Chapter 1"I do—"
My vows? Cut off by my future mother-in-law.
She waves at my best friend. "Wanda, honey, you're the one I actually wanted. Too bad my idiot son screwed that up."
I freeze.
"Can't have you as a daughter-in-law?" She grins. "Fine. You're my daughter now. Call me Mom."
My groom elbows me. "We were gonna wait till after, but—whatever. You guys are besties anyway."
Wanda's already sobbing. "...Mom."
Alex nudges me harder. "Come on, don't make it weird. We're all family now."
I stare at them. At this absolute clown show.
Then I smile.
"You're right."
I rip off my veil and chuck it at his face.
"Marry her yourself. I'm done here."
Alex's face twists. He leans in, voice tight.
"Are you crazy? All these people are watching. What are you trying to pull?"
I laugh. Sharp. Cold.
"Me? Your whole family hijacks my wedding for this adoption circus, and I'm supposed to smile through it?"
I step closer, right in his face.
"Alex. Do I look like someone you can push around?"
His jaw clenches. "Serena, stop acting like a brat. Just get through this. I'll make it up to you later."
Wanda rushes over, her voice trembling.
"Sera, please. Don't be mad at Mom or Alex. It's all my fault. Please don't cancel the wedding because of me."
Alex melts and pulls her into his arms like she's the bride.
"Wanda, don't listen to her. Today's about you too. Mom wanted this."
He glares at me. "Serena's just throwing a fit. With everyone watching? She won't actually leave."
I stare at this stranger wearing my fiancé's face.
"You think putting me in a dress means I have to marry you?"
His mother shoots up and jabs her finger at me.
"You spoiled little bitch! My son picking you was the best thing that ever happened to you!"
"Walk out now? You'll come begging, and I'll laugh in your face!"
I don't even look at her. I turn to the wedding host. "Give me the mic."
He hands it over without a word.
Alex lunges. "Serena! Don't you dare..."
I dodge, lift the mic, and face the crowd.
"Everyone. I'm really sorry."
My voice cuts through the noise.
"This wedding's off."
"I'm done here."
The room erupts.
I walk off the stage as my parents rush toward me.
Mom grabs my hand. Her palm's cold and shaking.
Chapter 2
"Sera, what the hell happened up there?"
I squeeze Mom's hand and walk her through everything—the adoption stunt, the money gap, all of it.
Dad's face goes dark.
"Those Harpers think they can walk all over us!"
He rips off his boutonniere, throws it on the floor, and heads straight back toward the stage.
Alex is already chasing after us, hands up.
"Mr. Matthews, wait—you got this wrong! Serena's making a huge deal out of nothing!"
"Wanda's her best friend anyway! Mom adopting her just brings them closer! That's great!"
Dad turns on him, voice low and sharp.
"Great?"
"My daughter's day. What the hell is this nonsense you're pulling?"
"You think we're stupid?"
Alex's smile drops as he scrambles for words.
"Mr. Matthews, this isn't—"
"Isn't what? Doesn't matter? You disrespect my daughter at her own wedding and tell me it doesn't matter?"
Dad's the calmest guy I know. Taught high school for thirty years, never lost his cool once.
Today? He's had enough.
He shoves Alex aside. "Move!"
Mrs. Harper storms down from the stage with Wanda in tow, her face tight with anger.
"Mr. Matthews! What's your problem?"
"We didn't do anything wrong! Your daughter practically threw herself at my son—didn't ask for a thing! Now she's having a meltdown and embarrassing your family!"
When Alex said his money was tied up, I didn't push. Didn't ask for anything. Even paid for half this wedding myself.
Now I'm desperate?
I step forward and look her dead in the eye.
"Your family shows up with just the groom. Nothing else. When people find out? We'll see who's embarrassed."
She flinches, eyes darting away, but her mouth keeps running.
"My Alex is a catch! Girls would kill to marry him!"
"Perfect. Let him marry one of them."
I grab my parents' hands.
"Mom. Dad. Let's go."
Alex loses it and grabs my wrist hard.
"Serena! You leave now—we're done! Don't even think about coming back!"
I yank my arm free.
"Alex."
My voice cuts through everything.
"We're already done."
I head straight for the dressing room with Mom right behind me.
Dad stays put, waving our relatives toward the door.
"Everyone—sorry. Dinner's off. I'll make this up to you later."
Our family stands and leaves without questions or drama.
The Harpers just sit there staring.
Inside, I lock the door behind us.
Mom unzips my dress, her hands shaking and tears running down her face.
"Sera, we can't let them do this."
I nod.
"Mom. Trust me. They won't."
BANG BANG BANG.
Alex pounds on the door, yelling.
"SERENA! OPEN THIS DOOR!"
I finish changing, twist my hair up, walk over, and unlock it.
Chapter 3
Alex slams the door open. His mom Melissa's right behind him. Wanda too.
Wanda doesn't even wait—just drops straight to her knees.
"Sera. I'm sorry. God, I'm so sorry."
"I never—I shouldn't have said that. Shouldn't have called her that."
"You wanna scream? Hit me? Do it. Just… just don't be mad at him. Please."
I stare down at her little performance.
My laugh comes out cold.
"Wanda. Seriously? This is what we're doing?"
"You think I'm that stupid?"
Ever since we started planning this thing, she's been all over him. "Just trying to help," she kept saying.
Dress shopping? Tried on half the store. Kept turning to Alex. Does this one look good? What about this one?
Cake tasting? Sat so close their shoulders touched. Giggled at every word out of his mouth.
I thought she was being helpful.
She was hunting.
Alex sees her on the floor and yanks her up fast, tucking her under his arm like she's the one who needs protecting.
"Serena, she's apologizing. What else do you want from her?"
"Why do you always—God, can you think about someone else for one second?"
Melissa steps up. Points right at my face.
"She's right! Wanda actually cares about people! You? You only care about yourself!"
"You walk out? That's it. No one's gonna want you. You'll be ruined!"
I laugh. I can't help it.
"Ruined?"
"Melissa, what decade are you stuck in?"
"We're not even married. I'm single. Walking away from this disaster? That's called having a spine."
"Your precious son screwing my best friend behind my back? That's disgusting."
Her face goes brick red. She's shaking.
"You—you bitch—"
"Fine! You don't want him? She does!"
She grabs Wanda's hand and drags her forward like a prize.
"There's forty tables downstairs. Already paid for. We're using them!"
"This wedding's still happening—just with her as the bride!"
"I wanted her anyway! And guess what? She's already knocked up!"
Mom gasps. Her nails dig into my arm.
I turn. Slowly. Look at Wanda.
Her head's down. Hands folded over her stomach—totally flat. But that smile? That smug little twitch at the corner of her mouth?
She can't hide it.
Five years. I trusted this girl for five years.
Three years with Alex.
While I was drowning myself in seating charts and flower arrangements, they were busy making a baby.
I want to throw up.
Alex sighs. Like he's about to do me some huge favor.
"Sera. Mom already said it. No point hiding anymore."
"Me and Wanda—yeah. It happened. We got drunk. Lost control."
"But you know I love you. What we have—that's real."
He steps closer. Looks at me like I should be grateful he's even standing here.
"Three years, Sera. Let's not throw that away over nothing."
"Here's what happens. You go back out there. Put the dress on. We finish this thing."
"Wanda's your best friend, right? You're not gonna let her kid grow up without a name, are you?"
"When the baby comes, we'll just say it's yours. You'll be the mom."
