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“They’re ready for you.”
Nodding, Royalty released a shaky breath. If she was to be honest with herself, she wasn’t really angry with her mother... Not in that moment.
As Royalty headed to the door, her mother called out to her. “I really would like for us to finish this conversation.”
Head hung and hand on the doorknob, Royalty smiled softly. “We don’t have to, Ma. In fact, I apologize. I’m irritated and I’m about to take it out on you if I don’t get out of here.”
“It’s your wedding day, baby,” Jennifer reminded softly, as if Royalty didn’t know. “This should be the happiest day of your life.”
Royalty’s eyes watered. “Yeah, it should.”
“Why is it not?”
Gritting her teeth, Royalty kept the words from coming out. If she told her mother what she knew, Jennifer would call the wedding off, and that was the last thing Royalty wanted. Licking her lips, Royalty swallowed hard and inhaled a deep breath.
“Everything will be fine, okay?” Royalty looked back at her mother. “I love you.”
“I-I love you too. But, Royalty, I really think we should talk…”
Ignoring her mother, Royalty left the room and wrapped her arm around her father’s. He placed a kiss to her temple and looked down at her with a smile.
“Are you ready, baby girl?”
Nodding, Royalty inhaled a deep breath. “Yeah. Take me to my fiancé.”
two
Marcus placeda kiss on Royalty’s forehead then placed her hand inside of Steven’s. Steven smiled widely as he looked into his bride’s eyes. The longer she looked at him, the more hurt and angrier she became.
As soon as the pastor said, “Dearly Beloved,” Royalty pulled her hand out of his.
“Pastor Jones,” she called softly, gaining everyone’s attention. “Before we get started, I prepared a video montage for my fiancé.”
Pastor Jones nodded in agreement, as if he had much of a choice. Looking back at her younger sister, Royalty gave her a genuine smile before her attention shifted to her best friend, Simone. With one bob of her head, Royalty gave Simone permission to play the video that crushed her soul when she received it last night.
“What is this about?” Steven asked quietly.
“You’re about to see.”
The video began to play on the projectors behind them, and as soon as Steven and Regal came into view, gasps and whispers filled the room. Pictures of them together, videos of them kissing, screenshots of their conversations, all quickly flew against the screen.
“Maybe we should cut this off so you and Steven can discuss this in private,” Pastor Jones suggested to which Royalty shook her head.
“No. I want everyone to see what my baby sister and fiancé have been up to.”
Turned out, Regal’s best friend had more loyalty toward Royalty than her own sister did. Last night, Bridgette called Royalty and told her she couldn’t keep Regal’s secret anymore. Apparently, Regal and Steven had been sleeping together for the past six months—half the amount of time Royalty and Steven had been engaged. Royalty wasn’t sure what hurt worse—the fact that her sister slept with Steven, or the fact that she’d convinced herself that letting them still get married was okay.
According to Bridgette, Regal cried over the affair ending because of the wedding and how a part of her wanted to tell her sister just so she could have him. To make matters worse, Regal was pregnant, and Steven had no idea. Once the video stopped, Royalty turned to face her sister while their parents charged over to them.
Regal’s eyes were wide, mouth slightly ajar.
“Sis…”
“The only reason I’m not beating your ass is because you’re pregnant.”
“Pregnant?” Steven roared, walking over to Regal. “You’re pregnant? Why didn’t you tell me?”
The whispers grew louder but nothing was louder than the beating of Royalty’s heart.
