The wedding date with Jesse was set almost at once, for the middle of the following month.
At the same time, both families let word out about the coming alliance, and the whole city buzzed with it.
Even Merlin brought it up with me now and then.
"Did you see it? The Baxters and the Finches are marrying into each other. Now that's two powerhouses joining forces."
"I saw that Baxter heir in the news—pretty good-looking, actually. Though the Finch daughter's a real mystery. Nobody's even seen her face yet."
I sat in his passenger seat and answered without much interest.
"Oh, right, Carrie, there's a class reunion this weekend. You coming?"
I paused, then let a slow smile curve my lips.
The private room at the reunion was loud and lively.
A few rounds in, someone turned to Merlin with a grin.
"Merlin, you dog! I ran into you at the sales office for that downtown development the other week. You and Carla tying the knot soon or what?"
The moment the words landed, everyone jumped on it.
"Right, right! You two were the golden couple of the whole school back in the day."
"Bought the place and everything—so when's the official announcement? When do we get to drink at your wedding?"
Every eye in the room swung to Merlin.
His body stiffened, and the panic in his eyes was plain.
That apartment—everyone simply assumed it was bought for me.
He forced out a laugh, trying to brush it off.
"I was just looking around. Marriage is still a way off. No rush."
The words were barely out before the classmate who'd spoken froze, baffled.
"That's not right. I saw you swipe the card and pay the whole thing off with my own eyes. The salesman was standing right there congratulating you on paying in full for your marital home. The entire sales office saw it. How can you say you didn't buy it?"
Another classmate piled on.
"Yeah, that development's insanely expensive, and you paid the whole thing in cash, and now you're playing dumb? You're clearly planning some secret proposal, right?"
Merlin's face grew uglier by the second, with no way to defend himself.
Beside him, Virginia's face had gone ashen too.
While the crowd was still egging him on, I drew an invitation out of my bag.
"I actually am getting married soon. You're all welcome to come to my wedding."
The moment I said it, the color drained from Virginia's face.
Merlin reached out to drag me away, his voice dropping low.
"Carrie, don't listen to their guessing. It's not what they think.
"Come with me first. Let me explain in private."
I turned aside to avoid his hand and lifted my eyes, calm.
"Whatever you have to say, say it here."
Seeing that I wouldn't budge, he gave up on holding anything back.
He gritted his teeth.
"Fine! I'll tell you the truth. I never once planned to marry you."
I stared at him, stunned.
"What are you saying?"
Merlin was about to say more, but a classmate's startled cry cut him off.
"Wait, the groom is Jesse Baxter? The heir to the Baxter family, that top-tier dynasty?"
Then someone made out the name at the very top of the invitation.
"The full name on your invitation… is Carla Finch?"
