Chapter 2 Bridesmaid
622 Words
The sounds around me slowly faded until all I could see was his face drawing closer.
Leon and Nolan read the room and quickly found an excuse to leave.
Nathan stopped in front of me. He parted his lips, but no words came out.
He looked at me for a long moment. Then he suddenly took a pack of cigarettes from his pocket, pulled one out, and lit it.
The smoke drifted between us, blurring both our faces.
He had changed so much. He had become steadier, colder, and he had even picked up the one habit he used to hate most.
"So you finally decided to come back?" he asked, exhaling a thin stream of smoke. His tone sounded careless, but his fingers trembled despite himself.
"I had something to take care of." I gave him a distant smile.
"What kind of thing?" he asked with a frown, and urgency slipped into his voice.
This time, I did not answer. My gaze moved past him and into the hotel.
Guests moved through the lobby, all of them there for the wedding.
The room was filled with flowers, balloons, and glittering decorations. Everything looked bright, perfect, and unbearably happy.
"Congratulations," I said slowly. "I hope you have a happy marriage."
Nathan's hand froze in midair, the cigarette still caught between his fingers.
I glanced at my watch. It was getting late, and I had things of my own to handle.
I turned to leave, but he lost control and grabbed my wrist.
"Don't you have anything to say to me?" His voice trembled.
I took a moment to think about how to answer him.
Before I could speak, a sweet voice sounded beside us. "Nathan? Who's this?"
I turned and saw the pretty girl from the photo.
She looked me over with open hostility before her gaze settled on Nathan's hand around my wrist.
"Hi. I'm Lyla Collins." I pulled my hand free and gave her a small smile. "I'm Nathan's friend."
The moment I said the word friend, I saw the light in Nathan's eyes dim.
Sienna Parker forced a smile. "So you're Ms. Collins. I've heard a lot about you."
"I didn't know you still talked about me." I glanced at Nathan and made it sound like a joke.
Nathan did not answer. He only looked at me with an emotion I could not read.
Sienna spoke thoughtfully. "Ms. Collins, did you know that Nathan always says I'm different from everyone else? He said the girls before me were only substitutes because he couldn't forget someone, but I'm not like them. He said I'm one of a kind."
I listened carefully and gave no reaction.
"I've always been curious about you, Ms. Collins. What kind of woman keeps Nathan thinking about her for all these years?" she smiled, "But I guess that doesn't matter now. I'm the one he's marrying."
After saying that, she looked at me with unmistakable satisfaction.
I felt nothing.
My heart stayed quiet, without even the smallest ripple.
I nodded and gave her a polite smile. "You're right. I wish you both the best."
Sienna froze.
Nathan pressed his lips together, and his expression darkened by the second.
"Nathan," Sienna said, swaying his arm as she leaned into him. "Since Ms. Collins is so close to you, why don't we ask her to be my bridesmaid?"
The air seemed to harden.
Nathan frowned and refused without hesitation. "Sienna, stop it."
"What's wrong?" Sienna narrowed her eyes at me, and the smile on her lips grew sweeter. "I just think our wedding would feel more complete with Ms. Collins there. Don't you agree, Ms. Collins?"
I met her gaze and smiled too.
"Sure. I'd be happy to."
- Writer
