“Aunt?”
Ralph knelt on the red carpet, his whole face twisting.
He looked like he couldn't understand the word.
I used to call him Big Brother Ralph.
Nina called him that too.
And now his uncle had made me his aunt.
Those two words hit harder than any slap.
“Dean, you can't marry her.”
Ralph gritted his teeth.
“The one she loves is me.”
“She's followed me since high school. When I went abroad, she waited. When I came back, she married me.”
“You think she actually wants to marry you?”
“She's just hurt because of me. She's sulking.”
Dean looked at me.
“Is he right?”
I didn't answer right away.
A flicker of hope lit in Ralph's eyes.
“Lena, I know you're angry.”
“I admit it. I handled today badly.”
“But we've been together for years. You can't just cut that off.”
Nina grabbed his sleeve.
“Ralph……”
Ralph didn't look back.
His eyes stayed nailed to my face.
It struck me as almost funny.
This was exactly who he was.
He could stand there on our wedding day, holding another woman's hand, forcing me to step aside.
And then, the moment I turned away, put on the face of a man who'd been betrayed.
“Ralph.”
I spoke.
“Do you still remember? Three years ago, when my father was in trouble, I knelt at your family's door and begged you for help.”
His expression shifted slightly.
“The situation was complicated back then. I didn't have a choice.”
“No choice?”
I nodded.
“You said if I married you, you'd help the Hensons keep our last piece of land.”
“And what happened?”
“The land went into a Delgado project, and my father was left carrying all the debt.”
“You used my mother's medical records to force me into signing a prenup.”
“You told me that other than the title of Mrs. Delgado, I could forget about walking away with anything.”
The murmuring in the room started up again.
Martha roared “Shut your mouth!”
“Lena Henson, don't stand there twisting black into white.”
“Your father's investment failed on its own. What does that have to do with the Delgados?”
I looked at her and smiled.
“What's the rush, Martha?”
“I haven't even gotten to you yet.”
Her face twitched.
Nina seemed to sense something was wrong and tugged Ralph backward.
“Ralph, let's just go.”
“It's fine if the wedding doesn't happen. I don't want to put you in a hard spot.”
The more she backed away, the more the irony hit me.
She hadn't looked like this earlier, when she was forcing me out of my place.
Dean's assistant stepped up onto the stage.
The wedding photo on the screen was taken down.
My name and Ralph's disappeared.
In their place, two names.
Lena Henson. Dean Delgado.
Another round of sharp breaths ran through the room.
Ralph stared at the screen, and the last bit of reason in his eyes shattered.
He shot to his feet.
“Who gave you permission to change it?”
“This is my wedding!”
Dean unhurriedly straightened his cuff.
“The contract was signed by Lena Henson.”
“The bills were paid by Lena Henson.”
“The bride is Lena Henson too.”
“Which part of this is you?”
The color drained from Ralph's face.
Martha was so furious she was gasping.
“Dean, if you dare marry her today, I'll pretend I never had you for a son.”
Dean smiled.
“When did you ever treat me like one?”
The line was soft.
But it froze Martha where she stood.
I turned my head to look at him.
Dean didn't explain.
He simply took my hand and led me toward the stage.
The officiant's legs had already gone weak with fright, but he forced himself to pick up the microphone anyway.
“So, so the wedding continues?”
Dean said “It continues.”
Ralph rushed forward.
“I don't agree to this!”
The words were barely out when the ballroom doors were pushed open from outside.
Several people in uniform walked in.
The man at the front held out a badge.
“Mr. Ralph Delgado, someone has reported you for suspected business fraud and illegal transfer of assets.”
“Please come with us.”
The bag in Nina's hand dropped to the floor.
Ralph's head snapped toward me.
“Lena Henson, was this you?”
I stood under the lights, holding up the hem of my wedding gown.
“Don't rush.”
“This is only the first gift.”
