Page 8 of Closer

We move into a corner away from prying eyes.

“I… I don’t know if I can do this.”

“You know, it’s not too late to make a run for it. I’ve got a car waiting out back,” Gemma says.

“Don’t tempt me.”

“Lil,” Marc says, a warning edge to his tone. “The ceremony is about to start. We need to get you in position.”

He didn’t hear me, did he?

“I need a moment.”

“Signorina,” Ricarda appears beside Uncle Marc. “We really need to start now.”

“Why does nobody listen?” My voice raises. “I just need a moment. This is my wedding—”

“And mine.” Jason’s gaze bores into me, expectant and intense.

I force a smile, but it feels more like a grimace. Shouldn’t my face light up when I see the man I’m supposed to marry? The man I’m meant to spend the rest of my life with.

“Are you sure about this?” Gemma asks.

“I—” I try to force down the tightness in my throat. I don’t… This doesn’t feel right. I want—

“Everyone’s waiting,” Uncle Marc says.

“I need a few more minutes with my friends,” I say.

Jason scoffs. “She’s the sister of the guy who fucked you for sports. Is it because of him? Sebastian?” He practically spits the name.

Pain lances through my heart. If only things had been different between us… “He has nothing to do with this,” I whisper. “I just wanted my friends here with me today.”

“Friends. Do you hear yourself?” Jason asks.

“So what if they are?”

Disgust paints his face. “I knew I shouldn’t have let you be friends with them. That bastard alone was trouble. But I never thought his own sister would show up to ruin my wedding. At least he should have come himself, that coward.”

I focus on my hands. The engagement ring glimmering in the light. Foreign. Uncomfortable. I feel nothing looking at it. Nothing.

“Your wedding,” I murmur.

“What?” Jason asks.

“You said ruinyourwedding.”

“Yes. My—Our wedding.”

“Lilian,” my uncle says.

Study Economics. Become a Business Analyst. Work for the company. Date Jason. Go to therapy. Take medicine.

Marry Jason.

He’s the right one for you.

It’s enough. I ball my hands to fists.

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