THE BRIDE NO ONE WANTED

CHAPTER ONE

Even before the sun climbed fully over St. Louis, Vivienne Cross felt the day leaning toward

something dangerous. A faint tremble lived in her hands as she fastened the small silver clasp

of her necklace. She stared at her reflection steady brown eyes, soft features, a quiet beauty no

one in her family ever remembered to notice and wondered if Maddox Lane would finally see

her today.

The celebration felt too large for a simple birthday gathering. Too decorated. Too formal. Too

sharpened at the edges. Yet she kept replaying the moment in her mind the one she had

imagined since she was nineteen. Maddox kneeling, his voice shaking just enough to prove he

meant every word, telling her she was his future. His wife. His choice.

She whispered the line she had rehearsed a hundred times, "Yes, of course I will." But the

words felt strange on her tongue today, almost foreign, almost frightened.

Something cold pressed between her ribs. Maddox's recent messages had lost their warmth. He

no longer called her "Vee." He no longer asked about her day. He no longer spoke like a man in

love. And each time she asked if everything was all right, he offered the same answer: "Busy.

Don't worry."

But Vivienne worried.

She smoothed her dress a soft champagne color that flattered her shape then carefully

arranged her hair behind her shoulder. She wanted to look like someone worth choosing.

Someone he could look at and remember why he loved her in the first place. Someone he

wouldn't replace.

A small, humorless breath escaped her. "It's supposed to be a happy day," she told her

reflection, but the mirror didn't agree.

A knock sounded on her door.

Vivienne startled, her heart tightening as if it expected Maddox himself. She stepped forward,

trying to gather the courage to face whatever waited on the other side.

She opened the door.

And the cold feeling dropped deeper.

Tessa Holloway breezed in as if she owned the air in the room. Her smile was wide enough to

strain her perfectly glossed lips. She wore an emerald gown that hugged her figure, its shimmer

catching every bit of morning light. Tessa always sparkled she made sure of it.

"You look... lovely, Vivienne," she said, the compliment sounding sweet for the first time in her

life, and therefore completely wrong.

Vivienne blinked. Tessa had never complimented anyone without an agenda. "Thank you. You

look "

"Stunning? I know," Tessa finished for her, twirling lightly so her dress whispered against the

carpet.

Vivienne stepped aside as Tessa walked in, trailing expensive perfume and the unmistakable

energy of someone hiding excitement behind a mask of politeness.

Tessa glanced around the room before settling her gaze on Vivienne again. "You're nervous,"

she said, as if she could read Vivienne's pulse. "Relax. Today is important, and you don't want

to look tense."

The words were simple, but they clung to Vivienne like thorns. Tessa never cared how she

looked,