Chapter 6: The Fiancé Reveal

My breath catches in my throat.

“And now, I’d like to introduce the man who’s made all of my dreams come true. My fiancé, Luis Vanderwilson,” Lilly announces, her voice full of joy.

The room erupts into polite applause, and I feel the blood drain from my face.

Luis.

The name echoes in my mind like a cruel joke. I watch in slow motion as Luis steps up beside her, his tall, striking figure drawing every pair of eyes in the room. He’s dressed in an immaculate black suit, his presence commanding and effortless.

And yet, I can’t reconcile the man standing before me—the man beside my sister—with the one I met in the garden. The one who laughed at my joke, whose touch lingered too long on my skin, whose kiss felt like electricity. The one who, for just a moment, made me feel alive in a way I hadn’t felt in years.

Now, here he is, being introduced as Lilly’s soon-to-be husband.

I feel like the ground is crumbling beneath my feet. My heart clenches painfully, drowning in a sea of betrayal. It’s as if the air has been sucked from the room, leaving me hollow. A thousand questions race through my mind, but none of them make sense.

How could this be happening? How could the man I met, the one I felt so drawn to, be engaged to my sister? Why didn’t I know? Why didn’t he say anything?

I stand frozen, unable to move or breathe, watching as Luis steps forward to take Lilly’s hand. They look perfect together—Lilly, radiant in her happiness, and Luis, poised and composed. But something in his expression gives me pause. He looks...detached, like he’s going through the motions, playing a part.

I’m not the only one who notices. There’s a murmur in the crowd, a shift in the atmosphere, as if others can sense the same disconnection between them. My eyes dart between them, and I catch a flicker of something in Luis’s gaze. He’s scanning the crowd, and then—almost imperceptibly—his eyes find mine.

At that moment, everything falls apart.

The pull between us is undeniable. His brown eyes lock with mine, and I see the same confusion, the same turmoil that I feel. But before I can make sense of it, he looks away, his face hardening into the mask of the dutiful fiancé.

I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut. How could he do this? How could I have been so stupid? Every emotion I’ve been bottling up—the disbelief, the hurt, the anger—it all crashes over me in a wave so strong I think I might collapse under the weight of it.

I can’t stay here. I need to get out.

I turn abruptly, weaving my way through the crowd, barely hearing the conversations around me. My skin feels like it’s burning, my heart pounding in my chest as I make a beeline for the nearest exit.

But my eyes meet Nick’s from across the ballroom. He’s standing near the back entrance, his expression unreadable, but his eyes bore into me like a warning. I know that look. He’s not just watching—he’s looking for me.

Nick’s sharp voice stops me in my tracks. “Agatha,” he calls, his tone low but firm. “We’re being introduced to the groom’s family next.”

My heart sinks. I was hoping for just a minute away from all of this, a moment to process everything that’s happened. But Nick's looming figure, combined with the weight of duty, pulls me back inside. There’s no escape, not tonight.

I walk slowly toward Nick, feeling his impatience like a heatwave. “I just wanted to get some air,” I say quietly, though it’s clear from his cold stare that he doesn’t care. He gestures for me to follow him without another word, his grip on my arm firm as we weave through the crowd back toward the front of the room where mum is already waiting . Lilly is still up on the stage, her smile so wide, so full of happiness, as she finishes her speech about her and Luis’s perfect love story.

When she finally wraps up, the room claps politely, and Nick nudges me forward to stand beside him as we’re called up to be introduced to Luis’s family. My stomach twists into knots as we approach them, all eyes in the room now focused on us. I haven’t even recovered from the shock of finding out Luis is Lilly’s fiancé, and now I have to face his entire family.

Lilly beams down at us from the stage as the spotlight swings to a group standing near the head table. My gaze darts nervously across their faces as we’re ushered forward for introductions.

First, I meet Sarah, Luis’s older sister. She looks regal, standing tall next to I assume her husband with long dark hair that matches Luis’s. Her hands rest protectively over her swollen belly, and I realize she’s pregnant. Despite the formality of the situation, Sarah’s smile is warm.

“It’s lovely to meet you, Agatha,” she says softly, her tone sincere. I smile back at her, feeling a little more at ease.

Next is Matt, Luis’s younger brother. He’s around 23 or so, with sharp features and an easygoing grin. He seems much more relaxed than Luis, his posture loose, like he’s already over the stiff formalities of the night. “Good to meet you,” he says, giving me a firm handshake before stepping aside.

Then there’s Amelia, Luis’s younger sister. She’s about my age—21, maybe a few months older—and her eyes light up the moment we’re introduced. There’s something instantly familiar about her, like we’re two pieces of a puzzle that just fit together.

“You have no idea how excited I am to finally meet someone my age,” she says with a wide grin, and I can’t help but laugh. It’s as if we’ve known each other for years, like we’ve already shared inside jokes and late-night secrets. It’s the first time all night I feel a real connection with someone, and it catches me off guard.

Finally, we meet Luis’s mother, Maryly, a gentle woman with kind eyes and soft curls that frame her face. Her smile is welcoming, and the way she takes my hand in hers reminds me of how a mother should be—kind, nurturing, full of love.

“You’re Lilly’s sister?” she asks, her voice full of warmth. I nod, feeling the softness in her touch, and for the first time in a long time, I feel...safe. Like this is what it should feel like to have a mother figure in your life. She squeezes my hand once before letting go, her gaze lingering on me like she already cares, despite not knowing me at all.

And then, there’s Luis.

As we finally come face to face, the weight of everything we shared in the garden slams into me. He stands before me in his perfectly tailored suit, exuding power and calm, but I can see the tension in his shoulders, the way his jaw tightens as his eyes meet mine. He offers a polite smile—one meant for the crowd, not for me—but I can feel the strain behind it. My pulse quickens, and I struggle to keep my own expression neutral.

It’s difficult to act like nothing happened between us, especially when his presence pulls at something deep inside me. I nod politely as Lilly beams beside him, her arm hooked through his. She’s oblivious to the storm brewing beneath the surface, to the silent battle Luis and I are both fighting just to maintain the facade.

“Luis, this is my sister, Agatha,” Lilly says, introducing us as if we’re strangers, her voice full of pride and joy. “I know you’ve already met, but now it’s official.” She laughs, and Luis’s eyes flicker with something I can’t quite place.

Met before? What is she talking about? But before I can linger on the thought, He reaches out a hand and the tension between us is almost unbearable as we shake hands. His touch is brief, professional, but the electricity from earlier still lingers, and I have to force myself to let go. I can’t help but notice how Lilly glances between us, oblivious to the turmoil swirling beneath the surface.

As we stand there, the introductions wrapping up, I feel like I’m holding my breath, trying to keep from drowning in this mess because every time I look at him, I’m reminded of what I can’t have, of the betrayal already brewing inside me.