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“Girl,” Angie says, eyes wide, “you’ve been dating a guy that hot, and you’ve been holding out on us? Andrei is fine.”

Lucy leans in, grinning. “And he’s the one who made sure we all got home safely that night at the club shootout, right?”

Only Mabel stays quiet, watching me with knowing eyes. She’s the only one who knows the full story.

I take a deep breath. There’s no point hiding it anymore.

“Okay… I need to tell you guys the truth.”

They all go still as I tell them how Andrei and I met four years ago. And that we’ve reconnected. And now we’ve decided to make it official.

Angie and Lucy let out a collective “Awww,” their faces softening with romantic sighs.

“That’s actually kind of beautiful,” Lucy says, clutching her chest.

“Unexpected, but beautiful,” Angie adds.

Mabel doesn’t say anything. She just gives me a small, worried smile.

Before I can say more, there’s a soft knock on the door. The housekeeper steps in with a polite smile.

“Excuse me, Miss Rosie. The makeup artist and hair stylist have arrived. They’re ready for you downstairs.”

My friends immediately light up again.

“Let’s go get you ready for your wedding!” Angie squeals, grabbing my arm.

As we head out of the bedroom and down the grand staircase, they gush nonstop about the decorations they glimpsed on the way in.

When we step outside onto the manicured lawn at the back of the property, near the rose garden, my stomach drops even further.

Andrei has transformed a beautiful, intimate spot under a white silk canopy into a perfect little wedding ceremony area. Delicate white and blush roses climb the posts, soft petals scattered along a short aisle, and elegant chairs are arranged for the small group of guests. It’s breathtaking.

A designer and her team are already waiting with racks of dresses. Ten different wedding gowns, each one more stunning. I’m told to choose whichever one I like. As I stand there touching the fabrics, the same question keeps spinning in my head: How long has he been planning this?

He even wrote my vows for me.

The ceremony itself passes in a surreal blur. I barely register saying the words he prepared. When the priest finally announces us man and wife, Andrei pulls me into his arms and kisses me deeply, possessively.

His lips linger against my ear as he whispers, “Now you’re mine in every sense of the word, wife.”

Anya is over the moon. She claps and cheers, her little face glowing with pure happiness. Seeing her like that makes my chest ache. Andrei was right, if I had tried to stop this, I would have broken her heart.

My friends are genuinely happy for me, smiling and taking pictures. Even Andrei’s men come over to congratulate us. Viktor, his right-hand man, gives me a respectful nod and says quietly, “Welcome to the family, Mrs. Popov.”

I look around at the small gathering. The few people I actually care about are all here. My friends, my daughter, even a couple of Andrei’s closest men. If this had been my choice, if I had wanted this, I would have been over the moon with joy.

Instead, I’m beyond pissed.

Andrei knew exactly how important these people are to me. He used them. He pulled this entire stunt knowing I wouldn’t make a scene in front of them.

While Andrei steps aside to speak with some of his men, Mabel slips over to me, her expression curious but concerned.

“Okay, I have to ask,” she says quietly. “Barely a week ago, you were literally running away from him, and now you’re married? What changed?”

I want to tell her the truth, that I didn’t plan any of this. But Mabel is already worried enough about me. I don’t want to add to it.

So I force a small smile and lie.