Don’t get too comfortable

The reception hall of the Grand Marquette Hotel was breathtaking—white roses cascaded from crystal vases, golden lanterns lined the velvet aisle, and laughter bubbled in the air like champagne. It was a celebration of love… or so it seemed.

June was radiant, her ivory satin dress catching every flicker of light, her face glowing with a joy she hadn’t felt in years. Everything felt like a dream to her. The man she loved had just become her husband. She had never thought she’d get this lucky again. She smiled at the guests, at the cameras, but most especially at Xander her now-husband.

He stood beside her, hand around her waist, lips curved in a soft, almost shy smile. But behind that smile was something no one could see.

Something no one could suspect.

The spotlight dimmed the rest of the world as soft piano music echoed through the hall. The emcee’s voice floated into the air:

“Please welcome Mr. and Mrs. Xander Cole to the dance floor for their first dance.”

June turned to Xander, her eyes sparkling, her hand reaching out to him with love and trust. He took it gently, almost reverently, and led her into the center of the floor.

As the music played—a romantic jazz ballad of timeless love—Xander wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close. To the world, they looked like perfection.

“Thank you,” June whispered, looking up into his eyes. “Thank you for loving me the way you do. For not giving up on me… even when I tried to push love away.”

Xander’s throat tightened. He wanted to believe her. He really did. He wanted to believe that this love was real. But the image of Larry holding her, the memory of June hesitating when asked about her past—it all kept flashing behind his eyes like a storm.

“Anything for you,” he said, his voice smooth.

She placed her head gently against his chest, her fingers gently grazing the back of his neck. Xander closed his eyes for a second, letting the scent of her hair fill his senses. She felt real. Her touch felt real.

“But do you really love me, June? Or am I your escape plan?”

They swayed together, slowly, gracefully—like a couple in a fairytale. Guests took photos. There were soft tears and bright flashes. June was smiling so hard her cheeks ached.

But inside Xander’s mind, a plan was slowly forming.

“I gave you everything. My love. My trust. If I find out you’re still in love with him… if I find out this is all a game to you… then I’ll turn this marriage into your slowest heartbreak.”

The music ended.

The crowd clapped. People rose to their feet in awe of their chemistry. Xander leaned forward and kissed June’s forehead tenderly. She wrapped her arms around him tightly, whispering, “I love you, Xander. More than words.”

He smiled down at her.

“And I love you too.”

But his heart whispered something different:

“If you ever betray me, June… I will make you regret ever choosing me.”

The ballroom sparkled with golden lights as the newlyweds stood in the center, basking in the glow of their reception. Guests were still laughing, clinking their glasses, and dancing under the soft hum of music, unaware of the tension brewing just a few steps away.

June stood near the champagne table, her hand gently holding the crystal flute filled with sparkling wine. Her smile was radiant — until Audrey approached, her heels clicking with intentional precision across the marble floor. Larry trailed behind her, his eyes lingering on June a second too long before averting them quickly.

Audrey raised her glass high, her lips curled into a venomous smile. “To the beautiful bride and groom,” she said, loudly enough to draw attention from a few nearby guests. “And did I mention…” She turned slightly to show off her figure, her palm resting dramatically on her slight baby bump. “I’m expecting a child with my darling husband, Larry.” Her eyes bore into June’s, hungry for a reaction.

June stiffened but kept her smile firm. She glanced briefly at Xander, who stood beside her, watching quietly, unreadable.

“I guess we both got what we wanted, didn’t we?” Audrey continued sweetly, tilting her head as if in mock sympathy. “You got your prince charming… and I got a man who’s willing to give me everything — including a child.”

June gave a soft laugh, though it didn’t reach her eyes. “At least I got married to a kind man who truly loves me,” she replied calmly, raising her glass and taking a slow sip, her eyes never leaving Audrey’s.

“Oh really?” Audrey said, stepping in closer, her voice now a whisper only June could hear. “Who told you he loves you, eh?” Her tone dripped with mockery. “Men can pretend for years, June. Don’t get too comfortable.”

June’s throat tightened, but she didn’t flinch. She wasn’t going to let Audrey see her shaken. She leaned in just as closely, her voice low but sharp as a blade. “I don’t care what you think, Audrey. I know exactly the kind of man I married. So enjoy your evening while it lasts.”

Audrey’s smile twitched. Her eyes flashed with something darker, but she simply stepped back, her expression smug. “Oh, I will,” she said aloud. “I’ll be right here, watching… when everything crashes. Just remember, I warned you.”

With that, Audrey turned around and glided back toward her table, her hand wrapped tightly around Larry’s arm. Larry looked back once, meeting June’s eyes briefly a gaze that held something between regret and possession before Audrey tugged him away.

June took a breath and sipped her drink again. Her chest tightened, not because of Audrey’s words, but because part of her feared them. The venom in Audrey’s voice wasn’t just cruelty it was confidence. She knew something. Something June didn’t.

But June wasn’t the same fragile woman anymore. She’d come too far to let anyone ruin this night.

Xander returned to her side, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. “You okay?” he asked gently.

June forced a smile and nodded. “Yeah. Just tired of ghosts trying to haunt me.”

Xander looked across the hall toward Audrey and Larry, then back at June. “Well, ghosts only haunt you if you let them in.”