Chapter Three

Annoying. Seriously, first thing in the morning, and they’re already at my door?

I don’t even know who they are. All I know is—they’re measuring me for a wedding dress I didn’t even ask for. And yeah, I wanted to snap at them. Who wouldn’t? But… ugh. I stopped myself. They’re just doing their jobs. It’s not their fault I woke up in a crappy mood. And I definitely don’t want people gossiping that I’m rude or have an attitude problem. That’s all I need—reputation drama on top of life drama.

“Ma’am, you’re really sexy. Your waist is so tiny,” said one of the women measuring me, smiling like we’re besties.

My eyes narrowed immediately. Did she really just say that to someone they dragged out of bed this early? It took everything in me not to roll my eyes straight into another dimension. They woke me up for this? It’s barely sunrise and I haven’t even had coffee.

At least do this after school or something. But nooo—now there’s a real chance I’ll be late for class. My ten o’clock lecture isn’t going to wait just because some dressmaker decided to crash my morning.

“Sorry,” the woman murmured while measuring my hips.

Guilt kicked in. I sighed, already hating how I handled that. I wanted to apologize, but the words got stuck. They didn’t deserve attitude—they were just following orders, doing their job like professionals.

“Sorry… I just woke up in a really bad mood,” I finally said, forcing out a smile that didn’t match my morning vibe. It was the total opposite of the look I gave when I stepped out and found them prepping for my wedding.

Time moved forward, but I felt completely out of sync. By the time I got to class, I was still in a fog. I stared blankly at my professor while he lectured about—actually, I couldn’t even tell you. My notebook was open, pen in hand… but I wrote absolutely nothing. It felt like my thoughts were walled off, locked inside a room I couldn’t open.

Luckily, he didn’t call on me. I would’ve tanked so hard in a recitation. I hadn’t read the material. I hadn’t prepared. I hadn’t even recovered from last night’s chaos. The anniversary celebration alone drained me—so many guests, so many fake smiles, so much pressure.

“You okay, Kelly?” Haze whispered beside me, her voice low but full of worry. She looked at me like she was trying to solve a mystery—one she didn’t have the clues for.

I breathed in slowly. This was it. Maybe I should tell her. After all, the wedding’s basically happening. She’s my only real friend, the one I trust with everything. She’s always had my back. So yeah, maybe she deserves to know before I just show up in a gown one day.

“I need to tell you something, Haze… don’t freak out, okay?” I muttered, hands clammy.

“Okay, what is it? Did you kill someone? Are you pregnant? Did you rob a bank?” she gasped, dramatically clutching her heart.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Seriously?! Calm down, you weirdo. I’m actually being serious here.”

“I am calm! You’re the one acting like a zombie. I’ve been talking to you all morning and you’ve just been staring into space like you’re losing it. So yeah, spit it out!” She straightened in her seat and locked eyes with me. “Did something happen? Are you going through something? Just tell me, Kelly. I hate guessing.”

The way her eyes searched mine made me feel ten times worse. She was genuinely concerned. She wasn’t just being nosy—she was trying to reach me. And here I was keeping secrets.

“I’m… getting married, Haze.” I said the words firmly.

Silence.

She stared at me.

No reaction. Nothing.

I blinked, confused. “Haze—”

“You’re joking. Oh my god, you’re hilarious! You should apply as a clown—no kidding, you’d get hired immediately!” she burst out laughing, hands gripping her stomach like I’d said the funniest thing ever.

“I’m not joking.” I said flatly. “I’m really getting married.”

She froze mid-laugh. “Wait… what?” Her voice dropped like a ton of bricks. “But… you don’t even have a boyfriend!” she paused, then her eyes widened. “Are you high right now? Is this a prank?”

I sighed. “I’m serious, Haze.” My voice cracked a little.

She stopped laughing and stared at me again, like she finally saw how torn I was inside.

“Married?” she whispered, as if testing out the word. Then her eyes narrowed. “Do you have a secret boyfriend or something?”

“Me? No way!” I shook my head like a reflex.

“Then why? Did you get pregnant by some guy? Is he dying? Is this an arranged thing? Why so fast? How did I not know?!” She was on full panic mode now, firing off questions like a machine gun.

I immediately leaned in to cover her mouth. “Shhh! Keep your voice down!” I whispered sharply. “Even I didn’t know until yesterday. We went to Elias’s mansion for the engagement… and surprise! It’s official.”

She gasped again, and I swear I saw her soul leave her body for a second. “Elias?! Elias Fenwick?”

“Would you like to yell that a little louder so the whole campus hears?” I hissed, pounding my foot lightly in frustration.

I trust her—but wow, she’s loud.

“Wait—Elias Callum Fenwick? THE Elias?” she asked again, looking absolutely horrified. I nodded slowly.

“Oh my god, Kelly. Are you crazy?! That guy’s a walking red flag! He’s a player, a flirt, probably a commitment-phobe! He’s going to ruin you.” She stared at me like I’d just signed my own emotional death sentence.