I felt my throat tighten.
“So you ruined mine instead?”
She had no answer.
Sarah stood near the entrance with an older man beside her.
She looked nervous and happy.
She also looked completely unaware.
That changed everything.
I had imagined storming into the ceremony and humiliating Adrian.
But Sarah wasn’t my enemy.
If she knew the truth, that was one thing.
If she didn’t, she was about to marry the same liar I had almost married.
I slowly made my way toward her then.
Colleen followed me.
“Meredith, don’t.”
Sarah looked up.
“Can I help you?”
“I’m the florist.”
She smiled faintly.
“The flowers are beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Before you walk down that aisle, there’s something you need to know.”
Her smile disappeared.
Colleen whispered my name.
I ignored her.
Sarah glanced between us.
“What are you talking about?”
I told her.
Not dramatically.
I told her Adrian had been engaged to me three months earlier.
I told her about the accident.
I told her about the closed casket.
I told her that I had attended his funeral.
Sarah stared at me.
“That’s impossible.”
“I wish it were.”
She looked at Colleen.
“Is she lying?”
Colleen said nothing, and Sarah’s face immediately changed.
“Ms. Colleen?”
Still nothing.
Then Adrian appeared at the far end of the hallway.
He stopped when he saw me.
For the first time that day, he looked terrified.
“Meredith.”
I turned toward him.
“You finally remembered my name.”
Sarah stepped forward. “Please tell me she’s lying.”
Adrian looked at his mother.
Then Julian.
Nobody helped him.
“Sarah, I can explain.”
She slapped him.
The sound echoed through the hallway. Guests began standing inside the ceremony room.
Adrian touched his cheek.
“Sarah.”
“You told me that she knew about everything.”
I froze.
Adrian looked at her sharply.
Sarah started crying.
“You said Meredith knew you wanted out. You said the funeral was some legal mess your family couldn’t stop.”
I stared at him.
He had lied to her too.
Different lie. Same cowardice.
“I didn’t know anything,” I told her.
Sarah covered her mouth. “I’m so sorry, Meredith.”
“So am I.”
Adrian stepped toward me.
“Meredith, please listen.”
“No.”
“I never wanted to hurt you.”
That almost made me laugh.
“You let me bury you.”
