A bubbly laugh left my lips as I nodded through another round of small talk with guests I recognized from Chase's side of the family.
“Oh, Savannah!”a woman cooed, clutching my hand.“I just can’t believe Chase is getting married!You two were so serious for so long.”
“Yes, well,” I said smoothly, ignoring the burn in my throat, “life takes unexpected turns.”
“I guess the ring didn't fit for a reason,” another woman piped up, giggling behind her champagne glass.“No offense, hun.You have to admit, though—things were getting a little stale.”
Laughter rippled through the small group.I smiled wider, my jaw tight enough to crack.
“Guess so,” I said lightly, taking a long sip of my drink to keep from choking on my pride.
Every comment was a test of restraint.
Every pitying glance a reminder that, to them, I wasn’t Savannah Bristow—top of my class, scholarship recipient, future attorney.I was just the ex-girlfriend who lost her man to her cousin.
I excused myself from the conversation with a polite murmur and stepped toward the open terrace, the hum of polite laughter and soft jazz muffling behind me.
The Ruxbury Hotel event hall was decorated beautifully—Lori had Chase spare no expense.It was a room of white, with the ceiling partially decorated in waves of deep midnight blue and glowing firefly lights.String lights wrapped around every column and pastel drapes lined the walls.Circular tables splayed across the marble floors with oversized pastel florals hanging from the ceiling.Champagne flowed like water out of a ten-glass pyramid, and a mini garden glowed under the soft haze of powder blue.
It was like something plucked out of an enchanted forest fairytale.
Under different circumstances, it would've been romantic—something picturesque that every woman would dream of.Instead, it felt like the scene of a crime.I was dying a little inside with every passing second.
I checked the time.6:23 p.m.
He was officially twenty minutes late.
Perfect.
I took another sip of champagne, my fingers tightening around the glass.He’d probably forgotten.Or worse—decided to make me the fool once again and leave me here, stranded.It was exactly the kind of reckless arrogance I should have expected, given our history.
I dug my phone from my clutch, thumb hovering over his number, ready to fire off a scathing text.But before I could type a single word, an all-too-familiar voice slid into my ear.
“Savvy!”
The nickname hit me like nails on a chalkboard.
I turned, schooling my expression into polite warmth.Lori stood a few feet away in a white midi dress that probably cost a month’s rent, the same smug glow of victory radiating off her like expensive perfume.Her hand sparkled under the lights—the ring flashing like a trophy.
“Lori,” I said evenly, forcing a smile.“You look… radiant.”
“Don’t I?”she said, smoothing over an invisible wrinkle from her dress.“Oh my god, I’m so glad you came!I wasn’t sure you’d show after everything.”
After everything.The words lingered between us like smoke.
I laughed softly, because what else was there to do?“Why wouldn’t I?You invited me.”
She tilted her head, pretending innocence.
“Still, I thought it might be… awkward.You know, with Chase and all.”
My fingers tightened around the stem of my glass.“No awkwardness here.”
Lori’s smile widened—too bright, too sharp.
“Fantastic!Chase and I want this wedding to go off smoothly, so the less drama, the better.”
If you didn't want drama, then you shouldn't have slept with my boyfriend then proceeded to say yes to marrying him.
