complete deception

chapter 2 ~the shopping

Becca chuckles as we move, completely amused by the family dynamic.

I turned to look at my mom before asking, "Mom, which section are you starting with?"

She looked around the bustling mall before she added, "Let's start with the baking section."

We made our way over, immediately diving into a world of towering shelves. Together, we chose the perfect pans for the cakes and cupcakes, carefully selected measuring tools, and loaded up on colorful icings, fine flours, piping bags, and a ton of other supplies.

From there, we moved to the grocery section, picking out all the specific ingredients needed for the delicious recipes my mom always makes.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention—my mom is originally from Italy! So, yep, she’s a dramatic Italian woman, though she doesn't really have the accent since she was lucky enough to be brought up in America. My dad, on the other hand, is an American man.

I absolutely love my mom's side of the family because they are all just as dramatic as she is, especially my Nana—that’s my grandma, my mom's mother. I could easily say Mom got all her flair for drama from her! I can't wait to see them all on Saturday. Right after my mom gave birth to me, my grandpa decided to return to Italy. Two of my mom's siblings stayed behind in America, while the other twins went back to Italy with their parents.

As for my dad's side, his parents and siblings all live in London, and some are in Paris. My dad was born and raised in London before he decided to move to the USA, which is where he met my mom. He grew up in immense wealth; my grandparents actually own the most renowned fashion house in London and Paris! Later on, my dad and his elder brother decided to co-found a massive company that handles real estate and entertainment.

Well, enough about my family for now.

After we finally finished gathering everything in the grocery aisles, we stepped into the decoration section and that is exactly where my true passion strikes.

My dad’s ultimate dream was for all of us to join the family business.

All three of my brothers were already deeply involved in the real estate empire he had built, though Kai and Dean had managed to carve out their own creative space within it as architects. They both had a rare, breathtaking talent for designing beautiful houses.

Honestly, I was utterly obsessed with the last house Dean had completed for a client just last week. It was an absolute masterpiece of modern architecture.

The structure was a flawless blend of clean, sharp lines and organic beauty, featuring soaring, double-height glass walls that made the entire house look weightless, as if it were constructed entirely out of light.

The massive glass panels perfectly blurred the line between the luxurious interior and the nature outside. Nestled right into the heart of the courtyard was a magnificent, multi-tiered architectural fountain. Water cascaded down smooth, charcoal-colored slate steps in a gentle, rhythmic hum, illuminated from beneath by soft, amber LED lights that made the water look like liquid gold in the evening.

Inside, the design was just as incredible.

Dean had utilized an open-concept layout with floating minimalist staircases, rich white-oak flooring, and a seamless indoor-outdoor lounge that opened up completely to a panoramic view of the city skyline. It wasn't just a house, it was art.

Looking at his work always made a familiar ache stir deep in my chest. I absolutely loved designs, fashion, and decorative concepts, but I had never told my parents about my passion for it.

I was still trying to figure out exactly what I wanted to do with my life, and the pressure of the family business always felt like a looming shadow.

But out here in the decoration section of the mall, surrounded by fairy lights, elegant fabrics, and endless color palettes, I was entirely in my element.

As the picking finally started, I moved over to my mom's side, joining hands with her to select the fabrics, table linens, and drapery for the side decorations.

The wedding was taking place at our family beach house the massive, beautiful estate we always retreated to during summer vacations.

Because of the coastal setting, Mom had a very specific idea of the colors she wanted, which naturally led to some intense, lighthearted bantering between us.

By now, I bet you know exactly what my mother is capable of when she doesn't get her way!

For instance, when I suggested we use a rich mocha brown for the main tablecloths and a deep purple for the field and canopy decorations, we stood in the middle of the aisle arguing for a solid five minutes.

Mom claimed it would look like a dark, gloomy cave, while I insisted it would look grounded and dramatic.

Eventually, my eye caught a different roll of fabric, and we finally settled on a breathtaking compromise: a "Sunset Luxe" palette.

We paired a warm, sandy champagne fabric for the base tablecloths with a stunning, soft dusty lavender for the runners and drapery.

To bring back the rich contrast I wanted, we added accents of deep espresso wood and brushed gold candle holders.

The moment we draped the fabrics together under the store lights, even Mom had to admit it was perfect.

It captured the exact essence of a luxurious beach sunset.

Finally, we are done!" Kai groaned, letting out a massive breather of relief as the final decoration cart was checked out.

Right on cue, Mr. Caleb arrived, bringing along Gabrielle, Stella, and Maya—the workers from our estate. Kai practically sagged with gratitude as Mr. Caleb and the crew took over, easily lifting the heavy boxes and loading the endless supplies into the back of the truck.

"Oh, mommy!" my mom gasped happily, a victorious smile lighting up her face as she looked over at me.

Then she turned her radiant energy toward Becca, Lyric, and Kai. "Thank you, my angels, for today. I appreciate you all so much," she cooed. She proceeded to plant a warm kiss on each of their cheeks, one after the other, leaving them all smiling sheepishly.

Finally, she stepped over to me, cupping my face in her hands and giving me a big kiss. "Guys, let's go have lunch before Hailey drops dead this instant! I know that look on her face—it's pure hunger," she teased, taking my hand in hers as she led our little group toward the mall exit.

Kai!" Mom stopped right before we reached the exit and called out to my brother.

"I forgot to ask, are you joining us for lunch, or do you still have somewhere to be?"

"Funny, Mom." Now" you remember I might have somewhere to be, right?

Nice try." Kai walked over, stepping between my mother and me. He leaned down and cupped her cheeks

the exact way she always did to us.

"Thanks to you, all my plans for the day are ruined. And I'm also starving, Mother. We have been out here for four hours. Let's just go eat."

"Okay, whatever," my mom said, rolling her eyes.

The exchange made Lyric and Becca laugh, but I couldn't even manage a giggle. I was seriously starving and did not have the energy to spare.

"Okay, but pay for the items first. Use your dad’s credit card," Mom said, pulling a sleek card out of her holder and handing it to him. "Then come meet me and my girls at our favorite restaurant."

"Mom, I love you, and I know I'm not allowed to complain when you give me errands," Kai sighed, "but can't I just have Mr. Caleb handle the payment? I'm seriously starving, too."

"Okay, okay, foodie! Give it to him and come along. You know the PIN, right?"

"Yes, Ma."

"Alright, meet us outside," she replied, before turning to the rest of us. "Let's get going, girls."

We finally left the mall and headed out to the parking lot. By the time we reached the cars, Kai had caught up to us almost immediately.

"Okay, girls," Mom announced, looking between us. "Who is riding with me, and who is riding with Kai?"

Immediately, Becca and Lyric raised their hands.

Mom laughed, amused by their eagerness. "Riding with who, girls?"

"Kai!" they answered at the exact same time.

"Oh, wow. I'm a celebrity," Kai teased, flashing a handsome smile. "Let's go, girls." He started walking toward his car, and the two of them followed closely behind—though not before Lyric turned around to give me a subtle wink.

Yeah, Lyric had been a massive fan of Kai since she was a toddler. Back when we were in high school, she once confessed to me that she had a huge crush on him because he was just so handsome. But her teenage heart was utterly broken during a summer vacation at our beach house when she caught Kai making out with a girl from his college not once, but twice.

She had cried for a whole day and completely stopped talking to him for a week. Kai, noticing the sudden icy attitude, demanded to know what was wrong because he had always been a big fan of Lyric's dramatic personality, too. Eventually, under his constant pressure, she spilled the secret.

He felt terrible about her seeing him in that state, but he gently made her understand that he was just like an older brother to her—just like her actual brother, James. He told her she couldn't harbor romantic feelings for a brother, and that was finally when she came back to her senses.

Since then, they had been close, playful friends. Sometimes I even got insider information about Kai through her—like when he was planning to propose to his girlfriend, Marshal.

So, I wasn't surprised at all by Lyric choosing his car. But Becca? Seeing the new girl shyly smile and choose him, too, made me realize she was already falling for his charm. Kai was an absolute magnet, so it wasn't a shock. Girls always wanted to be near him, which was exactly why he and Marshal got into arguments sometimes.