All Chapters of Traded For His First Love : Chapter 181 - Chapter 188

Reese POVThe Chicago air carried a crisp spring bite as I stepped out of the car, the familiar skyline looming over the lush garden venue where Alice’s wedding was about to unfold. Sammy and Avie, bubbling with excitement, clung to Elliot’s hands, their eyes wide at the fairy lights twinkling in the early evening glow and the soft hum of a string quartet drifting through the air. Coming back to Chicago for Alice’s big day felt like stepping into a memory—both warm and sharp, filled with the ghosts of a life I’d left behind. Elliot, dashing in his tailored suit, gave me a reassuring smile, his hand brushing mine as we made our way toward the venue. This trip was for Alice, my best friend, my maid of honor duties calling me back to the city that had once been home. But I knew returning meant more than reuniting with friends—it meant facing the shadows of my past, including people I’d rather avoid, like Spencer.Alice had been over the moon when we arrived yesterday, her auburn hair b

Alice POVThe garden venue by Lake Michigan glowed under the Chicago twilight, fairy lights weaving through the trees like stars pulled to earth. My wedding to Connor O'Brien had been nothing short of magical, a dream spun from white roses, soft music, and the love that surged between us. My heart hadn’t stopped racing since I walked down the aisle, Connor’s awestruck gaze locking with mine as Spencer handed me off. When we exchanged vows, his voice steady and mine quivering with emotion, I felt like the luckiest woman alive. Now, as husband and wife, we stood at the heart of a celebration radiating joy—our friends laughing, champagne glasses clinking, the spring evening wrapping us in its warm embrace. Everything was perfect, and I was falling deeper in love with Connor O'Brien with every moment.The ceremony had been a blur of beauty—Connor’s fumbled vows sparking laughter, my own promises sealed with tears, and the kiss that ignited cheers from the crowd. Sammy and Avie, Reese’s k

Bethany POVThe garden venue by Lake Michigan sparkled under the Chicago night sky, fairy lights casting a soft glow over the wedding reception of Alice and Connor. The air buzzed with laughter, clinking glasses, and the upbeat swing of the band, but I felt none of the joy. My navy dress clung to my pregnant frame, the weight of my fifth-month bump a constant reminder of the life I was carrying—and the life I was trapped in. I stood near the edge of the crowd, Roseanne at my side, her own expression tight with unease. We’d just pulled Nathalie away from Reese—Venus, as Alice called her—after catching her cozying up to that woman at a table, all apologies and hugs like nothing had ever happened. The sight of it made my blood boil, and now, as we stood in a quieter corner of the garden, I let Nathalie have it.“What were you thinking, Nathalie?” I snapped, my arms crossed, my voice low but sharp. “Going over there to talk to Venus like she’s your best friend? Do you need a reminder of

Reese POVThe wedding reception of Alice and Connor pulsed with life, the garden venue by Lake Michigan shimmering under a canopy of fairy lights. The jazz band’s lively melody wove through the laughter of guests, the clink of champagne glasses, and the soft rustle of spring air. I sat at a table near the garden’s edge, my emerald-green dress catching the glow, a half-empty champagne flute in hand. The night had been a whirlwind—dancing with Alice until we collapsed in giggles, twirling with Connor as he teased me, and laughing as Elliot tried to teach Sammy and Avie a dance that left them in hysterics. But now, with Elliot drawn away to the veranda by Andrew and his business talk, I felt the weight of Chicago’s shadows creeping back. Bethany’s venomous glares, Roseanne’s tight-lipped judgment, and even Nathalie’s wavering presence had cast a pall, making the air feel thick with unspoken grudges. I’d resolved to stay for Alice, to rise above their hostility, but it was a battle I wa