Chapter 3

Just then, my phone buzzed.

I picked up, nodded through the call. "Second floor? Got it. I'll grab a number first."

Gideon was still frozen.

"I'm in a wedding dress because my fiancé booked a photographer," I said. "He wanted to capture the day we register. This one's the lightest of the seven I picked—easiest to move in. Since you're all here, I'll hand these out now. Wedding's on the tenth next month. You're invited."

I pulled out white invites, passing them around.

When I got to Gideon, he didn't take one.

The others started whispering.

"Wembley Hotel? That's the nicest spot in the city. Did Madison marry rich or what?"

Gideon sneered, eyes full of judgment. "You always loved a dramatic entrance, huh? Invitations? Wembley? This whole act's embarrassing."

He barely touched the invite—just flicked it aside like trash.

Olivia glanced at it and sighed. "Sorry, Madison. But no photo of you two? It doesn't exactly scream legit."

We didn't have photos because we hadn't taken them yet.

Olivia held my hand like we were close. "I've always known how you feel about Gideon—"

Gideon stiffened. "Olivia, wait—"

She cut him off. "No need. You two have history. I get it."

Then she turned to me. "Madison, I get it—girl to girl. But feelings aren't something you can force. Gideon's always said you're like a little sister to him. And now that I'm basically family too... just hear me out. Stop doing stuff that makes people laugh at you."

The crowd murmured behind her.

"Olivia's so reasonable."

"No wonder she's high-class. Still trying to help Madison save face."

Olivia gave me that pitying look. "Come on. Let's get you out of that dress."

Here we go again.

Every time Gideon embarrassed me, Olivia swooped in like some graceful savior. The worse he acted, the more perfect she looked—and the more convinced he was that my messiness only made her shine brighter.

I was about to shut her down when she spotted something behind me.

She reached over, grabbed the tag, and read it out loud like she'd caught me red-handed. "Oscar de la Renta. This season's wedding line? Madison... did you RENT this? You didn't even take the tag off. You really don't have to keep this up..."

Gideon's smirk deepened.

He pulled her in, kissed her hair. "You're too soft, Olivia. She's not worth it."

Olivia stayed in character, clinging to him. "Gideon, don't be like that. I'm sure Madison didn't mean harm. It's just... silly vanity. As long as she drops it now, no big deal."

My face burned. I clenched my fists. "The dress was a gift from my fiancé. He bought it yesterday. I just forgot to take the tag off—"

"Save it," Gideon cut in, lazy and smug, chin tilted like he had me cornered. "Lie enough and you'll start believing it. If this fiancé's real, call him out. Let's meet him."

His crowd jumped right in.

"Yeah, let's see the guy."

"Rich enough for designer dresses and the Wembley Hotel? Bring him out."

"Aren't you getting married today? Where's the groom?"

I stood there at the entrance to city hall, people walking past, slowing down to stare.

Bruce—the guy I'd shoved off earlier—pointed straight at me and shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear, "Hey, check this out! This girl tried to play side piece. Got caught, then flipped the script and said she was here to get married. Let's see it—where's her so-called groom?"

The crowd froze. People pointed, whispered. A few pulled out their phones.

The wind cut through me. I hugged myself without thinking.

Olivia crossed her arms too, and Gideon was quick to peel off his jacket and drape it over her shoulders.

Then he yelled, all annoyed, "Madison, call your groom already! If Olivia gets sick, that's on you!"

I looked down. Cold to the bone.

The truth? I didn't even know if my fiancé would show. We'd only met once.

Time dragged on. No one came.

The crowd swelled. Phones were inches from my face.

I kept backing up, dodging cameras, until I bumped into someone.

"Sorry, I—"

Before I could finish, strong hands landed on my shoulders.

"I'm the one who should be sorry," said a familiar voice. "Sorry I'm late, babe. Traffic was hell."