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Reid had made himself very conspicuous today.
Everyone at the party had been watching that face all afternoon.
Now the room went still, every pair of eyes landing on the completely flat, undeniably male chest.
A middle-aged man nearby squeezed his eyes shut in embarrassment.
"In broad daylight — no shirt — have you no decency—"
His son pried his hands away from his face.
"Dad. He's a man. He always was."
A wave of sharp inhales. Then whispers broke loose across the room.
"How did the bride turn into a man? Is this some kind of open marriage ceremony? Since when is the Kingsley family so progressive?"
"Are you completely blind? The groom clearly didn't know either!"
"Oh, this is getting good."
Reid turned a wounded gaze on Marcus.
"You said you'd love me forever. That you couldn't live without me. Why are you frightened of me?"
Marcus was clutching himself and backing away, the picture of humiliation.
With the truth now obvious to the entire room, he snapped.
"You're a man!" he shouted, pointing at Reid. "You're a man!"
"This is fraud — this is marriage fraud — do you understand what you've done?"
Reid was utterly unruffled.
"Yes, I'm a man — so what? I assumed you were like me. I assumed you liked men."
Gerald and Patricia came rushing in at the noise. They stared at the scene in front of them, their faces cycling through confusion and dawning horror.
I stepped in helpfully.
"Congratulations. Your daughter-in-law just became your son-in-law."
"As for grandchildren — I'm afraid that particular dream may need some adjusting. The Kingsley line might be a little complicated going forward."
The relief of it felt physical. I laughed despite myself.
Patricia raised a shaking finger at Reid.
"You — you — you—"
She couldn't finish a single sentence. The shock took her legs out from under her and she collapsed.
Gerald slapped his own knee, over and over.
"You — you — couldn't even work out if she was a man or a woman before jumping in like this—"
"You have disgraced this entire family!"
Reid looked at Marcus with an expression of perfect, aggrieved innocence.
"You never asked, though."
"And think about it — if I were a woman, would I really be offering everything for free? Would I really bring my own car, ask for nothing, and basically beg you to marry me?"
"Would you actually be worth that?"
Marcus gave a broken laugh, stumbled backward a few steps, and stood there looking like he had nothing left to live for.
Reid pulled his shirt back on, then raised his voice to the room.
"Someone give me a fair hearing! I had no idea he didn't even know what I was. He's the one who heard I wasn't asking for a settlement or a jewellery set, and then chased me down — pulled me aside at the party, said he'd developed feelings for me at first sight, told me he'd break off his engagement for me."
"I thought — finally, a man who doesn't care about convention. I was genuinely happy about it for days."
"And then I find out... he was only interested because I was free."
"Ladies present today — please take note. When it's time to choose a partner, open your eyes."