Chapter 62

NADIA'S POV

I closed my eyes and could see it so clearly, Richard standing at the altar, waiting for me. The white flowers around us shimmered in the soft light, their fragrance intoxicating.

I was there, in a gown so perfect it felt like it was made just for me. The delicate lace clung to my figure, and the long train flowed behind me like a river of dreams.

In my mind, Richard’s eyes met mine, and the world seemed to stand still. He smiled, that charming, disarming smile that had once made me believe in love.

I imagined myself walking down the aisle toward him, every step a declaration that he was mine, not Tammie’s.

When I reached him, he took my hand, his touch warm and steady. His voice echoed in my mind, deep and tender. “I’ve always loved you, Nadia.”

And then, we kissed. A kiss so passionate, so full of promise, that it felt like the culmination of everything I’d ever wanted. The crowd around us faded into the background; it was just us, together, as it should’ve been from the start.

“Nadia? Hello? Nadia, are you still there?”

Max’s voice snapped me back to reality like a bucket of cold water. I blinked, shaking off the daydream, and realized I’d gone silent for too long.

“Sorry, Max. I’m here,” I said quickly, trying to steady my voice.

“Got lost in thought, didn’t you?” he teased. “Thinking about Richard again, I bet.”

I didn’t respond directly, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of being right. “Anyway, back to the plan. Here’s what’s going to happen. Tomorrow, at the game, everything will be set in motion.

You’ll need to get an extra ticket for me. I want to make sure I’m close enough to see their faces when it all goes down.”

Max laughed again. “Consider it done. This is going to be unforgettable.”

“It has to be,” I said, my voice firm. “I don’t just want them embarrassed, Max. I want them ruined. By the time I’m done, no one will look at Richard or Tammie the same way again.”

“You’ve got this, Nadia. And I’ll be there to help every step of the way.”

Satisfied, I decided it was time to wrap up the conversation. “Good. Just make sure everything’s in place. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

With that, I ended the call, leaning back against the cushions with a sense of triumph coursing through me. Everything was coming together perfectly.

Just as I was about to lose myself in another fantasy of Richard, my phone rang again. I glanced at the screen and saw Alisha’s name flashing. My brows furrowed. What could she want now?

“Hello?” I answered, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice.

“Nadia,” Alisha said, her voice low and urgent. “We need to talk.”

Her tone sent a chill down my spine. Something wasn’t right.

“About what?” I asked, my heart beginning to race.

“It’s about tomorrow,” she said cryptically.

“What about tomorrow? Is the plan still taking place.” she demanded, while I sat up straight.

There was a pause, and then Alisha’s voice dropped even lower. “You’re not the only one with a plan. Of course it is taking place. ”

Her words hung in the air like a thunderclap, and my breath caught in my throat.

“What do you mean by that?” I whispered, my grip tightening on the phone.

“You’ll find out soon enough,” I said to her as my tone laced with both warning and mystery. “Just be ready, Alisha, I will call you when I'm ready. Things might not go the way you expect.”

Before I could press her for more, the line went cracking, leaving me staring at the phone in stunned silence.

What did she mean? Who else had a plan? And what could possibly interfere with mine? Or maybe she already has a plan and so she had called to ask if my plan is still taking place.

For the first time in weeks, doubt crept into my mind, and a shiver of unease ran down my spine.

Tomorrow couldn’t come fast enough.

“Nadia, I’ve got the dress,” Alisha said excitedly the moment the call later came back to the live call. Her voice was brimming with energy, which made me smirk.

“Good,” I replied. “Did you make sure it’s the right one? It has to be perfect, Alisha. No mistakes.”

“Of course, Nadia,” she said, a little defensively. “I double-checked everything. It’s exactly what you described. Trust me.”

“I’ll trust you when I see it in action,” I said coolly. “But let’s stick to the plan for now. I’ll call you tomorrow and let you know when to get into position.”

“Okay,” Alisha agreed, but then hesitated. “Wait, Nadia, are we doing this tomorrow or the day after? I thought the big moment was on the next day.”

“It’s the next day,” I clarified, “but we’ll all be in place well before then. Tomorrow morning, to be precise. We can’t risk missing Richard when he takes the route to work. Timing is everything, Alisha. You know that.”

“Right,” she said, her tone more serious now. “I’ll be at the spot early. Don’t worry about me.”

“You better be,” I warned. “Because if one piece of this plan falls apart, the whole thing will crumble. And trust me, Alisha, I’m not in the mood for failure.”

“I get it,” she replied quickly. “I won’t mess this up. I’ll be there before sunrise if I have to.”

“Good.” I ended the call without another word, tossing my phone onto the couch beside me.

For a moment, I allowed myself a deep breath. The pieces were slowly coming together, and the thrill of expectations coursed through me. But there was still one more call to make.

I picked up my phone again, scrolling through my contacts until I landed on the name of the truck driver. He was crucial to the plan, and I couldn’t afford for him to forget his part in this.