Page 6

Chapter Five

I caught my first glimpse of Andrew, standing in a shrub-enclosed area, perched on a grassy bluff overlooking the ocean. He was surrounded by a natural frame of palm trees and windswept flowers. The sea stretched endlessly into the horizon as the colors in the sky began to move toward sunset. The light was golden, warm, and forgiving, the kind of light photographers dream of, and I knew it would make our first-look photos even better.

The sight of him dressed in a black tuxedo, the gold in his hair sparkling as bright as his eyes, made my breath hitch—especially when his gaze found mine. His reaction was everything I'd wanted it to be, his lips parting with admiration, his smile making me feel like I was the only person in the world.

"You look beautiful, Lauren." He took my hands in his, his voice low and intimate, as if the rest of the world had disappeared.

My throat tightened, my eyes moistening at his words. "I’m glad you like the dress."

His thumb brushed over the back of my hand. "I do like the dress, but I love the woman who’s wearing it more."

"And I love you," I said, the truth of those words making me feel like everything was right in my world.

And then Megan and the media crew descended on us, directing us to repeat our first look—three times, from different angles. The clicks of cameras and low whir of video equipment invaded our bubble, breaking it apart piece by piece. By the time the wedding party joined us for more photos, I felt like a doll being posed, stiff and smiling on command.

The Carringtons arrived near the end of the session, sweeping in with their usual grace. Victor looked every inch the powerful patriarch in his black tuxedo, flanked by Bennett, whose darker mood contrasted with his polished appearance. Paula’s champagne-colored gown shimmered with intricate beading, and Harper and Jamie’s pale-gold dresses matched perfectly, elegant but not enough to outshine the bride.

We posed together endlessly—Andrew and me with Victor, with Paula, with Bennett, with all of them at once—until we were finally done with this location. Then the golf carts came to take our group through the resort, stopping at every photogenic corner: the stone terrace overlooking the ocean, the rose-covered arch near the reflecting pool, the twisting garden paths lined with bougainvillea.

Every scene was designed for romance, and every shot carefully staged for the resort’s marketing campaign. Andrew played his role perfectly, his arm wrapped around my waist, his smile warm and constant.

When the last photo was taken, Andrew pressed a kiss to my cheek. “See you soon,” he said, heading off with his groomsmen toward their villa. Harper, Jamie, and I returned to the bridal suite, where Taylor and Carrie hovered, ready to touch up hair and makeup. And then it was time for the ceremony.

Another golf cart took us from the hotel to the staging area, which was hidden behind a grove of trees. From there, we could see the crowd filling in the chairs set on a grassy bluff overlooking the ocean. We'd say our vows in front of an amazing arch of flowers, the sea in the background, and the sun sinking low enough in the sky to send streaks of pink, orange, and purple across the horizon.

Harper and Jamie disappeared almost immediately. Jamie wanted to check on her fiancé, and Harper said she wanted to mingle before the ceremony. So, I waited alone, with sweaty palms and a racing heart. Moving to the side, I was able to see some of the setup through the trees, and I smiled when I saw Andrew and Colin talking. But my smile faded when Allison McGuire joined them, giving each one of the men a hug, her embrace with Andrew lasting a lot longer than the one she'd given Colin.

They had definitely had more than a friendship . Jealousy and worry ran through me once more. But whatever they'd had together was over. He was marrying me, not her.

I just wished she wasn't here. And it puzzled me that Andrew hadn't considered how awkward it might be. Turning away, I saw Victor approaching me, and I put on my bride smile.

"Are you ready, Lauren?" he asked.

"As I'll ever be."

"My mother's necklace looks perfect." He gave me an approving nod. "I had a feeling it would be just the right finishing touch."

"It was generous of you and Mrs. Carrington to lend it to me."

"It wasn't a big deal. You make a beautiful bride, Lauren. I hope you and Andrew will be very happy. I know it may feel like we're losing sight of why we're all here, but I want you to know that I understand this is more than an event—it's your wedding. It's one of the biggest days of your life. I want you to enjoy every minute of it."

I was touched by his words. "I appreciate that. Thank you."

"You're more than welcome." He paused. "Andrew is a good man, isn't he?"

I was a little surprised by his question. "I wouldn't be marrying him otherwise."

"Of course. That's what I thought."

"It's time," Jeanette said, interrupting our conversation as Jamie and Harper joined us. Jeanette's assistant handed us our bouquets, and as I glanced down at the blue forget-me-nots, I wished again that my mother was here. But she wasn't, and all I could do was remember some of her last words to me. She'd wanted to make sure I would be okay. And she'd grabbed my hand with more strength than she'd had in weeks. I do not want you to mourn me for long, my sweet girl. I want you to be happy and to live a full and long life. I want you to experience everything. You deserve nothing less than all of life's blessings. Promise me you won't stay inside, that you won't linger in sadness. I want you to remember me with a smile.

I blinked away tears at the memory. I hadn't known at the time that those would be her last words, but I'd given her the promise she'd wanted. She'd passed away less than an hour later.

Despite my promise, I had mourned her. I had lingered in the sadness. But I really did want to be happy, and Andrew had shown me I could be, and I would be. I put a smile on my face as Victor offered me his arm, and we moved to the edge of the staging area as Harper and Jamie started their walk toward the petal-strewn white runway placed between the chairs.

And then it was our turn. I was happy to have Victor's steadying presence by my side as our every step was captured by a barrage of cameras, shooting over and over again as I tried to smile with the joy, love, and giddy excitement that the campaign demanded and also what my husband-to-be deserved.

I couldn't let the chaotic circus that was following us around get in the way of what was important, so when our gazes finally met, I looked only at him. And when we took each other's hands, everyone else faded away. I wasn't marrying them; I was marrying him. This man would be my husband, my future, and I was not turning back or looking back. Andrew had never let me down, and he was about to promise that he never would.

I'd thought it would feel different after we exchanged vows, but the ceremony, though perfect on the surface, felt like a blur. Sunset, picture-perfect kisses and endless flashes of cameras later, Andrew and I found ourselves taking more photos and charming our way through the cocktail hour.

At least the setting was beautiful. The terrace where the reception began was lined with flickering lanterns, and the ocean glowed under the final streaks of twilight. The salty breeze carried the hum of conversations and the gentle clink of champagne flutes, mingling with soft classical music from a string quartet.

We were introduced to dozens of people, including the influencers and traditional press, who'd been invited by either Bennett or Megan. The Carringtons had also invited friends and business associates, all of whom wanted to meet us. After the sixth or seventh person, I stopped trying to remember everyone's name or even what I'd said to them. Because this kind of social networking was not what I was good at.

Andrew, however, was flawless. He recounted our love story with such precision and emotion that it even tugged at my heart, and I’d lived it.

"The first time I saw her," he told one wide-eyed blogger, "was in the middle of a fire. I didn’t think either of us would make it out alive. And then...I saw her again in the hospital the next morning. Fate had handed me a second chance." He squeezed my hand and smiled at me like I was the center of his world. "I knew then how important she was going to be to me. And here we are."

That blogger had eaten up the story, enchanted by our fairy-tale ending, and she wasn't alone. It certainly proved that almost everyone could be moved by a good love story.

By the time we sat down for dinner with our bridal party, I was grateful for the break. The long table was set with candlelight and flowers, the food artfully plated and delicious, but I barely touched it. Harper was seated on the other side of me next to Jamie and Brad, and none of them seemed particularly chatty. Andrew was having a bit more fun conversing with Colin, Jay, and Dana, but I didn't bother trying to get into their conversation. I was a little tired of talking, and I knew there was more to come so I might as well enjoy the momentary quiet.

The toasts that followed our meal were rehearsed and impersonal, carefully scripted by Megan’s marketing team. Harper and Jamie delivered their remarks with little emotion, keeping things lighthearted and definitely staying on script.

Jay did add some improvisation, sharing an anecdote about Andrew declaring he was in love with me after our first date. Andrew squeezed my hand as Jay told that story, his thumb brushing over mine, and I felt the connection I’d been searching for off and on all day. Andrew was still here, still mine. And for now, that had to be enough.

Our first dance went off without a hitch. Andrew’s hands were steady on my waist, his gaze focused entirely on me as we swayed to the soft strains of a jazz ballad. For those few minutes, it felt like we were the only two people in the world. But as the music shifted, the dance floor filled, and the whirlwind began again.

We changed partners often, mingling and spinning through a blur of family and friends. Harper danced with Colin, who passed her off to me, while Andrew laughed with Jamie. I lost track of time until my feet ached and my smile felt stuck in place. And then, when I finally paused to catch my breath, I saw them.

Andrew and Allison.

They were dancing to a slow song, and they were close. Her hand lingered on his shoulder, her eyes locked on his, and the way she smiled at him reminded me of the photo I’d seen of them—proof that there had been something between them. Perhaps something that still lingered now, if only on her side.

I turned away, the sight bothering me more than I cared to admit. The room suddenly felt too warm, too crowded. I slipped quietly out of the reception and down the hallway to the private restroom reserved for me and the bridesmaids, my heels clicking softly against the polished floor.

Harper was standing in front of the mirror reapplying her makeup.

As our gazes met, she raised a brow. "Everything okay, Lauren?"

"Yes. I'm just hot. I couldn't get off the dance floor."

"It's a fun party," she said as she dabbed at her face. "You might want to put on some lip gloss. Jeanette put our things in that closet."

I walked over to the closet and found my makeup bag on a shelf. I brought it back in front of the mirror and added some color to my lips.

"That's better," Harper said, giving me a thoughtful look.

"It is."

"What can you tell me about Colin, Lauren? Do you know anything about him?"

"Not much. Andrew said they met in college, and Colin joined him in his firm last year. According to Andrew, Colin is a very good salesman."

"I'm almost sold," Harper said with a laugh. "Although, he gives off serious serial-dater vibes. Not that I necessarily want anything more than a good time. My bruised heart wouldn't mind a little break."

"I'll see if I can get more information from Andrew."

"Don't worry about it. I'll figure it out. He asked me if I wanted to get together tomorrow. Apparently, he's staying on the island until Tuesday."

I was a little surprised Colin was staying that long, since Andrew and I would be on our honeymoon, and Jay was with his girlfriend. But maybe the three of them just wanted to explore the island. However, it now looked like Harper would join them. And it definitely seemed like she was in a better mood now, so I was okay with whatever was going on.

Harper checked her reflection one last time, satisfied. "Are you heading back now?"

"In a minute."

"See you out there."

After she left, I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My lips were glossy, my hair perfect, my dress impeccable. And yet, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.

But it wasn't off with me; it was off with Andrew. Or more specifically, Andrew and Allison. She shouldn't be here at my wedding, and she definitely shouldn't have been dancing to a love song with my husband.

More importantly, he shouldn't have been dancing with her, smiling at another woman the way he smiled at me.

Jealousy clawed at my chest, making my breath come short and fast. It was an emotion I had never experienced before. I'd never even seen Andrew glance at another woman. And none of my previous relationships had stumbled because of another woman. It had always been something else. So this was a new feeling, and one I shouldn't be experiencing on the night of my wedding, and I kind of blamed Andrew for putting me in this position.

But I didn't want to get in a fight with him, and I wouldn't. There were far too many eyes on us. I also didn't want to give Allison the satisfaction of thinking I was at all bothered by her presence. I had to act like everything was fine. And I needed to do that because I couldn't hide out in the restroom all night. I returned my bag to the closet and left the room.

I was about to return to the reception, but a cool breeze blowing through an open door tempted me to take a little longer break. The thought of walking back into the crowd of people and facing the cameras and the endless questions made my skin itch. I slipped outside and followed the path toward the beach.

The farther I moved from the reception, the lighter I felt. The air was cooler here, tinged with the sharp tang of the ocean, and the sound of waves crashing in the distance softened the noise still echoing in my head. Shadowy darkness wrapped around me as the tall trees along the path swayed gently in the breeze. For the first time all day, I wasn’t performing for anyone, wasn’t smiling for cameras, or answering questions about how in love I was.

Then I heard voices. They were close, two people arguing just ahead. I froze, my pulse kicking up as I recognized one of them—Allison. The second voice, low and controlled, belonged to a man. At first, I thought it might be Andrew, but as I moved closer, staying behind the trees, I saw Colin.

"This is not your business, Colin," Allison said sharply, her voice carrying through the still night.

"You’re pushing too hard," Colin shot back. "You’re going to ruin everything. You need to stop."

"I’ll stop when I want to stop," she replied, her tone icy. "No one tells me what to do, Colin."

"What are you even doing here?"

"Same as you. Celebrating Andrew's wedding."

"Exactly. He's married, Allison. Married! You know what that means, right ? "

"I know, Colin. I saw. I heard. And I don't care."

"You should care. You're playing with fire. And you know it."

"I know what I'm doing, Colin. In fact, I know a lot more than you do. Your best friend isn't being completely honest with you."

"What does that mean?" Colin demanded.

"Andrew didn't have to do this. He didn't have to take things this far. You must be concerned about all this, too. How could you not be?"

"Because I trust Andrew."

I stiffened as a branch cracked behind me. My stomach dropped, and I whipped around to find Ethan a few feet away, his expression unreadable. As he opened his mouth, I pressed a finger to my lips, motioning for him to stay quiet.

Then I heard Allison say, "Is someone there? Hello?"

Oh God! This was worse than hanging up on the woman. Now I was standing in the woods spying on her. Panic flared in my chest.

"Is that Allison?" Ethan whispered. "Is Andrew with her?"

"Colin," I murmured, hearing them move in our direction. There was no way to escape before they came through the trees.

"Yell at me," Ethan ordered. "Make it look like we're arguing."

"I…" Licking my lips as they got closer, I said, "How dare you come to my wedding and try to cause trouble? You need to leave, Mr. Stark."

He gave me a nod of encouragement, then said, "I'm not leaving until you answer my questions. You didn't want to talk inside, so here we are. There's no one around. Tell me what you know about the fire."

"I don't know anything about it. I've said that a million times."

"I don't believe you."

"I don't care what you believe. I'm going inside. My husband is waiting."

"Your husband is a liar," Ethan said coldly.

His words made my heart lurch. For a moment, I'd forgotten we were pretending, and my fury flared to life. "He’s not a liar. I trust him completely. Who I don’t trust is you."

"Hey," Colin said sharply as he approached, his expression hard and wary. "What's going on out here? Are you all right, Lauren?"

I swallowed the knot in my throat and forced a smile. "I'm fine," I said, wondering where Allison had gone. "Mr. Stark was just leaving, and I was about to go back to the reception. Maybe you could walk with me?"

"Of course." His tone was calm, but his eyes flicked to Ethan with a hint of suspicion. "Let's go."

As I moved away from Ethan, I couldn't help wondering if I wasn't trading one suspicious person for another. While I knew what Ethan had doubts about, I had no idea why Colin had been arguing with Allison in the woods or what he'd meant when he'd told Allison she was going to ruin everything. What was everything?

And Allison had told Colin that there were things he didn't know, and that Andrew hadn't had to take things this far.

What things? Had she been talking about my marriage to Andrew?

Colin had told her he trusted Andrew, so it didn't sound like he had as many doubts as she did. But then, he was Andrew's friend, and I didn't really know who the hell she was.

"That's the insurance investigator, right?" Colin asked, interrupting my thoughts. "What were you doing with him, Lauren?"

"He started to ask me questions inside, and I didn't want the cameras to capture any of our conversation, so I came out here with him."

Colin shot me a look. "Questions about what?"

"The hotel fire six months ago. He's been suspicious of both me and Andrew because we were the only people in the area at the time, but you know the story."

"I do. And I know both you and Andrew have talked to Mr. Stark several times about that night. What is he hoping you're going to tell him now?"

"I have no idea."

As we neared the party, I slowed my steps, wondering if I dared to ask Colin anything about Allison, but that seemed way too risky. "Thanks for saving me," I said.

"No problem. I'm actually glad we have a minute alone. I haven't had the chance to tell you that you're making Andrew a very happy man. In fact, I don't believe I've ever seen him so content."

"Really? I mean, I feel that way, too, but a lot of my friends think our relationship happened too fast."

"It's what you and Andrew think that matters. I've known him a long time, and when he knows what he wants, he goes for it. So far, I've never seen him make a bad decision."

His words struck me as a little odd, as if I was some prize that Andrew had wanted to win, but I was so on edge, I couldn't trust that I was interpreting anything the right way. "Well, thanks."

"Sure. Hey, your friend, Harper. She's single, right?"

"Very single. And really great, in case you were wondering."

"Good to know," he said as he ushered me inside the reception.

The dance floor was still packed, couples swaying together to yet another love song, but I didn't see Andrew or Allison, and that made me both happy and worried about where they might be. But then I saw Andrew cutting through the crowd to reach me, a smile lighting up his face when our gazes met.

"There you are," Andrew said, coming across the room. "I was about to come looking for you. Where have you been?"

"Just taking a break from the crowd."

"Anyone need a drink?" Colin asked.

"I would love some champagne," I told him.

"I'm on it," Colin said, heading toward the bar.

Andrew slipped his hands around my waist, pulling me closer. His lips brushed my cheek before he whispered, "You okay? You seem...distracted."

"I’m fine. It’s been a long day."

He tilted his head, studying me with a thoughtful expression. "I know, but we're almost done. We're cutting the cake in thirty minutes, then it’s the bouquet and garter toss. After that, we’re free."

"Free," I echoed, the word catching in my throat. "That sounds...good."

His smile turned slightly wicked, his grip tightening on my waist. "And then it’s just us. No cameras, no distractions."

"I can’t wait."

"Me, either. But before all that, I need to run down to my villa for a minute. Dana isn't feeling well. I told Jay I have some Advil, but they can't find it. Will you be okay on your own?"

"Sure, but do you want me to come with you?"

"It will only take a few minutes. Stay here. Enjoy yourself."

I nodded, watching as he disappeared into the crowd. A moment later, Colin returned with my champagne.

"Alone again?" he asked, handing me the glass. "Where did Andrew go?"

"Jay’s date isn’t feeling well. He went to get her some Advil from his villa."

"Ah. That’s too bad," he said, pausing as Harper joined us.

"I’m looking for a dance partner," she said, giving him a pointed look.

"You’ve found one," Colin replied, a charming grin sliding into place as he offered her his hand.

I watched them disappear onto the dance floor, Harper laughing as Colin spun her into the crowd. It felt like everyone else was moving forward—laughing, dancing, drinking—while I stood still, tethered by a weight I couldn’t quite name.

When I saw the photographer heading in my direction, I bolted, slipping out onto the patio. The air was cooler here, but I wasn’t alone.

Ethan leaned against the railing, his silhouette sharp in the moonlight, a whiskey glass in his hand.

"Really? You're here, too?" I said, my frustration spilling over. "Why are you everywhere I am?"

"I was here first, Lauren. And by the way, you’re welcome," he added, his tone dry.

"For what?"

"For saving you back there. Allison would’ve caught you spying if I hadn’t stepped in."

"I wasn’t spying," I said quickly, too quickly. "I was just...walking."

"What did you walk into?"

"I'm not sure. It sounded like Colin wasn’t happy Allison was here. He said she was going to ruin everything. Allison didn’t care. She said no one tells her what to do."

"Colin said she was going to ruin everything?" Ethan echoed, his eyes narrowing. "What do you think he meant by that?"

"I think he thought Allison's presence might cause problems for Andrew and me."

"Or he could have been referring to something else."

"Maybe. I don't know," I murmured. Allison had told Colin there was something he didn't know, something Andrew was keeping from him, which bothered me, but that could be anything, and I didn't want to give Ethan any more ammunition against Andrew.

"Did you know Andrew and Allison were with the Carringtons this morning?" Ethan asked, his tone shifting slightly.

"I...yes. I saw them coming out of Victor’s villa when I was walking back to the hotel."

"What were they doing there?"

"I have no idea. You were there, too. Why didn’t you ask them?"

"I didn’t get the chance. But it seems odd, don’t you think? Andrew, Allison, and the Carringtons, all in the same villa hours before the wedding?"

"Allison is an interior designer. Maybe Victor wants to hire her for something."

"And that conversation had to happen on the morning of Andrew’s wedding?" Ethan’s skepticism was plain, and it fed into the tiny doubts I was trying so hard to ignore.

"You need to stop asking me questions I can't answer. If you want to know what they were doing there, ask them, or ask Victor. I'm sure someone will tell you what you want to know."

"Where did Andrew just go?" Ethan asked. "Or is that another question you can't answer?"

"His friend's date isn't feeling well. He went to get her some medication."

"Interesting."

"It's not at all interesting, but you seem fascinated by Andrew's every move, so I'll leave you to your obsession. I'm going inside. Please, don't follow me."

"Don't worry, I won't," he returned. "I have somewhere else to go."

Ethan walked past me before I could ask him where he was going, although I had a feeling I already knew. He wanted to see if Andrew was where I'd said he was. I hoped he was there. Because I secretly admitted that it did seem a little odd Jay and Dana needed Andrew's help to find a bottle of ibuprofen.