CHAPTER 2 — THE LITTLE GIRL IN THE YELLOW DRESS
Outside the church, the Charleston heat hit me like a wall.
Guests poured out behind us in confused whispers.
Phones were already out.
Videos were already being sent.
By sunset, half the city would know.
But I didn’t care.
I stood on the church steps in my wedding gown, breathing like I had just survived a car crash.
Natalie came out carrying Lily on her hip.
The little girl’s curls bounced against her cheeks. She looked at my dress with wide eyes.
“You’re pretty,” Lily whispered.
Something inside me broke.
Not sharply.
Softly.
Painfully.
I knelt in front of her, careful not to crush the satin.
“Thank you,” I said.
She held out her rabbit.
“This is Bunny.”
I swallowed hard.
“Hi, Bunny.”
Natalie started crying.
“I didn’t want to hurt you.”
I looked up at her.
“You didn’t.”
Behind her, Daniel stormed out with Maureen close behind.
His face had changed completely.
The charming man was gone.
In his place stood someone desperate, exposed, and angry.
“Megan,” he said, “do not make a decision while you’re emotional.”
I almost smiled.
“My groom’s secret wife just introduced me to his daughter at the altar. I think emotion is allowed.”
Maureen stepped forward.
“You will regret humiliating this family.”
My father appeared beside me.
“She didn’t humiliate your family, Maureen. Your son did.”
Daniel pointed at Natalie.
“She planned this.”
Natalie flinched.
I stood and moved in front of her.
“No,” I said. “You planned a wedding while already married.”
His jaw tightened.
“You don’t know what she’s like.”
“I know what you are.”
For the first time, Daniel looked afraid of me.
Not because I was powerful.
Because I was done believing him.
Cassie, my maid of honor, came rushing down the steps with my purse and phone.
“You need to see this,” she said.
She handed me my phone.
There were dozens of blocked messages.
All from Natalie.
Cassie had found them in my blocked folder.
My hands shook as I opened the first one.
Meg, please call me. It’s about Daniel.
Another.
He is lying to you.
Another.
I don’t want to hurt you, but you need to know the truth before you marry him.
And one photo.
Daniel asleep on a couch with Lily curled against his chest.
The date stamp was three weeks ago.
Three weeks.
Three weeks before he stood at the altar and promised me forever.
I looked at Daniel.
“You were with them three weeks ago?”
He said nothing.
Natalie whispered, “He said he was going to tell you.”
Maureen snapped, “Natalie, shut your mouth.”
This time, I turned on Maureen.
“You signed the certificate.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Yes. And I also paid for the lawyer who was supposed to fix it quietly.”
The words slipped out before she could stop them.
Everyone heard.
Daniel closed his eyes.
My father took one step forward.
“What lawyer?”
Maureen’s face went pale.
My mother pulled out her phone.
“I’m calling ours.”
May you like
That was the moment Daniel realized the wedding wasn’t just over.
The cover-up was too.
