Chapter 19
Mia
I lie on my bed, staring up at the ceiling as early morning sun washes across the blankets. Everything feels a little unreal, like I’m drifting between someone else’s dreams.
Last night plays over and over in my mind—their hands, their mouths, the way they held me, all three of them. I shiver, not from cold, but from remembering how wanted I felt, how full and wild and alive. It was amazing, unreal, almost like stepping into someone else’s life.
But now, in the hush of the morning, I wonder just how real it all is. I came here to support Sarah. I was supposed to keep her together, make sure this weekend went smoothly, help her walk down the aisle.
They’re my dad’s friends. What would Dad say if he knew? Would he be furious? Disappointed? Or would he somehow understand? I’m not sure which answer scares me more.
And then there’s Sarah. I’m supposed to be here for her.
Maid of honor, best friend, confidante. But instead, I keep getting swept away by everything happening between me and the brothers.
What must Sarah be thinking now? After what happened at the dinner, the mess, the distance that’s grown between us?
I press a pillow over my face and let out a frustrated sigh. I want to be good, to do the right thing, but every time I try, something pulls me back to them. Their touch. Their voices. Their arms around me in the dark, promising I’m not alone.
I sit in bed and write in my journal, pouring everything out onto the page.
The ink blurs a little where my hand trembles, but I keep going.
By the time I finish, I feel lighter. Maybe not fixed, but ready.
I even manage a small smile as I fold up the letter I wrote for Sarah—an honest apology, every word I wish I could say out loud.
I step into the breakfast room and freeze.
The place is strangely quiet. People move in small clusters, voices low, eyes sliding away when I pass.
Not even Sarah’s bridesmaids shoot me their usual looks.
I should feel relieved, but it just feels wrong.
There’s an undercurrent in the room, a tension I can’t place. People are murmuring about something.
Before I can figure out what’s going on, Jason steps in front of me, blocking my path. He’s dressed perfectly, smiling, too bright for the early hour.
“Right on time,” he says, blocking my way.
I blink, thrown. “Excuse me?”
He leans in, lowering his voice. “You might want to grab some coffee and a seat, Mia. Breakfast is about to get interesting.”
My stomach drops. “What are you talking about?”
Jason just smirks. “You’ll see.”
Just as Jason slips away, Tyler, Marcus, and Alexander walk in together. They spot me by the doorway and head over, concern written all over their faces.
Tyler’s the first to speak. “What’s wrong, Mia? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Marcus glances around the room, frowning. “Did Jason say something to you?”
Alexander puts a steadying hand on my shoulder. “Tell us what happened.”
Before I can answer, there’s a sudden blare from the far corner as someone grabs the remote and switches on the wall-mounted TV. All eyes in the room snap to the screen.
A local news anchor is speaking urgently. The banner reads Birch Brothers Foundation Scandal. The shot cuts to footage of a well-known blogger, her face familiar from every social feed. She’s animated, holding up printouts and screenshots.
“We have reason to believe funds have been siphoned from the Birch Brothers Foundation over the past year,” the blogger says. “Our sources point directly to Alexander, Marcus, and Tyler Birch, the very men behind this historic family company.”
Gasps ripple through the room. The camera cuts to scenes from town, the foundation’s offices, and back to the news anchor, who explains that a local channel picked up the story just this morning.
All three brothers stiffen, their faces draining of color. Marcus’s jaw clenches, Tyler’s eyes are wide, and Alexander’s hand tightens protectively on my shoulder.
I stand there, numb, as the whispers grow louder. Jason, across the room, catches my eye and gives me a smug, knowing smile.
Before anyone can move, Sarah pushes through the crowd, her face red and eyes bright with anger. She stops in front of her uncles, voice trembling but loud enough for everyone to hear.
“What is going on?” she demands. “Is this true? Did you really steal from the foundation? How could you—how could any of you let this happen?”
Tyler tries to reach for her. “Sarah, you need to calm down. You know us. You know we’d never—”
She jerks her arm away, tears welling in her eyes. “Then explain it! Everyone’s watching this! Do you even understand what this looks like?”
Marcus opens his mouth to speak, but Alexander steps forward, jaw set, trying to keep his voice level. “Sarah, it isn’t true. We’d never do anything to hurt the foundation, or you. This is someone else’s game. Someone is setting us up.”
From the other side of the room, Jason leans against a table, arms crossed, wearing a satisfied smile. He watches the chaos unfold, soaking in every second.
Sarah shakes her head. “This is a disaster. You’re supposed to be family. How can I trust any of you now?” Her voice breaks, and Jason’s smile widens.
What a jerk. I don’t have a shred of doubt that he’s behind it.
I can’t just stand by. I step forward, my voice shaking but firm. “Sarah, you know them. You know they wouldn’t do something like this. This is a setup.”
Sarah turns on me, her eyes narrowing. “Why are you defending them, Mia? You barely know what’s going on anymore.”
Before I can reply, Jason cuts in, his tone falsely sympathetic.
“That’s right, Mia. You can’t know them all that well.
They’re barely in Sarah’s life as it is.
Sure, they spend money on her, but she spends most of her time away from family, with her friends.
” He glances at Sarah, then back at me. “You of all people should know that. Wasn’t she always with you and your family instead? ”
I swallow hard. This is one of the reasons I didn’t even recognize Tyler when I first saw him.
I have barely spent any time with them, and Sarah rarely ever went home for the big holidays, murmuring about how her uncles were caught up in one thing or the other.
Jason right in the facts, but he’s twisting everything, turning memories into accusations.
Alexander steps forward, his voice hard but wounded. “The foundation is what it is because of us. Every dollar, every scholarship, every project—that’s our hard work. Everything we do is for Sarah.”
Jason scoffs. “And yet you can’t even treat her future husband with an ounce of dignity. Is it really any wonder she’d rather trust me? Maybe she’s tired of being your project. Maybe she wants something for herself for once.”
Sarah’s face crumples. “I just wanted family. I wanted you to be happy for me. Instead, you treat me like a little girl who can’t make her own choices.”
Tyler tries to reach her again. “Sarah, we love you. We’re just trying to protect you—”
“From what?” Sarah’s voice cracks. “From making my own decisions? From loving who I want? Or is it just about keeping Jason out of the company?”
Jason’s arm goes around her shoulders. “You see, Mia? This is all it’s ever been. Control. Blame. Maybe the real thieves aren’t the ones on TV. Maybe they’re just the ones who take and take and leave you with nothing.”
Sarah’s words still ring in my ears as Jason steps forward, his voice loud enough for the entire room.
“Honestly, Mia, I’m not sure why you’re even here anymore.
You’ve missed every important event this week, vanished for hours, and managed to cause a scene in the kitchen when everyone needed you most. Some people might call it nerves, but to me, it looked an awful lot like you were sabotaging your best friend’s big day. ”
I feel everyone’s eyes on me. My stomach twists. I want to defend myself, but the words won’t come.
Jason doesn’t let up. “And let’s not forget who you’ve been spending your time with. Sarah’s uncles, right? It’s amazing how close you all got, considering you were supposed to be supporting your friend. The whole lodge saw it. No wonder you’re out here defending this filth.”
“Fuck off, Jason. You have no idea what you’re talking about—” I say.
“How dare you!” Sarah cuts me off.
“Don’t listen to her,” Jason says calmly. “She’s just acting out. She’s not the one getting married, after all.”
“The last time I checked you were all on my parents’ property,” I say. I know it’s a low blow, but I can’t help myself. Jason’s gone too far.
“You’ve got some nerve,” Sarah says, shaking her head.
“Use of this property was your parents’ wedding gift to Sarah, in case you’ve forgotten,” Jason says. “And we’re more than happy to pay for it. The last thing we want is to mooch off other people.” He says that while looking directly at Alexander.
The whispering gets louder, and I see Sarah glance away, hurt flashing in her eyes.
Jason presses on, relentless. “Honestly, I feel bad for you. I do. It must be hard to watch your ex move on, to see him happy with someone else. Maybe all this drama, all these stories about me, were just your way of trying to hold on.”
My cheeks are burning. He’s making me out to be unstable, a jealous ex, a liar who ruins everything she touches. He knows exactly how to twist the knife, to make sure no one takes me seriously.
I open my mouth to protest, but nothing comes out. Tears sting my eyes, threatening to fall, and my hands tremble as I clutch Sarah’s letter in my pocket. I don’t dare look at her now. All I see is a blur of faces—some pitying, some suspicious, most just eager for the drama.
My throat tightens. I want to defend myself. I want to shout that Jason is lying, that he’s the real danger here, but every time I try to speak, the words stick. He’s spun everything so perfectly. Even the truth sounds like an excuse.
The tension in the room thickens. That’s when Tyler steps up beside me. His jaw is set, anger in every line of his body. “Stop it, Jason. Mia’s done nothing wrong. All she ever wanted was to help Sarah, to make sure she was safe and happy. She’s always had her best interests at heart, unlike you.”
Jason only smirks, but Marcus isn’t far behind.
He faces the crowd, voice ringing out clear and strong.
“Mia was the first person to notice when something felt off about this wedding. She tried to keep things quiet, tried to protect her friend, and we supported her every step. She’s not unstable.
She’s loyal, and she’s braver than anyone else in this room. ”
Alexander joins them, posture commanding. “You want to accuse someone of betrayal, Jason? Look in the mirror. Mia’s the reason Sarah has any real support at all. Don’t twist her care into some melodrama.”
Their words hang in the air, but they don’t have the effect I’d hoped. Instead, their protectiveness seems to confirm Jason’s narrative. I can feel the tide shifting in the room, suspicion replacing curiosity, eyes narrowing as they watch the brothers rush to my defense.
Jason doesn’t miss a beat. He raises his hands, as if helpless.
“See? This is exactly what I’m talking about.
Every time someone questions Mia’s motives, her personal fan club comes running.
Isn’t it odd that the only people who ever believe her are the same ones who’ve been caught up in their own scandal?
Horrible people defending horrible people. ”
The news still plays on the TV in the background, the anchor’s voice looping: “Allegations, missing funds, a blogger’s explosive exposé…” The story and the public accusations fill every corner of the room, a constant reminder of just how much we’ve lost control.
A woman I vaguely remember from Sarah’s extended family leans toward another guest, whispering, “I can’t believe those three. They want to steal everything from their dead sister’s daughter. How awful!”
The words sink in, heavy as stones. I see Sarah watching the TV out of the corner of her eye, jaw tight, her hand clutching Jason’s arm even as she pulls slightly away.
One of the bridesmaids mutters, “I heard Mia was the one who tipped off the blogger in the first place.”
“That’s not true,” I whisper, but no one’s listening. The more the brothers defend me, the more it sounds like a secret pact. The more desperate I feel, the more desperate I look.
Jason shakes his head, almost sorrowful. “Sarah, I’m sorry, but you have to ask yourself: Why are all these stories coming out now? Why does everything go wrong when certain people are around?”
Sarah’s mouth tightens, pain and doubt flickering across her face. She looks at me, and for a second, I see my best friend. The next second, she looks away.
Jason doesn’t even need to say anything more. He just stands there, holding Sarah’s hand, letting the damage play out.
For a moment, I almost wish I’d never tried. I almost believe the things they’re saying about me, about the brothers, about all of us.
Alexander plants himself on my other side, facing the guests and the accusations head-on. “If you want to blame someone, blame us. We’re the ones who asked Mia to help, because we trust her more than anyone else in this room. That hasn’t changed.”
“It’s okay,” I say, taking a shuddering breath. “You don’t have to defend me anymore.”
Alexander looks at me, and I wonder for a moment if he believes all that crap about me leaking the news. There’s something else in his eyes, something that really scares me.
Tears prick my eyes. “Sarah, I am happy for you. I just—I wanted you to be safe. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Jason draws Sarah a little closer, leaning in as if to shield her. “Well, you’ve made your point, Mia. Maybe it’s time to let the grown-ups handle things for a while.”
I bite back a sob, shoulders shaking.
Everything is over. Jason has won.