Chapter 2

The relatives read the room. They started making excuses. Filtering off toward their cars, toward the house, anywhere.

Ten minutes ago there had been fifty people in the driveway.

Now it was just me. My mother. My father.

"The venue keeps calling. You got what you wanted. Are we going or not?"

Julian rolled the window down. His voice had that edge in it. Daring me.

Chelsea already had her phone out, posting to her stories.

Riding in the wedding car with Julian today. Comfy seats. Could get used to this. 🤍

She attached a picture of herself in the seat next to him.

The comments came in fast.

【OMG finally!! I always said you two were the endgame！】

【Thank GOD it's not that uptight Marsh girl.Julian deserves better.】

【So happy for you 🥂🥂🥂】

Congratulations poured in like a series of slaps across my face.

Julian corrected everyone. Servers. Interns. Board members. Me.

He never let a single misstatement stand.

But he liked the post.

"Ella, want me to sit with you?"

My father took my hand. Voice low, careful.

Julian and I had been together for seven years. We started dating at Cornell. Everyone I knew knew how much I loved him.

His family was old money out of Greenwich. Mine ran a two-bay auto shop in a working-class Rhode Island town. The gap was Grand Canyon wide.

After graduation I clawed my way up. I'd downed nine shots of Woodford at a client dinner to close a deal and never blinked.

Five years. Five years to make it from admin to Chief of Staff to the CEO. Standing at his right hand.

He'd sworn up and down he kept work and personal life separate. Then Chelsea walked in and took the exact position I'd bled five years to earn.

Julian and I had our first real fight the day Chelsea Vane was hired.

We didn't speak for two weeks. It ended without resolution.

My father found out and refused to bless the engagement. I didn't come home for two Christmases.

After that, my father treated the subject of Julian like unexploded ordnance.

Last night, packing my things, my father, who has never once bent for anyone, pulled me aside before he turned the light off.

"Whatever you decide from here on out, kiddo, your dad supports you. Just don't stop coming home."

But now. Dad. I don't want to marry him.

I pulled the veil off my head and dropped it on the pavement.

"Julian. Take your people and go. I'm not marrying you."

Julian's face darkened as he stepped out of the sedan.

"Ella Marsh. Playing hard-to-get doesn't work on me. Think carefully before you say the next thing."

"You've been with me seven years. The wedding is half-done. You walk now, you're used goods, Ella. Who's going to take you?"

He said it in front of my parents. Didn't blink.

The sky had gone dark. A fine drizzle started.

Chelsea saw Julian get out. She followed, slipping out of the car behind him.

"Ella. Sweetheart. This is just because you think Julian and I are too close, right?"

"If you'll just get through the ceremony today, give Julian his moment, I promise. I'll turn in my resignation tomorrow. I'll terminate the pregnancy. I'll leave."