Chapter 10 - The Bride Who Finally Saw It
Fiona sat alone in the bridal suite.
I stood by the door.
“I am not here to fix this.”
“I know.”
She looked at her dress.
“I spent fourteen months choosing this.”
I said nothing.
She laughed bitterly.
“That sounds pathetic now.”
“No. It sounds expensive.”
She almost smiled.
Then it disappeared.
“I really did love you.”
“I believe you.”
That made her cry harder.
“But?”
She looked up.
“That’s not fair.”
“Isn’t it?”
I listed the things.
Dad moved to the back table.
My college friends excluded because they were “too casual.”
My best man’s speech reviewed by her mother.
My job title changed in the program from project engineer to development executive because it sounded better.
Fiona covered her face.
“You were editing me.”
Silence.
Then she whispered:
“I laughed.”
“Yes.”
“I wish I could take it back.”
“I know.”
“Is there any chance?”
I thought about four years.
About good mornings.
Road trips.
That is what makes leaving hard.
“No.”
She closed her eyes.
Then said:
“You should know something.”
I waited.
“Dad asked me to persuade you to join Martinez Urban after the wedding.”
“When?”
“Six months ago.”
“Why?”
“He said your engineering background could help Lakeview.”
“And you never told me?”
“I was going to after the honeymoon.”
I laughed once.
“There was a job waiting for me?”
“Yes.”
“Salary?”
She named it.
Triple my current pay.
Golden cage.
Then she said:
“Dad told me if you came over, Arthur would eventually soften toward him.”
I stared.
George had not only used the wedding.
He planned to use me.
Fiona whispered:
“I didn’t realize how much of our life he was designing.”
I looked at her.
“You helped him.”
She nodded.
For the first time, no defense.
Then her phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Her face drained.
“What?”
I asked.
She looked at me.
“The police found the toolbox.”
“Where?”
May you like
She swallowed.
“In my parents’ suite.”
