I hadn’t been given an invite that was probably foiled in gold like this whole venue.
The air was thick with humidity, and all of my confidence and excitement evaporated in its heat.
I finished another drink and put it down, looking over heads, trying to spot my nagyi.
Everly held my hand despite how clammy we were, and I bit down so hard on my lip that I would smudge my lipstick all over my teeth, but at least it would be better than letting my mascara track down my face with my tears.
A slower song played, and we all stood, looking over as an elegant woman in a floor-length white chiffon gown walked out of the building by herself. She held purple peonies to her waist as she grinned, on top of the world.
Her sights were on one man.Imre.
When she got to the arch and her near-husband, they didn’t hold back, immediately going for a crushing hug.
They really loved each other.
He spoke a language I didn’t know for his vows, and she dabbed at her eyes before speaking of finding love later in life, but feeling blessed that her family was growing in the best way, by not just one person but two.
Everly squeezed my hand.
What did she know about me? About my relationshipwith her husband? Had he told her the truth or some twisted version where my mother was to blame?
Was I going to seem like a child for holding this grudge?
I knew I should’ve been warned. I should’ve been told. But watching him there, hands trembling around hers, I couldn’t summon anger. I could only sit there, in my accidental white dress, the hem sticking to my legs from the humidity, thinking:At least he found someone who made him happy.
Even if nobody had the decency to tell me about it.
8
Chapter 8
Fia
As they walked down the aisle and we all stood clapping, Zoltán vanished.
I should’ve been glad.
But I looked around for him when I should have been looking for Imre.
“Yes, that will do,” Everly said at my side, on her tiptoes, looking around Luca’s shoulder. “Book two rooms.”
Taller than her, I could see easily. It was a hotel with a pool and spa. Nowhere near as grand as this secluded fairy tale mansion.
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “I told you.”
I could disappear as quickly as Zoltán. The only thing I wanted to do was to run to a bathroom and call Mum and Dad to come and pick me up. But this was my chance to see Nagyi,and who knew how many of those I would have left?
Everly raised her brows at me. “I’m feeling your betrayal for you. You do understand that’s what this is, right? Your father just got married. Yourscrewknew and didn’t tell you. They’re not people I want to be around if they can do this to you.”
I breathed in, knowing she was right.
I had every right to feel angry, but I just felt defeated.
“You’re not going to go anywhere near him again, are you?” Everly asked. She wasn’t the type to forgive or forget.
“Who said I ever did?”
Luca coughed into his fist, and Everly scoffed.
