Marrying My Rival, Finding Forever

ack, albeit with a completely new script. The original plans, the vows I

tunned mother and impressing my skeptical father with a quick, witty comment about the stock

held were meant for Olivia. They were a custom design I had spent months on, a delicate band with an inscription only

placeholder, maybe Tom' s own ring

stant, Mia, stepped forward. She presented the prie

different. Bolder. The man's ring was a solid, platinum band, modern and substantial. The woman's ring was exquisite, a larg

urs went throu

at diamond!" someon

en carats!" a

Instagram," a cousin of mine commented, not bothering to lower her voice. The

me a small, almost imperceptible

re in front of everyone, with this brilliant, formidable woman, the line between performance and reality blurred. I f

declared, beaming as if this was the most

cheers and applause.

rned to Chloe, my mind racing. A quick, cha

always, was

ent kiss that left me breathless and stunned. It was for the cameras, for the audience, but for a split second, i

ion, a group of my mother's friends,

ry," one of them, a notorious gossip named

llows she insisted on. The walls were probably still covered in the photos of us I had put up as a romantic surpr

, trying to find a polite e

atrice chirped

arm through mine. "We'd be delighted to show you," she said, h

nicked look. Wh

follow as she led the small, chattering group toward the elevators. The entire w

ushed the door open. "Welcome,"

looked inside. And th

left this morning. It w

charcoal grey and silver cushions. The air smelled not of Olivia's flora

massive bouquets on the tables, in a trail of petals on the floor leading

differently, with a kind of deliberate, masculine elegance. On the wall where my photos with Olivia had been, th

omen

he most romantic r

roses! Ethan,

ildered. How? How was this possib

ey and a very, very good assistant can ac

n her face, at the calculating glint in h