5.

The guests filed in. The ceremony went perfectly.

On the stage, Gerald and Patricia Kingsley wept with joy.

"To have Reid join our family — we are truly blessed."

"Some women simply aren't fortunate enough to enter a home like ours."

Marcus, standing at the altar, caught my eye across the room. The satisfaction on his face was unmistakable.

The Kingsley relatives quickly understood who the comments were aimed at. Behind my back, they murmured amongst themselves.

"I heard she made outrageous demands — kept adding new conditions after the venue was already booked."

"I heard too. Something about an arrival fee on top of everything else? That's practically extortion."

"What's she doing here today? She's not here to cause a scene, is she?"

"Probably not. More likely she realised what she lost and came crawling back."

I smiled and said nothing.

They'd understand soon enough. There was no rush.

The luncheon concluded.

Guests drifted upstairs to the hotel lounge — some settled at card tables, others ordered drinks, everyone waiting for the evening reception to begin.

I found a quiet corner and sat down.

A shadow fell across me.

I looked up. Marcus was standing directly in front of me.

"I didn't think you'd actually come," he said, his voice edged with contempt. "Having regrets? If your family hadn't put us through all that, this wedding would have been yours."

"If you're here to ruin today for me and Reid, save your energy."

"Because I am going to love Reid for the rest of my life."

I nodded pleasantly. "All right. I hope you remember that."

He'd wanted to see me crumble. I'd given him nothing. That made him angrier.

Marcus clenched his jaw — then Reid appeared behind him, slipping both arms around his waist.

"Darling, I've been looking everywhere for you."

"That thing I promised you after the wedding — I can give it to you now."

"Shall we go to the... private suite?"

Marcus swallowed. His eyes went bright with anticipation. He'd already forgotten I existed. He wrapped an arm around Reid's waist and disappeared through a side door.

Some time passed.

Then Marcus came screaming out of the suite.

His face was wild. He opened his mouth and couldn't get a single coherent word out.

Reid followed at a leisurely pace.

He pulled off his wig. He stripped off his jacket and the padding beneath it, and walked out of the suite bare-chested — unhurried, completely calm.