My Wedding Was His Family’s Biggest Lie Chapter 03

My Wedding Was His Family’s Biggest Lie Chapter 03

I took the necklace and turned to the mirror, toying with the tiny pendant.

“Beautiful. Thank you, mom.”

Diane gave the makeup artist a meaningful look.

The makeup artist got the hint and picked up the pace.

At eight thirty, the wedding gown arrived.

Its huge white skirt covered half the couch, and at first glance, it looked exquisite.

When I tried it on the month before, Ethan had told me a bridal studio had custom-made it for $17,000.

Pretending to straighten the skirt, I ran my fingers along the lining until I reached the bottom.

A small tag was hidden there.

It carried the logo of a rental company and the gown’s inventory number.

A $17,000 custom wedding gown.

A $400 rental deposit.

I tucked the tag back into place as more comments appeared.

[LMAO. The whole thing is fake. That “diamond” is moissanite, the gown’s rented, and the bridal jewelry is street-stall junk. Everything he gave Vanessa was the real deal.]

The door opened again.

Chloe came bouncing in, phone held up like she was scared I’d bolt.

“Claire! Look! I got a video of Ethan’s route to come get you today!”

She shoved the phone in my face.

On the screen, the hotel entrance was decorated with flowers.

But my eyes went straight to the WhatsApp notification that had just popped up at the top of her screen.

It flashed for a second and disappeared, but I still caught the sender’s name.

Vanessa.

The red comments filled in the rest.

[Vanessa to Chloe: “Chloe, once the ceremony’s over, tell Ethan to call me. I changed my flight to the afternoon of the day after tomorrow.”]

Chloe snatched her phone back and changed the subject just as fast.

“You look gorgeous, Claire!”

“Thanks, Chloe.”

II fussed with my veil and asked, as casually as I could,

“Ethan’s supposed to take me to Cape Haven for our honeymoon the day after tomorrow, right? Has he booked our flights?”

Chloe froze.

“Uh…probably. My brother always takes care of everything.”

The red comments flashed again.

[Takes care of everything, my ass. He only booked two tickets to London. One was in his name, and the other was in Vanessa’s. He never even searched for flights to Cape Haven.]

I nodded without pressing her.

“I’ll get you some water!”

Chloe turned and hurried out.

When the door closed, the room fell silent again.

I picked up my phone and opened my camera roll, checking the photos I had taken of the property-transfer deed the night before.

Then I opened my Notes app and organized the screenshots from Ethan’s WhatsApp chat with Vanessa by date and time.

His phone password was his birthday.

While he showered the night before, I had unlocked his phone and photographed every conversation.

Before we went to sleep, he held me close and whispered,

“You’ve been so good tonight, Claire. Get some sleep. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride tomorrow.”

The most beautiful bride.

I was wearing a cheap gown and fake jewelry, about to marry into a family that had all lied to me.

Beautiful, indeed.

I sent a message to my best friend, Maya Sutton.

[Back entrance. Ten. Don’t be late.]

She replied almost immediately.

[I’m already on my way. Claire, what the hell is going on?]

I stared at the screen for a few seconds.

[You’ll see when you get here.]

At nine forty, the guests began arriving.

I stood beside the window in the second-floor bridal suite and looked down through the blinds.

The ballroom was filled with flowers and balloons. Warm golden light washed over hundreds of smiling faces.

Ethan stood by the sign-in table in a black suit, greeting guests.

He looked handsome and polished. Perfect.

My gaze moved over the crowd and landed on a woman sitting in the corner.

She wore a white dress, and her long hair fell over her shoulders. Her makeup was so light it was almost invisible.

She sat in the innermost seat of the second row, her head lowered as she twisted a handkerchief in her lap.

The red comments returned.

[That’s Vanessa. Ethan bought her that dress last week for $1,800. Her dress cost over a thousand dollars more than Claire’s rented wedding gown.]

Vanessa looked up.

Through the glass and across the entire ballroom, her gaze swept toward the second floor.

Another comment appeared.

[She knows Claire is upstairs. She’s smiling.]

My chest tightened like a wire had wrapped around my ribs. I could barely breathe.

My hands had trembled when I learned the truth the night before.

They didn’t tremble now.

I had been cold for so long that the chill had started to burn.

Two soft knocks sounded at the door.

A second later, Ethan stepped inside, carrying a bouquet of white roses.