“Sister?” Maria looks around at the guests, who are doing the same thing.
I take a deep breath and stand up.
A mixture of gasps, whispers, and murmurs is heard throughout the crowd. I try to ignore them, attempting to keep my feet from buckling under the weight of my body.
“No fucking way,” Maria gasps. “Bitch, you should have told me!”
I scoot by Maria and head over to Sofia, my eyes transfixed on her. I’m afraid if I look anywhere else, I’ll pass out. I don’t even consider tempting fate by looking at Valentina.
“Hey, you got this, okay?” Sofia whispers as she hands me the microphone. “Tell your truth and get your girl back.”
I nod, unable to speak, and turn to face the guests. I look down at Rosita, whose face has completely changed colors. She looks like she’s, quite literally, seen the ghost of Roberto appear in front of her. I reach for my notecards and realize I have left them on my chair.Fuck.I can’t go back, that’ll look weird, and everyone’s staring. I’ll just have to wing it.
“Hi, everyone.” I clear my throat. “You’re probably wondering why I’m standing up here, crashing Sofia’s ceremony.”
A few soft laughs can be heard from the crowd. I look at Maria, who just gives me a double thumbs-up.
“I’m standing here to tell you I’m a fraud. I was convinced to go to this wedding by my cousin Maria. I was told it would be a great way to secure an investment for my family’s restaurant. The reason I so desperately need this investment is that La Mariposa is failing. It’s not successful like I said it was. We’re not expanding to create a franchise. We’re three months behind on rent.”
I turn around to face Luciano.
“Luc, I’m so sorry for lying to you. When you told me your story, I felt even more guilty, but I also felt like you’d understand, as someone who knows what it’s like to struggle.”
I turn back to the crowd.
“I have spent this entire week pretending to be someone I’m not. You all think of me as this successful, rich woman with a booming restaurant, but that’s not me. So let me reintroduce myself. My name is Isabella Valdes, and I’m poor.”
The murmurs in the crowd continue. I can hear Silvana snicker behind me.
“I can’t afford to buy the things you do. This entire wedding cost more than I will ever make in my entire life. Not only that, but I’ve lied about what I’ve been wearing. I’ve spent this entire week desperately trying to be accepted by all of you, but I’m done trying. This is me. This dress is from a second-hand bridal shop, and I got it in the clearance section for $30. Yes, that means someone else wore it before me.”
I turn to Sofia, who nods in approval for the next thing I’m about to say. I look forward and down at Rosita.
“I also just learned that my mother is the biggest liar of them all. She’s been keeping a secret from me my entire life, and that secret is that Sofia is my half sister. Roberto, my father, was madly in love with Rosita. Now you can gossip about us all you want. I don’t care. Because being with family and being true to myself is more important than what any one of you thinks of me. I’m tired of living a lie and hiding my true self.”
Finally, I turn to Valentina. Her eyes are glossy as she holds back tears, presumably to keep her makeup intact.
“Val, I am so sorry for what I did to you. Silvana blackmailed me, threatening that she would tell everyone the truth about me if I didn’t leave you. Well, Silvie, it looks like I win. There’s nothing left for you to say, or is there?”
Silvana rolls her eyes and looks away.
“That’s what I thought.”
I look back at Valentina, my legs shaking.
“I never wanted to break things off with you. You were the only person here who saw the real me almost instantly. And you didn’t pull away. You didn’t look down on me. You saw me, Val—just me. And I don’t want to lose that. It’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I turn back to the crowd.
“That’s me. You can accept me for who I am or not at all. It doesn’t matter to me. Because the people who truly matter in my life love me.”
I hand the microphone back to Sofia. I half expect a roaring applause to end my big speech, but everyone looks confused and uncomfortable. Maria cheers and claps, which prompts a few people to join in on halfhearted claps. I can’t tell if they’re unimpressed or appalled by my existence. I walk back down the aisle to my seat when I hear the microphone screech slightly.
“Wait!” Valentina says over the speakers.
I turn around.
“I have something to confess too. I tried to sabotage Sofia and Luciano’s wedding because I was in love with her while we were growing up. When Sofia told me she was engaged, I was in shock. It’s been hard for me to move on, but after meeting Isa, I feel like I finally can.”
