The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 23

The Belated Bride: Becoming My Own Muse Chapter 23

Those four words were far too polite.

So polite that his expression turned deeply unpleasant in an instant.

He looked like he was about to say something else, but a sudden commotion erupted near the entrance.

Tara came running over at a half-jog.

“Claire. Bianca is here.”

I looked up.

Bianca walked in wearing a white dress, flanked by a small entourage of gossip media.

On her face was a smile, delicate and resolute.

Like she had come specifically to put on a brilliant performance as the victim striking back.

I could hear people murmuring around us.

“Why is she here?”

“Didn’t she just apologize? Now she’s showing up at Claire’s show? Is this supposed to be some big reconciliation moment?”

“The media’s with her. This is going to be a show.”

Bianca made a beeline straight for me.

She saw Christian standing there too, and her eyes reddened for a moment. But she didn’t lean toward him the way she usually did.

She stopped right in front of me and dipped her head in a small bow.

“Claire. I came here today to apologize to you in person.”

The cameras immediately swung toward us.

Tara said through gritted teeth, “She’s doing this on purpose.”

I looked at Bianca.

“Since when does an apology require bringing a press entourage?”

Her expression stiffened, but she recovered swiftly.

“I just wanted everyone to see that I’m sincere. All the trouble I caused you with my carelessness—I’m truly sorry for that.”

She turned slightly toward the cameras.

“I know there’s been a lot of talk online. Some people have implied things about Chris and me. I wanted to take this chance to clear the air publicly. I have never had any intention of causing problems in anyone’s marriage.”

At this, everyone around us turned their eyes to Christian.

Christian’s face went cold.

Bianca continued, “Chris and I have known each other for many years. He’s been good to me because I once helped him out of a difficult situation. He’s grateful. And I’m grateful too. But I never wanted that friendship to cause Claire any pain.”

It was a masterfully crafted speech.

She spun taking the dress into “carelessness.”

Twisted an emotional affair into “gratitude.”

Reframed Christian’s blatant favoritism as “friendship.”

If I accepted her apology right now, the narrative online would instantly flip to: Bianca is so gracious, Claire is so petty.

And if I didn’t accept it, she would look even more like the pitiful victim she was so carefully playing.