Chapter 4: The Secret Nick Hid
The words stayed in the air.
Nobody knew what to say.
I looked at Nick.
Waiting for him to laugh.
Waiting for him to deny it.
He didn’t.
And that hurt.
“Nick?””
He closed his eyes.
“Emily…”
My chest tightened.
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Tell me she’s lying.””
He looked broken.
“She’s not completely lying.””
That was worse.
The reception hall suddenly felt too small.
The flowers.
The decorations.
The candles.
Everything I had spent months planning looked like it belonged to someone else.
“What does that mean?””
Nick walked closer.
“It means when I proposed, I was angry with my mom.””
I stared.
“Angry?””
He nodded.
“After another argument with her, I realized something. I had spent my whole life trying to make her happy.””
His voice lowered.
“And I hated that.””
I swallowed.
“So you proposed because of her?””
“No.””
He reached for my hand.
I didn’t let him take it.
“No, Emily. I proposed because I loved you.””
“Then why did you say that?””
“Because part of me wanted to prove I could choose my own life.””
I looked at him.
“And I was your proof?””
“No.””
But his hesitation came too late.
I turned away.
Martha watched silently.
Almost satisfied.
That made me angry.
“You wanted this,” I said to her.
She didn’t deny it.
“I wanted my son to wake up.””
“From what?””
“From believing love solves everything.””
Jenna stepped forward.
“You’re unbelievable.””
Martha ignored her.
“Emily, you think Nick saved you from me.””
She smiled.
“But I saved him from you.””
Nick’s face changed.
“Mom, stop.””
“No. She deserves the truth.””
Martha pointed at me.
“She changed you.””
“I became happier.””
“You became distant.””
“Because I finally had boundaries.””
The argument grew louder.
Guests slowly began leaving.
My wedding was ending.
Not with dancing.
Not with laughter.
With people watching my marriage fall apart in front of them.
Then my father appeared beside me.
He had been silent all night.
That scared me more than yelling.
“Emily,” he said quietly.
I turned.
“Dad?””
He looked at Nick.
Then Martha.
“Come outside with me.””
I followed him.
The cold night air hit my face.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then my father said:
“When your mother and I got married, my mother did something similar.””
I looked at him.
“What?””
He nodded.
“She didn’t cut my wife’s hair. But she humiliated her during our reception.””
I was stunned.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
“Because I thought it was ancient history.””
He looked back at the building.
“I was wrong.””
My voice shook.
“Dad, what do I do?””
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he said something I never forgot.
“Pay attention to what Nick does after this moment.””
I looked at him.
“Not what he says?””
“No.””
He shook his head.
“Words are easy when someone is afraid of losing you.””
The door behind us opened.
Nick stepped outside.
Alone.
“Emily.””
I turned.
He looked different.
Older.
Like the last few hours had taken years from him.
“I need to tell you something else.””
My stomach tightened.
“What?””
He swallowed.
“The reason my mom knew about the wedding plans.””
I frowned.
“What do you mean?””
He looked at me.
“I never told her.””
A chill moved through me.
“Then how did she know everything?””
Nick reached into his pocket.
And pulled out his phone.
“There’s one person who had access.””
I stared at the screen.
At the name displayed.
And I felt my entire body go cold.
Because it wasn’t Martha.
May you like
It wasn’t Catherine.
It was someone I trusted.
