2. Amanda
TWO
AMANDA
My cell buzzes with an incoming notification. I glance at the screen and my brows knit together as I see that it’s an email from Mike Leeland. A private investigator, one that I had used in the past when I suspected my soon to be husband of cheating. Mike is good at what he does.
I hesitate for a moment before opening the email, my finger hovering over the screen. Mike and I haven't been in contact for years, not since he confirmed my suspicions about Jason's infidelity. What could he possibly want now?
With a deep breath, I tap the notification. The email loads, revealing a short message and an attached file:
"Found something you need to see. I’ve attached a few images, if you need anything else, call me."
My heart races as I download the attachment. It contains a few photographs, each one of them so clear to see. Mike has the top of the range scope for his camera, he caught the shots perfectly. My heart stutters as I see my soon to be husband Aaron, his arms wrapped around a woman as they’re kissing.
But it's not the embrace that sends a chill down my spine. It's the date stamp in the corner of the image: yesterday.
I stare at the photo, my mind reeling. I knew he was full of shit when he promised me he wouldn’t cheat on me again. I forgave him the first two times. Shame on me. God, I’m so naive, I really thought he loved me.
I scan through the next few photos, trying to see if the woman he’s holding is someone I know, maybe one of his work colleagues, but the joke’s on me yet again as I see the photo of the two of them in our bedroom, hands all over each other and naked. What makes this worse, the woman he’s with—my mother.
With trembling fingers, I dial Mike's number, praying he'll pick up and offer some explanation that makes sense. Because right now, nothing does. How fucking long has this been going on? I didn’t hire him, so why is he looking into Aaron?
The phone rings once, twice, and then Mike's gruff voice answers. "Leeland here."
"Mike, it's Amanda," I manage to choke out, my voice barely above a whisper. "I... I got your email. What the hell is going on?"
There's a pause on the other end, and I can almost picture Mike rubbing his stubbled chin, choosing his words carefully. "Amanda, I'm sorry you had to find out like this. I've been keeping tabs on Aaron for a while now."
"But why?" I demand, anger rising to replace the shock. "I didn't hire you this time."
Mike sighs heavily. "I know, but a couple of months ago, I spotted him out with a woman that wasn’t you, it was around the time you sent out your wedding invites. I knew he was cheating on you, I just needed to give you proof.”
"He’s been cheating on me for that long?" I ask, dreading the answer.
"From what I've gathered, at least six months," Mike replies, his tone sympathetic. "Maybe longer."
Six months. Half a year of lies, of betrayal. And not just from Aaron, but from my own mother. The thought makes me physically ill.
I sink onto the chair, the phone still pressed to my ear. The room spins around me as I try to process this information. Six months. Maybe longer. Every kiss, every touch, every ‘I love you’ – all lies.
"Amanda? Are you still there?" Mike's voice cuts through my spiraling thoughts.
"Yeah," I manage to croak out. "I'm here. I just... I can't believe this. My own mother..."
Mike clears his throat awkwardly. "Look, I know this is a lot to take in. But there's more you should know."
My stomach drops even further. "More? What else could there possibly be?"
“From what I gathered, your mom and Aaron had hoped by marrying you that they’d have access to your accounts.”
I grit my teeth, cheating on me wasn’t enough? Humiliating me wasn’t enough? They wanted to take everything I have, too? Fuck them. That’s never going to happen. God, how stupid am I? I always knew my mom was a bitch, but I thought she had some love for me, that she wouldn’t do this to her own daughter. So damn foolish.
“Thank you, Mike, I really do appreciate it,” I tell him as I rise to my feet. I’m not going to let this go, I’ve been humiliated, now it’s that asshole’s turn. “Please send me an invoice for your fee.”
“Amanda,” he says gruffly. “This is on me, I’m glad that I managed to let you know before the wedding. When was the big day?”
I laugh bitterly. “Today,” I say, wiping away my tears. “You caught me five minutes before I was about to walk down the aisle.”
"Today?" Mike's voice is a mix of shock and concern. "Jesus, Amanda. I'm so sorry. I didn't realize?—"
"It's not your fault," I cut him off, my voice steadier now. The initial shock is wearing off, replaced by a cold, hard anger. "You did me a favor. Better to know now than after I said 'I do.'"
I can hear the muffled sounds of the wedding guests chattering outside my dressing room door. My bridesmaid, Cherry, will be coming to fetch me any minute now, expecting to see a blushing bride. Instead, she’ll find a woman on the warpath.
"What are you going to do?" Mike asks, hesitation clear in his voice.
A smile spreads across my face, but there's no warmth in it. "I'm going to give them exactly what they want—a show."
I end the call and toss the phone onto the vanity. My reflection stares back at me: hair perfectly coiffed, makeup in need of a touch up, and white dress a vision of beauty. Today was supposed to be a happy day. Now, my heart has been broken by two people who I loved.
I quickly fix my make up, not wanting anyone to know what’s about to happen or that I’m anything other than a blushing bride.
There's a knock at the door. "Amanda? Are you ready?" Cherry asks as she enters the room. “You really do look beautiful,” she whispers as she pulls me into her arms. “Are you ready?”
I pull in a deep breath and nod. “Ready,” I tell her with a smile.
It takes us a few minutes to be ready as my dad and Cherry argue, not that I can blame them, they’re so in love and my mom has ruined their relationship too with her bullshit. But I’m praying that after today, the two of them can get their shit together and not let whatever the hell mom’s plan was ruin something amazing. I wasn’t happy when I found out about Cherry and my dad—hell, no one would ever be happy that their best friend was dating their dad—but I saw how happy she makes him, and that’s all I want for the two of them.
Dad walks me down the aisle and I plaster on the perfect smile. I try not to laugh when dad presses a kiss to my cheek but ignores Aaron’s outstretched hand that he wanted my dad to shake. My dad never liked Aaron, he’s always thought I could do better—the cheating is a huge factor as to why my dad hates him—but today it’s all going to be over with.
"I want to thank everyone for coming and sharing this special day," I say, my fake smile still etched on my face. "It means a lot to us both that you're here."
Aaron smiles brightly and all I want to do is punch him.
"Today was a day I had been dreaming about since I was a little girl. My dad—who's the best man in this world—made me promise that I'd marry a man that made me feel as though I was the only girl in the world." I turn to face my dad and give him a genuine grin. I should have listened to him. I really should have, maybe, I wouldn’t be in this position. "I thought I had that."
Murmurs sound around the church at my words and I watch as Aaron's face falls, his happy expression gone and in turn he's shocked. He's not the only one, everyone seems to have a confused expression on their faces.
"Imagine my surprise when I found out that he cheated not once, not twice, but three times. I was stupid enough to forgive him the first two times, but no more. Especially not when the woman he's cheated on me with is my own mother."
I hear the outraged gasps, the angry curses from my brothers, and see the fake tear-filled eyes of my mother.
I grit my teeth, trying my hardest not to let the tears fall, I grip the engagement ring he got me, pull it from my finger and throw it at him. It hits his face and I’m disappointed that it didn’t do any damage. I pull in a ragged breath, fuck, I need to get the hell out of here. I reach for the hem of my dress and run back down the aisle.
I don’t stop until I reach the little room I was in just before the ceremony and the moment I’m inside, I begin to pace. What the hell am I going to do now?
The door opens and I spin on my heel, my heart racing, God, please don’t be my mom or Aaron, but relief washes through me when I see Cherry walking in.
"I'll kill her," Cherry says, her fists clenched at her sides. "I'll happily do it."
This is why she’s my best friend. God, I love her. "Remember, Cherry, orange isn't your color," I say, trying not to laugh. "We've spoken about this for years."
"It's bullshit, we both know that I'd rock orange. I just couldn't handle prison time."
My lips twitch as I stare at her. But when I do, I see the pain in her eyes.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Cherry asks. "I'd have stopped this bullshit and would have saved you the pain."
"I know what mom did," I say softly. "I know that she lied to you about what was going on between her and my dad. I should have told you the truth, I was just so deeply hurt by what she'd done. I'm sorry, Cherry."
My mom told Cherry that she and my dad were getting back together. Not only that, during the wedding dress shopping, my mom told me I needed to lose at least twenty pounds otherwise I’d look like an elephant as I walked down the aisle. I was so hurt, I didn’t know what to do, and then add on the bullshit she told Cherry, I couldn’t handle it all.
"Don't worry about it," Cherry says softly. "Your dad should have told me, had he done, then your mom's words would never have worked. But it is what it is. Now, what are you going to do?"
"The wedding's over," I snarl, I can’t go out there, I’m not marrying him. Not ever. "I'm not going back out there. I can't see mom again either."
"You won't have to," Cherry promises me. "How about we get you changed and then we'll go from there?"
I nod, the tears tumble down my face and my knees buckle. Within seconds, Cherry has her arms around me and we cry.
It takes a few minutes for me to get under control but when I do, Cherry and I change out of our dresses, clean our faces, and are ready to face the world. The moment we exit the room, I come face to face with my two brothers—Jaxon and Kieran—along with my dad, each of them wearing the same angry expression.
"You okay, sis?" Jaxon asks, pulling me into his arms. I sink into his embrace. I’m a lucky girl having a family that loves me.
"Yeah, Cherry and I spoke, and I'm going to go on my honeymoon without him. The flight leaves tomorrow, so it gives me time to pack and get ready." I look up at Jaxon. "Are you busy?"
He shakes his head. "No, why what do you need?"
She glances between Jaxon and Kieran. "Someone or some people to come with me?"
I hear dad laugh. "I'll book the flights and make sure there's room for them at the hotel." That has both of my brothers smiling brightly. All three of us are close and having them around will help. "Boys, go with your sister, ensure that neither your mom nor that fucking prick Aaron gets near her."
Jax and Kieran have matching smirks. "They won't, come on Amanda, we'll even watch shitty movies with you."
Damn, they’re the best.
“Call me if you need me,” Cherry says softly as we hug once again. “I’ll be with you whenever you need me.”
“Love you,” I whisper, tears threatening to fall once again.
Her arms convulse around me. “I love you too, go, spend time with your brothers. And Amanda,” she says as we pull apart. “You’re the most amazing woman ever, don’t let what those two fuckers did, ever make you doubt that.”
I nod, trying to believe Cherry's words. With a final hug, I turn to my brothers. "Let's go."
We make our way out of the church through a side door, avoiding the chaos that must be unfolding in the main hall. As we step into the sunlight, I feel a weight lift off my shoulders. I'm not married to a cheater. I'm not trapped in a lie. I'm free.