Sophia stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Actually, I wanted to talk to you about something, Emma. About us, and about everything.”
Emma frowned. “Is everything okay? You seem… different today.”
“Different how?” Sophia’s eyes darted toward the double doors at the far end of the ballroom, then back to Emma’s face. “Maybe I’m just… finally being honest with myself about what I deserve.”
Before Emma could ask what she meant, the double doors swung open. A laugh floated through the air – Liam’s laugh, bright and familiar. But he wasn’t laughing at a joke. He was laughing with someone.
Emma froze as Liam stepped into the ballroom, his arm wrapped around a petite blonde woman who Emma had never seen before. They were walking close, their bodies touching, and the woman was looking up at Liam with an expression Emma knew all too well – the same look she had given Liam during their entire relationship.
“Liam?” Emma’s voice sounded like it belonged to someone else, distant and thin.
Liam stopped in his tracks, his face draining of color when he saw Emma. The blonde woman pulled away from him, her eyes widening as she took in Emma’s blue sundress and the wedding planning tote bag still clutched in her hand.
“Emma! I… I didn’t expect you to be here so early.” Liam’s voice cracked, and he ran a hand through his carefully styled hair, messing it up. “This is… this is Victoria, from the office. She’s… she’s helping me with the…”
“Helping you with what, Liam?” Emma’s voice grew stronger, fueled by the sudden fire igniting in her chest. “Helping you plan our wedding? Because last I checked, I was your fiancée, not her.”
Victoria stepped forward, smoothing her Chanel dress with practiced ease. “Actually, Emma, I think there’s been some confusion. Liam and I have been seeing each other for three months now. Since before you got engaged.”
Emma’s head spun. Three months? That meant Liam had been seeing Victoria while he was planning the wedding, while he was telling Emma he loved her, while he was pretending that they were building a life together.
“Liam?” Emma turned to him, searching for any sign that this was some terrible misunderstanding, some elaborate prank. “Tell me she’s lying. Tell me this isn’t real.”
Liam avoided her eyes, his jaw working as if he was grinding his teeth. Finally, he looked up, and what Emma saw in his eyes was worse than anger – it was pity. “Emma, I’m sorry. I never meant for it to happen this way. But you have to understand – Victoria comes from a wealthy family, with connections that can help my career. You’re… you’re sweet, Emma, but you don’t have the kind of background that can help me succeed.”
The words hit Emma like physical blows, knocking the air from her lungs. Sweet. The same word he’d used to describe her on their first date, when she’d thought it was romantic. Now she understood it was an insult – code for “nice but boring, kind but weak.”
“Connections?” Emma’s voice shook. “You’re destroying our marriage because of her family’s connections?”
“It’s not just about connections, Emma.” Victoria stepped closer, her voice sickeningly reasonable. “It’s about being with someone who understands what it takes to succeed in this world. You’re content with your little graphic design job and your apartment and your simple life. But Liam wants more. He deserves more.”
“And what about what Emma deserves?” The voice came from the doorway, and Emma turned to see Sophia standing there, her face pale but her eyes blazing. “What about loyalty? What about honesty? What about not being the kind of person who destroys your best friend’s life?”
Victoria’s expression hardened. “This isn’t about destroying anything, Sophia. It’s about two people finding each other who are meant to be together. Liam and I have a connection you wouldn’t understand.”
Emma looked between them, pieces clicking into place with sickening clarity. Sophia’s mysterious “influencer events.” Her cancelled plans. The way she always knew exactly what Emma was doing and feeling, almost like she was gathering information.
