Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
I pull off the pearl drop earrings I’ve been wearing all evening and drop them on the glossy granite kitchen countertop in my condo. The earrings have been weighing down my earlobes, leaving a dull ache. Not to mention the beautiful but punishing heels I bought the other day have left deep, angry grooves on my ankles and feet. It feels so good to take both of them off, the cool air soothing my tender skin.
In a way, they mirrored the entire evening—heavy, tight and tense.
Tucker strolls in behind me. He loosens the top button of his shirt with a sigh of relief and peels off his jacket, tossing it over the chair. The rich scent of his cologne lingers in the air. It’s been a few months since we’ve spent time in my condo in downtown Charleston, but here we are. I decided to stay here for the evening before the wedding to keep tradition and not allow Tucker to see his bride before the big day. I plan on running myself a hot bath and having a glass of wine before crawling into bed.
Tucker pulls a beer from the fridge, the glass bottles clinking as he does. He cracks it open with a satisfying hiss. I settle onto the counter stool on the other side of the island and swipe open my phone to look at pictures from the evening. The hashtag #TuckerMarriesCharlotte already has at least a hundred photos on social media. I scroll through them, taking in the smiling faces and raised glasses. Everyone looks so happy, so excited for tomorrow. I see Cara decked out in a gorgeous yellow dress, with her arm looped around her husband. I managed to avoid her for the entire night, which was a feat. I’m not ready to explain the phone call from last night—just yet.
I keep scrolling until I find the lone photo of Tucker and me together. We’re standing stiffly side by side, a good six inches of space between us. My smile looks forced, the corners of my mouth tight. Tucker’s grin doesn’t reach his eyes, which seem distant and unfocused. It’s as if we’re two strangers awkwardly posed for a picture, not a couple on the eve of their wedding.
Tucker takes a long swig of his beer, the amber liquid catching the soft light, and sets it down on the countertop with a dull thud.
“Charlotte, we need to talk,” he says, his voice tight.
That’s exactly what I was thinking . I place my phone face down on the counter and pull my hands into my lap. I’m happy to hear what Tucker has to say first. In fact, I can already guess what this is about. Her.
“Of course. What is it?” I reply, trying to keep my voice steady.
Tucker shifts his weight, and I can tell by the way his eyes dart around the room that he’s nervous. It’s an expression I rarely see from him. Tucker is a fairly even-keeled guy; nothing seems to ruffle his feathers. But clearly, he’s on edge now.
“It’s about tomorrow…” he begins, his eyes finally leveling with mine. “I think we should call off the wedding.”
I shouldn’t be surprised. I know I shouldn’t be, from the way he stood stiffly through the rehearsal and the distracted way he worked the room all through dinner. It was clear that Tucker was uncomfortable, that he was elsewhere mentally. Not to mention he was pretty cold toward me. I think he kissed me once or twice on the cheek, but for the rest of the night, he barely touched me. I distracted myself by interacting with our other guests, but I kept an eye on him through the entire night.
So I shouldn’t be surprised by what he just said, but the words still send a shudder throughout my entire body.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, trying to keep my voice even.
“I’m talking about calling off the wedding, Charlotte,” Tucker explains, his voice strained. “I just don’t think that we should get married. I…” He pauses, looking down at his hands before turning back to me. “You know we have been fighting for months. We aren’t happy. And I don’t want to put you through the ceremony and have us just end up divorced a year from now. It’s not fair to you. It’s not fair to our friends and family, and it’s not fair to me.”
I take a deep breath, studying him. I stay silent for a few moments, making him wait for my answer, making him wonder. I’m sure he thinks I’m going to implode, to gasp, perhaps even faint right there. But I take every bit of strength in my core, and I stay centered.
“This is about Reese, isn’t it?” I accuse, my voice low and controlled. “I saw the two of you together the other day at Gordon’s deli. I know you’ve been stopping by her place several times a week, supposedly buying cupcakes or making decisions for the wedding. You can’t lie to me. I know this is about her. You think you’re in love with her, but she’s completely wrong for you.”
Tucker stares at me, his face paling. Now it’s his turn to be silent. I wish I could see or hear what exactly he’s thinking. He has a choice—admit this has something to do with her or try to lie his way out of it. Knowing Tucker, he’ll try to make it sound like he’s doing what’s best for me.
But I know better.
“This has nothing to do with Reese,” he finally says, his voice strained. “This is about you and me. The last few months? We’ve barely touched each other. We’ve barely spoken.”
I slam my hand down on the table, the sharp sound echoing through the kitchen as I finally let go of my anger. “ You haven’t touched me. You haven’t spoken to me,” I retort, my voice rising. “I’ve been trying. I’ve been doing everything I can, and you act like you’re disgusted by me. You won’t even touch me anymore. I know it’s not because of me—it’s because of her.”
“It’s not because of her, Charlotte!” Tucker shouts, his words exploding out with an anger that makes me shudder. “It’s because I’m not in love with you anymore. Don’t you get that?”
Tears threaten to start pouring down my face, hot and stinging. I grip my hands into fists as I try to control the pain. I could argue with him at this point. I could tell him that it’s not true, that he does love me. But it’s useless. He’s made up his mind; it’s written all over his face. And I can’t cancel this wedding. I won’t.
“We’re not going to call it off,” I say, my voice trembling despite my efforts to sound strong.
Tucker stares at me, his eyes hard. “I told you, Charlotte. I don’t want to marry you. We’re going to call off the wedding tomorrow,” he insists, his tone leaving no room for argument.
“Oh no, we are not,” I say, forcing myself to feel strong even though my heart is shattered. “You will marry me tomorrow because you have no other choice. I know what you’ve been doing. The Louis Vuitton purses, the Guccis. I know that you have been smuggling illegal counterfeit goods through your warehouse.”
I see the shock roll across his features. His eyes grow large, then narrow. I give him a few minutes for the idea to settle in as the two of us face off on either side of the condo kitchen island. Tucker takes another drink of his beer, the glass bottle clinking against his teeth.
“And if you don’t marry me tomorrow? I’m going to the police.”
“You’re insane, Charlotte,” he says, his voice a mix of disbelief and anger. “You have no proof. And is this really the way you want to start a marriage? With blackmail?”
I lean forward in my seat, my heart pounding. “That’s where you’re wrong,” I say, my voice steady and cold. “I do have proof. Enough to send you to prison for a very long time.”
He’s still staring at me, the realization sinking in. Okay, so I am not one hundred percent sure that’s true. Technically, it’s a little white lie , but it’s enough for the color to drain from Tucker’s face.
I lean in close, my voice low and dangerous. “So here’s what’s going to happen. We’re getting married tomorrow. You’ll sign a new prenup—one that’s very generous to me. You’ll cut ties with Reese. And you’ll be the perfect, doting husband.”
“And if I don’t?”
“You’ll need to find a good criminal attorney.”
Tucker stares at me for a long moment. I can see the wheels turning, but it’s impossible to read him. For a split second, I start to question what I’ve done. Have I gone too far? The thought flashes through my mind, unbidden and unwelcome. A knot forms in my stomach. This isn’t how I imagined our wedding eve would be, full of threats and blackmail.
But then I remember the coldness in his touch these past months, the way his eyes lit up when he saw Reese. I think of all the plans we’ve made, the life we’ve built together. How can he throw it all away? No, I reassure myself, this is necessary. This is the only way to save us, to save our future. I need this wedding to happen tomorrow. I’ll deal with the rest later. Once Reese is gone, he’ll see clearly again. He’ll remember why he fell in love with me in the first place. I can be everything he needs, I know I can. I just need the chance to prove it.
Tucker finishes his beer and sets it down.
“Okay,” he says finally. “You win.”
I straighten my posture and smooth down my dress, trying to regain my composure. The bravado I felt earlier has evaporated, leaving me feeling hollow. Technically, I’ve won this battle, but victory tastes bitter. The confident woman of moments ago has vanished, replaced by the insecure little girl I thought I’d outgrown—the one perpetually seeking approval. I get up from my seat and walk around the kitchen island. I reach out to him, and he doesn’t even flinch.
“I’m sorry it had to be like this, Tucker. I promise I’ll make you happy. You’ll see.”
He raises his chin and walks around me to pick up his jacket. The next few seconds of silence are painful. He pulls on his jacket and begins walking toward the door. I catch up to him, grabbing his left arm. He swings around and looks at me. All the softness has drained out of his eyes. It’s not the way he used to look at me, like I was the only girl in the world. It’s not the look he gave me after the first time we made love, like I was pure magic.
The look in his eyes right now is that of pure hatred. My heart breaks again.
“I love you,” I say, desperate for him to reciprocate.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says. I let my hand drop. He continues toward the door, then slams it as he leaves. As soon as his steps disappear down the hallway, I fall to the floor and start sobbing. This isn’t what I wanted, any of it. I wanted Tucker and me to be happy together. Start a family together. But now it’s clear. He hates me.
And there is only one person to blame: Reese Montgomery .