Page 120 of His Wicked Revenge

Before I can say anything, the phone goes silent.

She never loved you. You need to get rid of her.

CHAPTER 43

Veronica

“Why am I so nervous?” Chloe asks, pacing back and forth in her wedding dress.

The other girls are finishing getting ready, too wrapped up in themselves to hear the bride’s concern. On the other hand, I have been ready and sitting in this chair for the past hour, trying to calm down my own nerves.

“Because you are tying yourself to another person.” The words slip out. Chloe stops her pacing to glare at me. I don’t take it personally, but I regret what I said. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. It’s an important day.”

She nods, continuing her roaming. Her hand curves over the baby bump as she gently rubs it. “I didn’t think I’d be this nervous. My heart is racing like a horse!”

I laugh, standing from my chair to stop her movements. “Chloe. Everything will be okay. You are marrying the love of your life. Besides giving birth to Carter and baby Mila, this is going to be one of the happiest days of your life.”

“You’re right.” Chloe smiles, sneaking a glance at the other girls who are doing their makeup. Uncertainty flashes in her eyes before she turns back to me. “I know this was a big ask of you to be at the wedding, but I want to thank you. You being here means a lot to me, and who knows! Maybe one day I can be at your wedding! Seeing as you’ll probably marry my brother.”

“You think I’ll marry Leo?” I ask, sounding puzzled.

“Well, with how close you two have gotten, I can see it happening.” Her smile drops. “Unless you don’t want to get married if that life isn’t for you.”

“I never wanted to,” I admit, but I’m still not sure if I want to.

Things have been going well with Leo over the past few weeks, except for that night after our date. I’m still not sure what happened, but when he came back to his place, he seemed… off.

A couple of days later, he was distant but then returned to his usual self. He said he got a phone call from Myles that night because he was nervous. What could Myles have said that would have had Leo acting that way?

My body tenses when I think of the only thing that could have happened. What if Myles is having second thoughts? He wouldn’t leave Chloe standing at the altar, right? No. There is no way. Myles loves Chloe too much. Plus, Leo would have done something to Myles if he planned to leave Chloe stranded.

“Oh! I almost forgot.” I shake off the feeling of worry and step away from Chloe. Digging into the little handbag, I pull out a photo. I smile at the woman, who is smiling back up at me. I never got to meet her, and I wish I could have since she was so important to Leo. “Your brother asked me to give this to you. It’s small enough to fit in your bouquet.”

Chloe plucks the photo from my hand, getting teary-eyed as she looks at her mother. “Dammit, Camille! Why couldn’t you give this to me before my makeup was done?”

She fans her face to stop herself from crying. “I forgot.”

“I’m happy you remembered.” She takes the picture to her bouquet, tucking the photo of her mom in the center. “I wish she could have been here. She would have been so happy.”

I come to stand beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. What I say next surprises me as someone who doesn’t believe in God and Heaven.

“I’m sure she is smiling down on you from Heaven. And she is here with you today.” I pat my chest right over my heart. “Don’t forget that.”

She nods, flattening her lips together to prevent herself from crying. The sound of a door opening ends the sentimental conversation. When we turn around, her father stands there with a wide smile. They had done a first look after she was completely ready. She and Myles, though, have yet to see each other. She wanted him to see her for the first time, walking down the aisle.

“Ready?” he asks.

We watch Chloe's face brighten, and with a quick nod, she heads for her father.

If Chloe’s heart felt like a horse, mine is like a stampede. Dozens of animals run around in my chest, threatening to break through my skin. I swallow hard as I wait for bridesmaids to walk down the aisle.

Someone’s hand slips into mine. The warmth of their skin seeps into my skin. When I look to my right, Leo is smiling at me.

“You look stunning.”

“Do I look nervous?”

“I wouldn’t be able to tell if you were,” he reassures me. “The ceremony isn’t long. You’ll be fine.”