I Signed Away My First Love, Then Married Someone Else Chapter 06

I Signed Away My First Love, Then Married Someone Else Chapter 06

Silence swallowed the room.

Everyone recognized that voice.

My phone hit the floor with a sharp crack.

In the confusion, I bent down, picked it up, and headed for the door.

Three seconds passed. Then the room exploded.

“That’s impossible.”

“That voice was definitely fake.”

“Everyone knows her family cut her off. How could she possibly end up with someone like him?”

“Exactly. It had to be an AI voice clone. That technology is everywhere now. She must have spent a fortune on this little performance.”

Grant caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

“Have you lost your mind? You cloned Julian Mercer’s voice and had someone call you honey? If he finds out, do you have any idea what that could do to the Whitmores?”

I pulled free without looking back.

As far as my own brother was concerned, the Whitmore name and Madeline’s happiness had always mattered more than I did.

Grant and I had drifted apart after our mother died.

I didn’t need his protection anymore.

The murmuring behind me rose again.

Someone tried to steer the party back on course.

“Come on. A cloned voice is nothing. She’s faked a suicide attempt before.”

“Right. Don’t let her ruin the night. This is Ethan’s party. Let’s get back to it.”

“Drinks up, everyone. Don’t let one woman derail the whole night.”

Someone restarted the music, and glasses were lifted again.

Ethan dropped back onto the couch, and someone handed him a drink.

“If she didn’t come tonight just to put on that performance for you, I’ll eat my phone.”

He took the glass and drank, smiling with absolute confidence. “She’s getting better at this. At least

this one took some thought.”

Even he had to admit she’d surprised him.

The glass clicked softly against the table when he set it down.

He didn’t look toward the door again.

No matter what happened, the wedding would go ahead as planned.

The following day.

The wedding took place in the rooftop garden of one of Manhattan’s most exclusive hotels.

Champagne–colored roses covered the terrace.

Blue sky. Green lawn. White roses everywhere.

Everyone was there.

The betting thread in the wedding–party group chat had been pushed back to the top.

“I give her ten more minutes before she storms in.”

“Same.”

“Make that three of us.”

Six security guards had been stationed at the entrance.

More than a dozen guests lined the walkway solely to watch for me.

Grant covered the main entrance while Nate waited at the second.

Madeline wore the custom million–dollar bridal gown that had once been mine.

Standing before the mirror in the bridal suite, she asked,

“Is she here yet?”