“Get out,” my father orders, standing to his feet and fixing his suit. “Now.”
Asher doesn’t hesitate, turning and stomping out of the room. I’ll find him in a minute and make sure he’s all right.
“What a fucking mess,” I curse.
“Thanks to your brother,” my father growls, brushing off his shoulders and righting his chair.
“I was going to say our family, butsure, my brother works to take the blame. Anyone but yourself, right?” I shake my head.
Any semblance of emotion I saw minutes ago is gone, replaced by the hardened robot.
“I think it’s best if you both stay away from tomorrow’s event. I don’t want you upsetting the guests.”
“You mean the one being held in our own damn house?” Knowing arguing won’t do anything, I nod. “You got it. It won’t matter in the end anyway. You’ll see.”
He mutters something, but I don’t catch it, briskly strolling out of the room, off to find Ash.
Our father had his chance to listen to us. Instead, it turned into this mess. He’ll face the music tomorrow, and I finally know exactly how we’re going to do it.
Dean filled me in on his idea, and while it’s a little intimidating, I’m ready to end Adrianna once and for all, and this plan is certain to do that.
Normalpeople’s rehearsal dinner is intimate, with the guest list being the wedding party, immediate family, and maybe a few extra people.
But Adrianna and Everett’s? It might as well just be the wedding itself because over one hundred fifty people are currently upstairs, celebrating the couple’s impending nuptials with dinner and dancing.
Momentarily, it’ll be one hundred fifty-three because Asher, Dean, and I are going to be making a special appearance.
They are currently waiting in Jules’s room while I finish getting ready, and thanks to her, I’m nearly there. Unfurling thelast curl, she rests it against my back to allow it to cool for a moment before stepping back and admiring her work.
“You look so beautiful, Ciri,” she coos.
I have to fight my eyes from welling up with tears as my chest tightens from how much she means to me. Jules isn’t just my best friend. She’s become my family and someone I can’t imagine going through life without. She and Myra took me under their wings without hesitation or thought, even knowing how risky it was to help me.
“Thank you.” I swallow my emotion.
Gus squeaks, and I give him my attention as he sits up on my desk.
“Please keep him with you. I don’t want Adrianna to be able to sneak away and possibly target him. Or sic her cat after him.”
“I’ve got him. Don’t worry,” she assures me, picking him up and setting him into the pocket of her cozy overalls.
When I look up at my reflection, an odd sense of familiarity strikes me, like I’m seeing an old friend.
I was worried I wouldn’t recognize the person I’d become over the past month, along with the changes Jules helped make to my hair today, adding in pastel-blue streaks. These ones are far more permanent than the clip-ins. And I love them.
It’s like the parts of me that were brave enough to meet the guys and share that night at the engagement party are merging with the shy parts of myself that everyone sees.
I feel powerful, seeing this new version of myself. Someone who’s not going to be pushed over and stepped on repeatedly.
My eyes are sharply outlined with a white liner and stunning opalescent makeup. My cheeks have been brushed with a rose pink, and my lips match.
While I’ve always taken pride in my fashion and apparel, I’ve never worn something as bold as I am tonight, certain to draw the attention of onlookers.
The A-line gown, constructed of pale blue iridescent organza, flows down my body, parting at the slit on my left leg—which is starting to become a pattern in my designs. Three spaghetti-thin straps on each shoulder hold it up. A sharp V in the front tapers down to the delicate matching fabric that encircles my waist.
Along with Myra and Jules helping with the sewing, I put this together last night, and it’s officially my favorite piece ever.
Standing from my chair, I fix my gown into place. Jules ruffles the curls in my hair before sliding the most beautiful headband I’ve ever seen onto my head, with the front of my hair lying flat beneath it and tucked behind my ears.
