CHAPTER 4 — Before the Vows
CHAPTER 4 — Before the Vows
St. Michael's Cathedral glittered beneath afternoon sunlight.
Two hundred guests filled polished wooden pews.
Chicago's business elite exchanged polite smiles.
Socialites admired the floral arrangements.
A string quartet played softly beneath the vaulted ceiling.
Everyone waited for the bride.
No one noticed the groom checking his phone every thirty seconds.
Finally—
A message appeared.
Brooke: She's acting strange.
Dylan frowned.
How strange?
Quiet. Looking at me differently.
He stared at the screen.
Did you say anything?
No.
Eric glanced over.
"Everything okay?"
"Yeah."
But Dylan wasn't sure anymore.
Outside the cathedral...
The limousine stopped.
The driver opened the door.
Diane smiled through tears.
"It's time."
Ava stepped onto the pavement.
Hundreds of white roses framed the cathedral entrance.
Photographers lifted their cameras.
Guests turned.
A collective sigh spread through the crowd.
She looked breathtaking.
No one could see that beneath layers of silk and lace...
Her heart had already buried the man waiting inside.
The wedding planner hurried over.
"Five minutes."
Ava nodded calmly.
Then she looked toward her mother.
"Mom... could I have one minute alone?"
"Of course."
Diane kissed her forehead before walking away.
Soon...
Ava stood completely alone.
She reached into her bouquet.
Removed the pregnancy test.
Looked at it one last time.
Two pink lines.
A miracle discovered on the happiest morning of her life.
Now transformed into evidence of the hardest decision she would ever make.
She slipped it into the hidden pocket sewn inside her wedding dress.
Close to her heart.
Close to the baby.
Inside the cathedral...
The officiant whispered,
"Places, everyone."
Music changed.
Guests stood.
Dylan straightened his tie.
His confident smile returned.
Everything was going exactly according to plan.
Marriage.
Merger.
Control.
He never imagined the woman walking toward him already knew every secret.
The great cathedral doors opened.
Sunlight poured through them.
Ava appeared.
Gasps echoed through the sanctuary.
She looked radiant.
Elegant.
Untouchable.
Dylan smiled exactly as she had imagined earlier that morning.
Only now...
She recognized it for what it was.
Performance.
He reached the altar.
Extended his hand.
"My God," he whispered softly.
"You look incredible."
Ava placed her hand in his.
"So do you."
Neither of them broke eye contact.
Only one of them was lying.
The ceremony began.
The officiant welcomed everyone.
Read passages about love.
About trust.
About lifelong devotion.
Each word felt almost cruel.
Finally—
He turned toward the couple.
"We are gathered here today..."
Ava barely heard him.
Instead...
She watched Brooke.
Standing only a few feet away as maid of honor.
Brooke refused to meet her eyes.
Her hands trembled around the bouquet.
Good.
She was afraid.
She should be.
The officiant smiled warmly.
"Dylan Carter..."
"Do you take Ava Reynolds to be your lawfully wedded wife?"
Without hesitation—
"I do."
Applause echoed softly.
Then—
"Ava Reynolds..."
Every face turned toward her.
Every camera lifted.
The cathedral became perfectly silent.
Ava looked at Dylan.
Then at Brooke.
Then slowly...
She smiled.
"I have something to say before I answer."
A ripple of confusion spread through the guests.
Dylan's smile faltered.
The officiant blinked.
"Miss Reynolds...?"
Ava calmly reached inside the hidden pocket of her wedding dress.
Not for her vows.
Not for a handkerchief.
For the small velvet pouch.
She pulled it out.
And held it tightly in her hand.
"I discovered something extraordinary this morning..."
The entire cathedral leaned forward.
May you like
"And I discovered something unforgivable just forty-five minutes later."
Dylan's face lost all color.
