hall with a pleased smile still on his face. "There you are!"

Charlotte tilted her head. She looked perfectly concerned. "You don't look well. Is the dress too tight?"

Luca came over and stared at my pale face. "What's wrong? Are you feeling okay?"

The moment his fingers touched me, I stepped back.

"Nicole, aren't you happy to see me?" Charlotte looked hurt, but she spoke loudly enough for everyone nearby to hear.

Several guests turned toward us, and whispers quickly spread through the room.

"That orphan girl really has been spoiled rotten. She has no manners at all."

"Charlotte flew all the way here just to be her maid of honor, and this is how she treats her!"

"Charlotte and Luca grew up together. They're a perfect match. I really don't understand why Luca insists on marrying Nicole."

Luca frowned. "Nicole! Charlotte came all the way back for our wedding. Is this really how you want to welcome her?"

I steadied myself. When I looked at him again, there was no warmth left in my eyes. "I just don't feel well."

Charlotte quickly softened her tone. "It's fine. I'm just a bridesmaid. I'm not important."

I let out a cold laugh. "If you want, you can be the bride."

Luca snapped. "Nicole! What the hell is wrong with you? How could you even think something so disgusting? Apologize to Charlotte right now!"

I felt sick again. "Luca, which one of us is really having disgusting thoughts? You or me?"

Before he could answer, I turned and walked away.