The wedding rehearsal was a whirlwind of flowers and chaos at the upstate venue, a sprawling garden with white chairs and a wooden arch draped in roses. Lara adjusted her yellow sundress, her curly brown hair pinned up, her hazel eyes darting nervously to Ethan beside her. His black blazer was gone, replaced with a casual white shirt, his green eyes warm but guarded after their heart-to-heart the night before (Chapter 6). They held hands, playing the perfect couple, but Maya's demand for the truth weighed on Lara like a storm cloud.
The rehearsal started, Maya directing everyone with her binder, her dark hair perfect, her brown eyes sharp as she watched Lara and Ethan. "You two, stand here," she said, pointing to the arch, her tone clipped. But their act faltered—Ethan tripped over a chair, pulling Lara down with him, her laugh too loud, too nervous, drawing everyone's attention. Her parents whispered, Jake smirked from the crowd, and Maya's suspicion grew.
During a break, Jake pulled Lara aside, his blonde hair slicked back, his blue suit pristine, his smile cruel. "Everyone's talking, Lara," he said, his voice low, mocking. "They think your 'boyfriend' is a fake. I told them you're desperate—can't even get a real date."
Lara's face burned, anger and shame mixing in her chest. "You don't know anything, Jake," she snapped, but her voice shook, the rumors spreading like wildfire through the guests. She glanced at Ethan, who was helping set up chairs, his green eyes catching hers, a silent question in his gaze.
Maya cornered her next, her arms crossed, her voice sharp. "Lara, enough. I know you—something's off. Is Ethan really your boyfriend, or is this some kind of stunt?"
Lara's heart raced, her palms sweaty, the weight of the lie crushing her. She glanced at Ethan, his smile from last night flashing in her mind—the way he'd held her, the way he'd made her feel safe. The truth spilled out, her voice breaking. "It started as a fake relationship, Maya. I needed a date to impress Mom and Dad, to get the loan for the bakery. But… I think I love him. For real."
Maya's eyes widened, her anger softening into shock, then concern. "Lara… does he know how you feel?"
Before Lara could answer, she realized Ethan was standing behind them, his green eyes wide, having overheard everything. His face was unreadable—shock, uncertainty, maybe even fear—and Lara's heart stopped, her confession hanging in the air, unanswered, as the rehearsal chaos swirled around them.
To be continued…