Everything is completely normal here.
His response came almost immediately.
That sentence makes me suspicious.
I smiled.
Just come inside when you arrive.
A few minutes later, my father picked up the microphone again.
“Before the dancing begins,” he announced, “I’d like to acknowledge the family.”
He praised Chloe.
Then Flynn.
Then several relatives.
Finally, his eyes found me sitting near the kitchen.
“And, of course, Jessi.”
A few people turned around.
There was a small amount of polite applause.
My father smiled into the microphone.
“Jessi has never quite had Chloe’s luck. Not romantically. Not professionally. And certainly not socially.”
Several tables laughed.
My mother looked delighted.
I remained seated.
My father continued.
“But every family needs someone who reminds everyone else how fortunate they are!”
The laughter became louder.
Chloe lowered her face, pretending she wasn’t smiling.
I stood.
Not because I wanted to confront anyone.
I simply wanted to step outside for a few minutes.
As I passed the head table, my father placed the microphone down and picked up a glass of Cabernet.
He moved into my path.
“Did that upset you?”
“No.”
“Then smile.”
“I’d rather go outside for a moment, Arthur.”
He hated when I called him by his first name.
More importantly, he hated that I wasn’t crying.
“You always do this,” he muttered.
“Do what?”
“Pretend you’re some tragic victim.”
Then he tilted the glass.
Red wine spilled down the front of my dress.
Guests nearby gasped.
My father placed the empty glass on the table and gave me a satisfied look.
“There. Now you actually have something to complain about.”
I looked down at my stained dress.
Then back at him.
I reached into my clutch and called Luca.
He answered immediately.
“Where are you?”
“Crossing the hotel lobby.”
I looked directly at my father.
“Perfect.”
Then I ended the call.
Because suddenly, I understood something.
I didn’t need to argue with Arthur.
I didn’t need to defend myself.
I simply needed to let my family meet the man they had no idea existed.
My mother hurried toward me first.
Her concern wasn’t me.
It was the photographs.
“Jessi, go clean yourself up immediately! You’re going to ruin every family picture!”
“I’m fine, Wendy.”
Chloe rushed over holding up the train of her wedding gown.
“Please don’t cause a scene at my wedding.”
I looked at her.
“I wasn’t the one holding the wine.”
“Dad was joking.”
“Of course.”
My father waved his hand dismissively.
“Exactly. Learn to take a joke.”
By then, dozens of guests were watching.
Then a quiet commotion began near the ballroom entrance.
The enormous double doors opened.
Four men in tailored dark suits walked inside.
They clearly weren’t ordinary wedding guests.
Two remained near the doors.
Another scanned the room.
The fourth spoke quietly through an earpiece.
Conversation throughout the ballroom began to fade.
Then Luca entered.
He was wearing a dark navy suit and an open-collar white shirt.
He had spent most of the day traveling, but nothing about him looked tired.
The moment Marcus Reed saw him, his face changed.
“Is that Luca Vance?”
Flynn turned around.
“What?”
“Vance Global,” Marcus whispered.
Several guests immediately recognized the name.
My father didn’t.
Marcus practically hurried across the room toward Luca.
“Mr. Vance! Marcus Reed. Regional Commercial Banking. Our executive team has been hoping to arrange a meeting with your board—”
Luca walked straight past him.
His attention was completely on me.
Then he noticed the red wine covering my dress.
His expression hardened.
He reached me and quietly asked,
“What happened?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Without another word, he removed his jacket and placed it around my shoulders.
Then he kissed my forehead.
“I’m sorry I’m late, sweetheart.”
The ballroom became completely silent.
My mother stared.
Chloe nearly dropped the glass in her hand.
My father frowned.
“Sweetheart?”
Luca put an arm around me.
My father looked him up and down.
“Who exactly are you?”
Marcus Reed looked as though he wanted to disappear.
Luca met Arthur’s eyes.
“Luca Vance.”
My father clearly needed several seconds to recognize the name.
When he finally did, his expression changed.
Luca continued,
“And I’m Jessi’s husband.”
My mother laughed nervously.
“That’s impossible. Jessi isn’t married.”
Nobody joined her.
“She lives alone!”
Luca raised his left hand, showing his wedding band.
Then he gently lifted mine.
The matching ring was clearly visible.
“We’ve been married for two years.”
Chloe stared at me.
“Two years? Why didn’t you tell us?”
I looked at her.
“You never asked.”
My father seemed to be recalculating everything he thought he knew.
