Chapter 4

Even though Emily had expected William to use this excuse to keep Aria close, hearing him lie so shamelessly still made her chest tighten with anger. Her hands curled into fists as she fought to keep the rising storm of emotions at bay. Her voice was taut, barely holding steady. "Looks like Aria's wearing the gown you gave me." William hesitated, then turned on Aria with a scowl. "Why are you wearing Emmy's dress? Take it off!" Aria's eyes brimmed with tears as she kept her head bowed in apology. "I'm so sorry, Mr. Silverstein. I also ordered a dress online, and I must've grabbed the wrong one while I was changing. I'll take it off right now." As she spoke, her hands moved to the zipper, ready to strip the dress off right there in front of everyone. William's face darkened. He grabbed her wrist without hesitation. "Who told you to change here? Go backstage!" Emily watched the scene unfold, a flicker of bitter self-deprecation crossing her eyes. "Don't bother. I don't wear hand-me-downs. Consider the gown and the jewelry a gift to Ms. Rayburn." Without another word, she turned and walked off alone toward the lounge. William quickly caught up to her, his tone softening. "Emmy, this was my fault. I had Rosie order a new gown for you. It should be here any minute. This is our make-up anniversary. Just try to enjoy it, okay?" The gentler he was, the more uneasy Emily felt. Something about it felt wrong, like the quiet before a storm. And yet, everything else went off without a hitch. William led her to the center of the stage, hand in hand, and began telling the story of their love. Every detail he shared, the tenderness in his eyes, and the devotion in his voice were so heartfelt that it moved everyone in the hall. By the time he finished, many guests were misty-eyed, holding their partners a little tighter. But Emily—the woman meant to be at the heart of this moment—stood motionless. Her face was devoid of emotion, her heart like a frozen lake. Because she could see Aria just offstage, her expression glowing with smug satisfaction. Because she knew clearly that every vow William spoke was empty. He'd already given half his heart to someone else. At the height of the emotion in the hall, Aria suddenly rose with a theatrical gasp, pretending she'd twisted her ankle. The spell broke. Every head turned toward her, eyes narrowing with irritation and contempt. "Who does she think she is? Interrupting Mr. Silverstein's speech like that? Talk about having zero self-awareness!" "That gown is way too exquisite for someone so desperate for attention!" "Exactly. All that expensive jewelry still can't cover up how cheap she comes across. She's making a complete fool of herself." Aria's tears fell in quick drops as each biting remark landed. Choking back a sob, she hurried onto the stage. "I'm sorry, Ms. Caldwell. This is all my fault…" When Aria started apologizing out of nowhere on the stage, Emily was completely baffled. What on earth was she trying to pull this time? But as Emily straightened up and caught the sly glint in Aria's eyes, a cold shiver raced down her spine. A heartbeat later, the chandelier above them tore free, plummeting straight toward their heads. A shadow loomed over them. Emily looked up, her eyes widening in shock. Beside her, Aria let out a scream so sharp it felt like it split the air in two. Without thinking, Emily threw her arms over her head just as William lunged forward, grabbed Aria, and yanked her out of the way. The massive chandelier crashed down on Emily. Blood gushed from her wounds, pooling beneath her as she lay there, her body writhing in pain. It felt like her flesh was being torn apart, white-hot agony ripping through every nerve. Her mind was slipping, but she forced her eyes open just in time to see William sprinting toward her, frantic and wild-eyed. And behind him stood Aria, unharmed and untouched. She wore that smug, triumphant smile again, the expression of someone who knew the game was already hers. That was the last thing Emily saw before the darkness claimed her. … Emily had no idea how much time had passed when a familiar voice cut through the darkness and jolted her awake. She blinked her eyes open, groggy and disoriented, and saw William with her phone in hand. There was a deep crease between his brows. "What? A seat upgrade? No, thanks. My girlfriend's not traveling anytime soon. You've got the wrong number!"