Chapter 2: The Message
I read the text again.
*You need to ask your father why Clara was so desperate to make sure this wedding happened today.*
My thumb hovered over the screen.
For a moment, I wondered whether it was some cruel prank.
Then I looked at Dad.
He was standing near the abandoned cake table with both hands resting against the edge of a chair. His face had gone completely white.
“Dad?””
He looked at me.
“What?””
I held up my phone.
“Who sent me this?””
His eyes dropped to the screen.
The moment he read the message, his shoulders tightened.
“Where did you get that?””
“Someone just texted me.””
“Give me your phone.””
That answer scared me more than the message.
I pulled it back.
“Why?””
“I want to see the number.””
“You already saw it.””
“Sarah.””
His voice was quiet.
Too quiet.
Across the ballroom, Clara was crying into a bridesmaid’s arms.
David had moved toward the doors.
Guests were whispering in small circles, stealing glances at the ruined cake and the bride whose wedding had just ended before the first dance.
Lily was still tucked against my side.
I lowered my voice.
“Dad, what was she talking about?””
He glanced toward Clara.
Then toward the entrance.
Then back at me.
“I don't know.””
“You're lying.””
His jaw tightened.
“I said I don't know.””
“You turned white when you read that.””
My mother came closer.
“What happened?””
Dad slipped his hand into his jacket.
“Nothing.””
I looked at him.
“Mom, someone just sent me a message asking why Clara was desperate to make sure the wedding happened today.””
My mother’s face changed.
She looked at Dad.
Dad looked at her.
That was all it took.
There was something they weren't telling me.
“What?”” I demanded.
My mother shook her head.
“Sarah, this isn't the place.””
“Then where is?””
“Not here.””
Dad stepped closer.
“Take Lily home.””
I stared at him.
“Why?””
“Because today is over.””
“That's not an answer.””
“Please.””
He had never said that word to me like that before.
Not as my father.
As someone afraid.
Lily tugged at my dress.
“Mommy?””
I looked down.
Her cheeks were still sticky with frosting.
“Yeah, baby?””
“Can we go home?””
I wrapped an arm around her.
“Yes.””
Then I looked at Dad.
“But this conversation isn't over.””
He nodded once.
“It shouldn't be.””
Clara suddenly appeared beside us.
Her mascara had started running.
“Sarah.””
I turned.
She glanced at Lily.
For the first time since the incident, guilt flickered across her face.
Or maybe it was fear.
“I didn't mean for this to happen.””
I said nothing.
Clara swallowed.
“I was upset.””
“You pushed my daughter’s face into a cake.””
“I know.””
“And you called it a joke.””
“I know.””
“Then why?””
She looked at Lily.
“Because I thought everyone was laughing at me.””
I frowned.
“What?””
“Not with me.””
She rubbed her arms.
“I felt like everyone was judging me. Comparing me. Watching me.””
“That doesn't explain what you did.””
“I know.””
Her eyes filled again.
“I just wanted one day where everything went right.””
I looked at her wedding dress.
Then at the cake.
Then at David, standing by the doors with his back to us.
“You had that chance.””
She let out a shaky breath.
“No.””
I waited.
Clara lowered her voice.
“I had one chance.””
“What does that mean?””
She looked toward Dad.
He immediately stepped in.
“Clara.””
She stopped.
“What?”” she asked.
Dad's expression hardened.
“Not here.””
Clara stared at him.
“You said you would handle it.””
I felt the hairs rise on my arms.
“Handle what?””
Nobody answered.
Clara wiped her face.
“I can't do this anymore.””
“Do what?”” I asked.
She looked at me.
“I can't marry him.””
My eyes narrowed.
“Because of what happened?””
“No.””
She shook her head.
“Because if I married him today, everything would become permanent.””
The words hung in the air.
David turned around.
“Clara.””
She looked at him.
He walked back toward us.
“What are you talking about?””
She didn't answer.
“Clara.””
“I said I can't.””
David looked at my father.
“Did you know about this?””
Dad didn't respond.
David's face changed.
“You did.””
“David,” Dad said, “this isn't the time.””
“When is the time?””
David's voice echoed across the ballroom.
Several guests turned.
He took another step.
“You told me everything was settled.””
Dad's expression tightened.
“I said I would take care of it.””
David laughed once.
There was no humor in it.
“And you expected me to marry her without knowing?””
I looked between them.
“What is going on?””
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Sarah, please.””
I pulled away.
“No.””
I looked at Dad.
“No more secrets.””
He closed his eyes.
Just for a second.
Then he said, “We should leave.””
That was when I heard a phone ring.
Clara froze.
The sound came from her purse.
She didn't move.
It rang again.
And again.
Finally, she pulled it out.
Her face drained of color when she saw the screen.
“Who is it?”” David asked.
“No one.””
“Then answer it.””
She stared at the caller ID.
I stepped closer.
“What does it say?””
Clara turned the phone away.
“It's a private number.””
The ringing stopped.
A second later, a notification appeared.
New voicemail.
Clara's hand shook.
David saw it.
“Play it.””
“No.””
“Why not?””
“Because I said no.””
He stared at her.
Then at Dad.
“This is what you were hiding?””
Dad didn't answer.
David turned to me.
“Sarah, get Lily and leave.””
“Why?””
“Because you shouldn't be here for this.””
I stared at him.
“You're not making any sense.””
He looked toward Clara.
“She knows.””
“Knows what?””
Clara suddenly snapped.
“Stop!””
Everyone went silent.
She looked at David with tears in her eyes.
“Please don't.””
David's face softened for half a second.
“Then tell her.””
Clara couldn't.
She looked at me instead.
“I was going to tell you.””
“When?””
“After the wedding.””
My stomach dropped.
“Tell me what?””
She looked at Dad.
He said nothing.
“Tell me!””
Clara took a trembling breath.
“The wedding wasn't about love.””
David closed his eyes.
I felt Lily's little fingers curl around mine.
“What does that mean?””
Clara whispered, “I needed David to marry me today.””
“Why?””
Her lips parted.
But before she could answer, Dad suddenly stepped forward.
“That message you got—”
I looked at him.
“What about it?””
“Delete it.””
I stared at him.
“What?””
“Delete the message.””
“Why?””
“Because whoever sent it is trying to destroy this family.””
My heart pounded.
“You're telling me to delete evidence?””
His expression hardened.
“You don't know what you're dealing with.””
“Then tell me.””
He didn't.
Instead, he looked toward the ballroom doors.
Someone was standing there.
A man I'd never seen before.
Dark suit.
Gray tie.
An envelope in his hand.
He was watching Clara.
Not Dad.
Not David.
Clara.
She saw him.
Her entire body went rigid.
“Who is that?”” I whispered.
Nobody answered.
The man started walking toward us.
Slowly.
Purposefully.
Clara backed away.
“No.””
David looked at her.
“Clara?””
She shook her head.
“No, no, no.””
The man stopped three feet away.
Then he held out the envelope.
“This belongs to you.””
Clara didn't take it.
“What do you want?””
His expression remained flat.
“I was told to give this to your sister.””
My blood ran cold.
He looked directly at me.
“Sarah?””
I stared at him.
“Yes.””
He handed me the envelope.
There was no name on it.
Only one sentence written across the front in black ink.
*OPEN THIS BEFORE YOUR FATHER TELLS YOU THE LIE.*
I looked at Dad.
He whispered my name.
“Sarah, don't.””
I turned the envelope over.
There was a second message on the back.
Three words.
*Ask about tomorrow.*
May you like
And suddenly, behind me, I heard Clara whisper the one thing that made my hands start shaking.
“Tomorrow isn't supposed to happen.””
