The grand hall buzzed with anticipation, the air thick with perfume, polished shoes, and the faint tang of tension. Guests chattered nervously, casting curious glances at the stage where the ceremony would begin. All eyes were meant to be on me, Catherine Summers, the heiress of the Harbor docks and the pride of the Summers family. Instead, Daniel Wright strode in with Rachel Parker on his arm, a devilish smile tugging at his lips.
My heart tightened, but I did not flinch. Daniel believed he could flaunt his new “favor” before everyone, asserting dominance in a space I had built over decades. I allowed the initial shock to pass; calm observation was far more dangerous than fury.
“Catherine,” Daniel said, his tone casual, almost teasing, “a wedding is just a formality. I don’t mind if Rachel joins me.”
Rachel’s lips curved into a faint smile, her eyes glinting with quiet provocation. “I just wanted to try on the dress. If you don’t like it, I can change,” she murmured sweetly, yet her tone carried the weight of a challenge.