"Of course it matters, but not the way you think. I've only been flirting with Toby to make Marcus nervous. To scare him a little, to show him I'm not some woman who can't live without him."
"You saw it yourself. He threw a fit over something so small, threatening to cancel the wedding. If he's already trying to control me before we're even married, imagine what it'll be like after. He'd walk all over me."
"Tonight I'll teach him a lesson. After this, he'll never dare pick a fight over something trivial or try to hold anything over my head again."
Her friend was quiet for a moment. "But have you considered what happens if Marcus actually cancels the wedding?"
Vivienne's lip curled with contempt. "He wouldn't dare."
I let out a bitter laugh.
So that was her confidence. She was certain I loved her to the bone, that I couldn't leave her, that I'd never actually walk away from this marriage.
But Vivienne, you forgot one thing.
Love can die.
That night, I called my secretary.
"There's an overseas project coming up, isn't there?"
"Yes, sir. The VP was originally scheduled to—"
"I'll go."
Silence on the other end. Then, carefully: "But sir, your wedding is tomorrow."
"The wedding's been canceled. Didn't you get the memo?"
The secretary didn't press further. "Understood. I'll book the flight and arrange everything right away."
On the day of the wedding, Vivienne sent me a video.
She was dressed in a traditional bridal gown, all crimson silk and gold embroidery, a jeweled headdress crowning her hair. A makeup artist was putting the finishing touches on her face.
"Marcus, I'm finally going to be your bride."
Her voice trembled with excitement.
"Mm," I murmured, though my gaze had already drifted to the figure sitting behind her, dressed in a groomsman's suit.
Toby.
Vivienne offered an explanation. "Toby's my assistant, and I wanted him to share in the joy of the wedding, so I went ahead and made him a groomsman. I didn't check with you first. You're not upset, are you?"
I shook my head. "Not at all."
Vivienne smiled.
Toby grinned. "See, Ms. Langford? I told you Mr. Coleman wouldn't mind. Relax and just focus on being the happiest bride in the world today."
He tilted his head, squinting at her. "Oh, Ms. Langford, your makeup looks a little smudged right here."
And just like that, he reached out and touched her face.
Vivienne didn't flinch. Didn't pull away. She actually shifted in her chair, angling herself toward him to make it easier.
Toby's fingertips traced slowly across her cheek, and over her shoulder, his eyes locked onto the camera. Onto me. A quiet, deliberate challenge.
My expression didn't change.
Maybe Vivienne had started the flirtation with Toby just to provoke me. But a performance played long enough becomes real.
Her heart had already wandered. She just didn't know it yet.
When her makeup was finished, Vivienne stood and twirled in front of the camera.
"How do I look, husband?"
It was the first time she'd ever called me that. I felt nothing. I gave a flat nod.
"Beautiful."
"Then..." She pressed a fingertip to her lips, then touched it to the camera lens, her voice dropping low and sweet. "Your beautiful wife will be waiting for her husband to come get her."
"Okay."
The screen went dark.
I picked up my packed suitcase and headed downstairs.
My secretary was waiting by the car. He took the suitcase from my hand. "Everything's been arranged, Mr. Coleman."
"Let's go."
The engine turned over, and the car pulled onto the road toward the airport.
Thirty minutes later, a low roar split the sky as a plane climbed through the clouds and vanished into the distance.
