Page 130 of A Lie so Dangerous and Fragile

Tristan’s eyes widened in awe, as if it were his first time seeing a butterfly.

I picked Kayden up, and we went down to join everyone.

I walked to Belvina, who was refilling her glass while dancing to the classic song playing in the background. She looked annoyed, but she immediately put on a smile when she saw me.

“You and Tristan are already trying to christen this place with baby number three?”

“No. We were just touring the house.” I laughed. “Everything okay?” I asked, noticing the shift in her mood.

“Yes. Why? Today is a happy day. You’re freaking engaged!” she said and took my hand to examine my ring. “Hi, son-in-law,” she said to Kayden, who tried to repeat what she had said.

“I need to use the restroom,” Belvina said as Adrian approached us.

“Congratulations,” he said to me, but his eyes were on Belvina, who was walking away.

“Thanks. Whatever happened in New York, you need to talk things out,” I said and walked away to join the others.

***

The engagement party was tonight. It’d been three weeks since Tristan had proposed. I didn’t want a big party. We only invited a few friends and our families.

“Close your eyes,” Vina ordered.

I chose her to be my makeup artist. I’d turned down all the high-class makeup artists and stylists Mrs. Sanchester suggested. We were in my room, getting ready. I was only in my shorts and a robe while Vina was in a big hoodie with gym shorts underneath.

“Can I ask you something?” I said as she used the wet eyeliner.

“Sure.”

“Do you still hate Adrian?”

“Hateis a strong word, but I don’t like him.”

Liar.

“I think he likes you.”

Her hand immediately stopped moving after I told her.

“Oh, please.” She laughed and continued what she had been doing. “I’m seeing someone else, and I’m bringing him as my date tonight.”

“Jacob?” I asked.

“Yeah. So, when is the wedding?” she asked quickly, trying to change the topic.

“We wanna have the wedding before winter. We agreed to have the wedding in early June, on Tristan’s birthday.”

“Cool. Why though?”

“He hates his birthday—bad memories. Hopefully, it’ll give him something nice to remember and cherish.”

“So, how are you feeling?”

“Other than the stress of planning a wedding and dealing with daily twin fights, I’m doing pretty good.”

We talked about the wedding preparation and fixed a date for my bachelorette party. We dressed up twenty minutes before the party. Vina wore a backless tulle evening dress that hugged her petite body. Her curly hair was styled in a fancy, sleek ponytail with two curls falling around the edges. I was wearing a floor-length, A-line sequined evening dress with spaghetti straps. Vina braided some parts of my hair and added a few accessories.

“You look gorgeous. I’m really better at this than I thought. I should be a stylist,” she said, staring at my face.

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