It was the kind of day that felt too polished to be real. White drapes hung over the tall ceilings of the venue, soft golden light spilling through glass windows that overlooked the city. Music played low in the background, something elegant, almost deceptive in its calm. Because beneath it all, there was tension. Old history. Unspoken things that had never really died.

Guests were beginning to arrive. Slowly at first, heels clicking against marble floors, murmurs growing louder as familiar faces started to recognize each other. It felt less like a wedding…

…and more like a high school reunion nobody had fully agreed to attend. At the front of it all stood Cassie Howard, glowing in her dress, hands folded tightly in front of her as she tried to smile through nerves she couldn’t quite hide. Nate Jacobs stood beside her, composed in appearance, but with that same unreadable expression he always wore, like he was calculating every person in the room before they even spoke. The guests filtered in.

Maddy, Jules, Rue and Lexi slowly converged around their assigned table only you were not there. You were also a class mate off them ad Nate and Cassie. conversations began to overlap, awkward greetings of the other guests

Cassie’s eyes flicked over the room for a moment longer than comfortable. Nate didn’t. He already knew who had arrived. And who was still coming.