Chapter 178
Ellie POV
Sarah keeps stabbing pins into my scalp like she has a personal mission from the gods.
“Hold still,” she mutters, a bobby pin between her teeth.
“I am holding still.”
“You’re vibrating.”
I open my mouth to argue.
Then close it.
Because she’s probably right.
It’s my wedding day.
Which is already a ridiculous sentence because I never planned on sitting in this chair again.
Not after everything.
I stare at myself in the mirror while Sarah twists the final section of my hair into place.
The difference is almost strange.
Before, it was a maid.
This time, it’s Sarah.
And somehow, she’s doing a better job.
The dress is already on.
The lace sleeves wrap around my arms perfectly.
Nothing excessive.
Nothing that feels like a costume.
Unlike last time.
Last time, I wore a giant, ridiculous gown designed to make me look like I belonged in a royal painting.
This time…
It’s my mother’s dress.
Altered.
Adjusted.
Made to fit me.
But still hers.
The one piece of this entire performance that actually feels like mine.
That’s something.
I look at my reflection.
At a face that looks familiar but somehow different.
Older.
Tired.
Changed.
And immediately, my thoughts betray me.
The dressing room.
Dominic.
His hand against my bare back.
The way he looked at me.
The way I felt.
Why did that feel so…
My lips press together.
Okay.
I do not have a back obsession.
That would be strange.
Extremely strange.
So why did I like it when his fingers traced my spine?
Why did it feel like my entire body forgot how to fight?
No.
Absolutely not.
Delete that thought.
Erase it.
Today is not the day to think about Dominic’s hands.
Because today is our wedding day.
Which means tonight would be…
Nope.
Stop.
Too many thoughts.
Shut up.
It’s a fake marriage.
A contract.
A deal.
After this, I still need to find my way out.
“Wow.”
Sarah’s voice pulls me back.
I blink.
“What?”
She leans closer, studying my face.
Then gently brushes her thumb along my neck.
“We’re going to need concealer.”
My stomach drops.
I look at my reflection.
And there it is.
A faint mark.
Barely visible.
But definitely there.
Right above my collarbone, partially hidden beneath the lace.
Heat rushes straight to my face.
“Shit.”
Sarah grins.
“You two are not subtle.”
“I wasn’t—”
I stop.
Because I don’t even know how to finish that sentence.
Sarah’s smile widens.
“Relax.”
She picks up the concealer.
“It’s kind of hot.”
I glare at her through the mirror.
“You are not helping.”
Her expression softens immediately.
Her hands settle on my shoulders.
“I quite literally am.”
A pause.
“But a serious question.”
She meets my eyes through the reflection.
“What is going on in that head?”
Then she smirks.
“Is it because we didn’t have enough time to hide his keys?”
A laugh escapes her.
I try not to smile.
Fail slightly.
Then my expression falls.
“I’m not sure about this.”
The words come out quieter than I expect.
Sarah’s eyes soften.
“About the wedding?”
I nod.
“About all of it.”
She studies me.
“Well, no kidding.”
I look at her.
“You literally wanted help figuring out how to make him divorce you.”
She gestures toward my dress.
“Not exactly the strongest wedding-day mindset.”
“It’s not just that.”
My fingers twist together in my lap.
“I thought…”
I hesitate.
“I thought Dominic wouldn’t care about any of this.”
Sarah stays quiet.
I continue.
“I thought he’d be distant. That he’d treat it like a business arrangement. That once we were married, he’d eventually decide it was easier to let me go.”
I swallow.
“But he doesn’t.”
My voice drops.
“He talks like this is real.”
Sarah tilts her head.
“Maybe it is.”
I turn toward her.
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“It wasn’t the deal.”
She shrugs.
“Deals change, Ellie.”
“This one can’t.”
She raises an eyebrow.
“Says who?”
I open my mouth.
Nothing comes out.
“Seriously,” she continues. “Contract or not, this is your first real wedding.”
The words hit strangely.
“First.”
She nods.
“For most people, it’s the only one they ever get.”
She adjusts a strand of my hair.
“You should try to make the most of it.”
I look away.
Because that’s the problem.
I know every detail.
The flowers.
The seating.
The schedule.
Every person who will be there.
I know exactly what this day looks like.
But I don’t know if I’m protecting myself…
Or destroying something before it has the chance to hurt me.
I don’t know if I should move closer.
Or run.
I don’t know if I’m walking toward a future…
Or repeating a mistake.
Sarah dabs concealer over the mark with careful fingers.
“Wedding jitters happen.”
She looks at me.
“Whether you’re madly in love or strategically married.”
I scoff.
“I’m not nervous.”
She gives me a look.
“You are absolutely nervous.”
“No.”
I exhale.
“I’m scared.”
Her expression changes.
Softer.
“I know.”
I stare down at my hands.
“But this gets my mom out.”
That’s the point.
That’s always been the point.
Sarah leans down until our eyes meet in the mirror.
“Ellie.”
Her voice is gentle.
“You’re allowed to want more than survival.”