Page 93 of Beautiful Lies

My wedding day.

The ceremony starts in forty-five minutes, and by noon, I’ll be Isla Vale.

The bridal suite of Oheka Castle glitters in the morning light, with gold mirrors catching the sun and silk ivory walls gleaming like pearls. It’s a room built for fairytales.

The mirror before me doesn’t lie, but it doesn’t tell the whole truth, either.

The woman staring back looks like she belongs here. Flawless. Polished. A picture-perfect bride wrapped in a one-of-a-kind Vera Wang gown.

But behind the veil and the perfect curls, my reflection feels like a stranger.

“Sweetheart,” Mom says softly from behind me. “You look… perfect.”

She steps beside me, her gaze sweeping over the dress with quiet awe. Itisbeautiful. The most beautiful thing I’ve everworn. The gown is strapless, the satin bodice sculpted to flatter my shoulders and neckline before melting into a voluminous skirt of layered chiffon. The fabric is soft and weightless, shifting like mist every time I move.

The dress is effortlessly romantic, dreamlike even. Except I don’t feel like the dream. I feel like the lie underneath it.

I force a smile. “Thanks, Mom.” My voice sounds distant even to me. “You look perfect, too.”

Mom’s in a pale lavender gown with delicate beadwork along the sleeves, elegant enough for the cameras but still undeniably her. This week has been hard on her. She even had to take a few days off. But today, she looks like she went all out for me.

“Oh, honey.” She gives me a wistful smile. “I did my best.”

“You always do.”

She reaches out to fix a strand of hair that doesn’t need fixing. “How are you feeling?”

“I’m… not sure.” I press my palms flat against my skirt and breathe deeply. “Between worrying about marrying Knox and wondering if Chad is going to crash my wedding, I’m not sure how I’m supposed to feel.”

I told Mom and Mia the latest with Chad. But I kept the Knox parts to myself.

“Try not to worry about Knox.”

“Really, Mom?” I sigh, my shoulders drooping. “I haven’t even seen him.”

People say it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, but I haven’t seen Knox since last week. Not since that morning when I caught him watching me paint. That’s exactly one week and one day.

I was told he was busy. Either working late, starting early, or just away, whatever that meant.

I’m certain he’s been avoiding me. We’re flying to Tuscany tomorrow for our honeymoon for a week. He’ll probably avoid me then, too.

Heck, there’s also tonight, when we go back to his house. I most likely won’t see him after the celebrations today. Maybe just for the occasional appearance when the press come sniffing around.

I guess it’s understandable. We almost crossed the line that night. At least, I think we did. Sometimes I wonder if I imagined it. Like maybe I saw more in what happened than what was really there.

But he’s here now.

Somewhere beyond these walls, cameras are flashing, guests are arriving, and Knox Vale is waiting. Waiting to put the next phase of his grand plan in motion when we say, ‘I do.’ The clock starts ticking then.

“Maybe he’s just been busy, like Sheila said.” Mom tilts her head and arches her brows. “But really, did youwantto see him in the run-up to today?”

I lift my shoulders in a light shrug. “I guess not.”

“Thought so. Chad, on the other hand…” She inhales a slow, thoughtful breath. “He’s just too late, sweetheart. It’s sad that he didn’t try to sort things out between you two before now. But from what you’ve told me, he would have always been too late.”

“I hope you don’t think I told him the wrong thing. I know how much you liked him, but I wouldn’t have taken him back, no matter the situation.”

She smiles at my words. “And that’s exactly the right answer. I’m proud of you for knowing your worth.”