Chapter 2: The Second Signature
My mother was still holding the veil when our eyes met.
She didn't flinch.
She didn't drop it.
She just stood there, both hands wrapped around the ivory silk, like she was presenting it to someone.
Like she was presenting it to Sienna.
"Jules," she said.
"Let me explain."
"How long?" I asked.
She looked at Sienna.
Sienna looked at Graham.
Graham looked at the floor.
"How long?" I asked again.
My mother set the veil down carefully on the sofa.
"This isn't the way I wanted you to find out."
"How long, Mom?"
She pressed her lips together.
"Four months."
Four months.
While I was still embroidering that gown.
While Graham was still sleeping in our apartment.
While I was still planning a wedding that apparently belonged to someone else.
"She loves him, Juliet," my mother said quietly.
"She's always loved him.
And he—"
"Don't," I said.
Sienna took one small step forward.
"Jules, I didn't plan this—"
"You're wearing my dress," I said.
"You have my date.
You have my venue.
You have my fiancé." I looked at her.
"What exactly didn't you plan?"
Nobody answered.
Then Margot touched my arm, very gently.
"Ms.
Hale," she said, almost a whisper.
"There's something else on that order you may have missed."
I looked back down at the paper.
And I saw the second name.
The witness signature.
I knew that name too.
---
May you like
What Juliet found on that paper next changed everything she thought she knew.
Click the link below to read the full story — the truth is worse than anyone in that room expected.
