Chapter 4

I bit down hard on my lip, my nails digging into my palms.

"Fine."

Margaret immediately pulled my dad's medication out of her own purse.

In that instant, I understood. They had already planned how to force me to give in.

Only after I saw with my own eyes that Dad had taken his pills did I let the driver start the car.

Mason held up his phone and pointed the camera at me.

"Come on, Hailey, smile! I'm on a video call with Ethan."

I didn't even look at him. Keeping my head down, I took out my phone and sent Zachary a quick message.

[Something came up. Go straight to the hotel.]

Mason didn't seem bothered by my silence. Still grinning, he turned back to the screen and continued chatting with Ethan as if nothing had happened.

"Ethan, I've picked up your bride. Go take care of your stuff and don't worry. I promise I'll handle everything on this end perfectly."

For some reason, seeing me with my head bowed made Ethan’s heart ache.

After thanking Mason, he spoke to me gently, trying to soothe me, "Hailey, I know today's been hard on you. I've already asked work for two weeks off, so I can take you on our honeymoon."

I looked out the window, suddenly wanting to laugh.

Last month, I'd brought Ethan the honeymoon itinerary I'd spent six months putting together. He said the project was on a tight deadline, he couldn't get away, and told me to stop making a fuss.

The year earlier, I’d told him I wanted to go to the beach. He’d said the end of the year was too busy. Yet when a pipe burst at Chloe's place, he took time off to fix it.

When a light went out at Chloe's, he stood up a client and took a detour to replace it.

When Chloe's kids had an event at school, he swapped his days off to go as their parent, and he even wrote "father" in the relationship box.

It wasn't that he was busy with work.

It was that I mattered less than Chloe.

Even the two weeks he was now willing to take off for me were just compensation for missing our wedding because of Chloe.

My phone buzzed. Zachary had replied.

[Okay. Wait for me at the hotel. I've got a surprise for you.]

Megan glanced at the message and laughed at me.

"Hailey, you're seriously letting Zachary come? What kind of surprise could he possibly have for you?"

I ignored her.

We'd been best friends for years, but ever since she started dating Mason, she had never once taken my side.

Then from today on, I could do without this friendship.

When I didn’t respond, Megan's smile froze.

"Hailey, are you blaming me?"

"No."

"Then who are you trying to scare with that cold face?"

"I'm not trying to scare anyone."

I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes.

Ten minutes later, the wedding car pulled up at the hotel entrance. Both sides of the red carpet were lined with the Sullivans' relatives and friends.

Mason got out first, came around to open my door, and bent down to carry me on his back.

When everyone saw that the groom wasn't Ethan, they asked right away, "What's going on? That's not Ethan!"

Margaret hurried to explain to them with a smile.

"Ethan had something come up last minute, so the best man is helping out with the formalities for now."

Everyone nodded, understanding.

"Then hurry up, it's almost time for the ceremony!"

I ignored her and stayed still.

Beside me, Megan shoved me hard. "Hailey, everyone's watching!"

I still didn't move.

With no other choice, Mason turned back and reached for my arm, trying to pull me along.

But the moment his hand touched me, a tremendous force shoved him away.

"Get lost! You think you get to touch my bride?"