The Wedding Game That Cost Him Everything Chapter 02
Tucker opened his mouth to speak.
“Sloane, come look at this. I can’t figure out how it’s supposed to go.”
Stepping over the pile of shredded fabric and ribbons, Sloane lowered her head and scratched at her hair.
Tucker laughed and walked over.
“As if I’d know.”
She was still wearing his jacket.
Her dress and Isolde’s wedding gown had both been made by the same now-retired designer.
Because Isolde had once casually praised the designer, Tucker had flown to Europe more than ten times, coaxing the woman out of retirement for this one dress.
Once the gown was delivered, he had treated it with more care than Isolde had.
He’d said that one day they could save it for their daughter.
Instead, it hadn’t even survived the wedding.
Tucker crouched to look at the torn tulle.
Suddenly, Sloane picked up a piece of the sheer fabric and draped it over his head.
Then she ducked under it herself, the tip of her nose almost brushing his.
Tucker stiffened.
Sloane laughed. “No way. Are you getting flustered?”
“Knock it off.” Tucker pulled the fabric away, laughing as he cursed at her.
Sloane shoved him to the floor and straddled him, her fingers digging into his sides.
“Calling me gross, huh? Getting bold, aren’t we?”
The two of them wrestled on the floor.
The guests had already returned to their seats. The ballroom was far from quiet.
“The rich really know how to party. They paid us to come witness a fake wedding.”
“No way. The bride looked dead serious to me.”
“She was the only one. Did you see anyone from her side? Not a single person.”
“Nobody from the Moretti Family came either. Everyone here is just outer-circle like us, paid for the job.”
“Who did she piss off? That went way too far.”
Isolde shut the door, blocking out the scene.
She went to the mirror to take off her makeup and only then realized her face was wet with tears.
Sloane had already played her “bridal suite surprise.” Isolde couldn’t bring herself to touch the bed.
She changed into her own clothes, took off the ring, and left it on the dressing table.
The ring slipped from her finger with unnerving ease. She wanted neither the marriage nor the protection it promised.
On her phone, she confirmed an earlier start date for her surgical training overseas and submitted her resignation to the hospital.
Once she left the United States, Tucker’s name, his status, and the reach of his protection would no longer dictate her life.
She still couldn’t reach a single one of her family or friends.
Looking at the hurricane warning on her phone, a knot of unease tightened in her stomach.
She called the coastal rescue center, then prepared to head for the nearest marina.
The elevator doors opened to reveal Tucker and Sloane.
Tucker frowned. “Sloane called it. You really do storm off the second you get angry.”
Sloane laughed beside him. “Women are such a pain.”
Tucker reached out and grabbed Isolde’s wrist. “Just listen to Sloane’s explanation.”
Isolde only stared at him.
Sloane shrugged.
“If you’re mad because he was late to get the marriage license, all I can say is you don’t trust him at all.”
“He was just nervous that night. We wanted to blow off some steam.”
“I’m his best friend. Sometimes things get a little out of hand. That’s normal. Don’t make it sound dirtier than it is.”
Isolde didn’t respond, her patience wearing thin.
Sloane went on. “I filmed those videos so he’d remember what real emotion looks like.”
“Ultimately, it was for you, too. So you’d have more fun tonight.”
“I never meant for you to see them.”
It took Isolde two seconds to realize what she was implying.
She jerked her wrist out of Tucker’s grasp and scrubbed at her skin, disgusted.
So that was why Tucker had looked exhausted the next day. Why he’d missed their appointment at the city clerk’s office.
Whether he and Sloane had crossed a line—or hadn’t—no longer mattered.
What mattered was that he had left her waiting while he was off fooling around with Sloane.
And this was the moment he chose to explain it.
She rubbed until her skin was raw.
Tucker’s face darkened.
“Tucker, the hurricane is almost here. Where are my family and friends?”
He froze, then glanced at Sloane.
“I already sent a boat,” Sloane said, her tone casual as she looked down at her vibrating phone.
“I still think it would’ve been pretty funny to make them all row back themselves.”
She opened the weather alert and lifted an eyebrow.
“Oh. There really is a hurricane. Well, I guess they’d better be lucky.”