“Before we kick off the dancing, we have a surprise. A little montage from Sharon and Oliver’s loved ones. Something sweet for the happy couple.”
Oliver squeezed my hand and leaned in. “What’s this? Did you do this to surprise me?”
“Just enjoy it, Oli,” I said, meeting his eyes. “I did.”
The lights dimmed. The screen flickered on.
Soft piano music swelled—the same music that had played during our first dance at a wedding we’d attended together, when I’d believed he was genuinely falling in love with me.
And then Oliver’s voice rang through the room, clear and unmistakable, preserved forever in digital audio:
“Almost, Mom. She’s weird about paperwork. But after the wedding? She’ll do whatever I say, I promise. Especially with those freak kids of hers… She’s clinging to security. That’s the card I hold.”
Someone gasped loudly.
“Once we’re married, I’ll get the house and the savings. She’ll have nothing. It will be perfect. I can’t wait to dump her, I’m tired of pretending to love these kids.”
