Chapter ten

A tense silence blanketed the room as every pair of eyes flickered between Lucas and me, waiting for his answer.

Lucas's jaw tightened, his fingers curling slightly at his sides.

I held my breath.

Then, just as he parted his lips to speak, he exhaled sharply and gave a small shake of his head. "Not here."

A wave of disappointed murmurs rippled through the guests.

Andrew chuckled. "Well, that was anticlimactic."

Someone else called out, "Come on, Lucas! Give us the drama!"

Laughter erupted, but my pulse hammered in my ears. Lucas's gaze was locked onto mine, his meaning clear.

This conversation isn't over.

I swallowed hard, forcing a tight-lipped smile. "Guess that means unfinished business stays unfinished."

Andrew grinned. "Well, there's still time before the wedding. Maybe it'll be finished by then."

More laughter. More teasing. I barely heard any of it.

Because all I could focus on was Lucas.

And the way he was looking at me like I had just forced open a door neither of us were ready to walk through.

—

I managed to get through the rest of the dinner without making eye contact with Lucas again. But the moment I stepped outside to get some air, I knew I wouldn't be alone for long.

Sure enough, footsteps sounded behind me.

I didn't turn. "That was quite the performance."

Lucas exhaled, stepping beside me. "You put me on the spot."

"You could've answered."

He let out a humorless chuckle. "Right. In front of an audience?"

I glanced at him. "Would it have changed anything?"

Lucas hesitated, then sighed. "No."

Silence stretched between us, filled only by the distant sound of waves crashing against the shore.

Finally, he ran a hand through his hair. "You really want to know why I left?"

I crossed my arms, bracing myself. "Yes."

His gaze darkened. "It wasn't just my father's threats, Claire."

My stomach tightened. "What do you mean?"

Lucas turned toward me fully, his expression serious. "He wasn't bluffing. I knew what he was capable of, and I knew he'd do everything in his power to ruin you if I stayed."

I swallowed hard. "And you didn't think I had the right to know that?"

His jaw clenched. "I was trying to protect you."

I shook my head, frustration bubbling up. "That's not your choice to make."

"I know." His voice was rough, raw. "But I was nineteen, Claire. Scared. Stupid. And when he gave me an ultimatum—leave or watch him destroy everything you loved—I did the only thing I thought I could."

My chest ached. "And you never thought to come back? To fight?"

Lucas's throat bobbed. "I almost did."

I blinked. "What?"

He exhaled. "I tried. A year after I left, I came back."

My heart stopped.

No. That wasn't possible.

"I went to your house," Lucas continued, his voice quieter now. "But you weren't there. Your parents said you had moved. They wouldn't tell me where."

I inhaled sharply. "They never told me you came back."

Lucas's lips pressed into a thin line. "I figured."

My mind spun.

All these years, I had convinced myself that he had never looked back. That he had moved on easily while I had spent years trying to pick up the pieces.

But he had come back.

He had tried.

I didn't know whether that made it better or worse.

I turned away, pressing a hand to my forehead. "This is too much, Lucas."

He was quiet for a long moment.

Then, softly, "I know."

I closed my eyes, exhaling shakily. "What do you want from me?"

Lucas was quiet for so long that I thought he might not answer.

Then, barely above a whisper, he said, "A second chance."

I sucked in a breath, my heart pounding.

Because the scariest part of all?

I wasn't sure I could say no.

I barely slept that night.

Lucas's words kept replaying in my head.

"A second chance."

I hated that a part of me wanted to believe him. That no matter how much I tried to convince myself otherwise, my heart was still tangled up in what-ifs and old feelings I thought I had buried long ago.

So, by the time the morning of the wedding arrived, I had made a decision.

I needed to push it all aside.

For Emma. For Andrew. For my own sanity.

I wasn't going to let Lucas ruin this day for me.

I threw myself into helping Emma get ready, focusing on her excitement, the little details of her dress, the final touches of her makeup.

Everything was going fine.

Until it wasn't.

Because just as I finished pinning Emma's veil, the door to the bridal suite burst open, and Andrew's sister, Madison, rushed in, breathless and panicked.

"We have a huge problem."

Emma tensed. "What happened?"

Madison took a deep breath. "The officiant just called. He got into a car accident on the way here."

Emma's face drained of color. "Is he okay?"

"He's fine. Just a few bruises. But…" Madison winced. "He won't make it to the ceremony."

A stunned silence filled the room.

Then Emma let out a strangled noise. "What do we do?"

Madison chewed her lip. "We could try to find a last-minute replacement, but it's going to be nearly impossible on such short notice."

Emma let out a shaky breath. "Oh my God."

I grabbed her hands, trying to keep her from spiraling. "Hey. We'll figure this out."

Emma's eyes were wide. "How? We don't have an officiant, Claire!"

Madison hesitated. "Technically… we do."

Emma and I both turned to her.

Madison shifted uncomfortably. "Lucas."

My stomach plummeted.

"What?" Emma blinked.

Madison exhaled. "Lucas is ordained. He got certified online a few years ago as a joke for one of his friends' weddings."

My pulse pounded.

Of course he was ordained.

Emma's eyes lit up. "That's perfect!"

I, on the other hand, was horrified.

"No. Absolutely not," I said quickly.

Emma turned to me, confused. "Why not?"

I sputtered. "Because—it's Lucas! And this is your wedding. Do you really want your brother's best friend, the guy who has never taken anything seriously, officiating your marriage?"

Emma gave me a pointed look. "He's also the guy who helped plan the entire bachelor party, set up the venue, and flew halfway across the country to be here for Andrew."

I opened my mouth, then closed it.

Damn it. She had a point.

Emma clasped my hands. "Claire, please. I know things are complicated between you two, but I need you to be okay with this."

I swallowed hard.

This was her day. Not mine.

So, against every screaming instinct, I forced a smile. "Okay."

Emma's face brightened. "Really?"

I nodded. "Really."

Because what was one more hour of pretending Lucas West didn't still have the power to completely unravel me?

—

One Hour Later

I stood at the edge of the aisle, my heart hammering as guests took their seats.

Everything was perfect. The floral arrangements. The soft glow of fairy lights. The music.

But none of it mattered.

Because Lucas was standing at the altar.

Looking unfairly good in a black suit, holding a small booklet in his hands.

And I had no choice but to watch.

The ceremony began, and to my complete and utter horror, Lucas was actually good at this.

He spoke with confidence, his voice smooth and steady. His usual smirk was nowhere in sight—just sincerity, warmth, and maybe even a little reverence for the moment.

It was infuriating.

I tried to focus on Emma and Andrew, on the vows they were exchanging, on anything other than the fact that the man who had broken my heart was currently presiding over a wedding.

Then, Lucas's voice rang out, pulling me back.

"And now," he said, his eyes flickering briefly—too briefly—to mine before returning to the couple, "if there's anyone here who objects to this union, speak now or forever hold your peace."

A beat of silence.

Then another.

I exhaled.

And then—

A voice rang out.

"I object."

Gasps rippled through the crowd. Emma gasped.

My head whipped around, my heart dropping.

Because standing at the back of the aisle—breathless, wild-eyed, and definitely uninvited—was Andrew's ex-girlfriend.

Oh. Shit.

Lucas pinched the bridge of his nose. "You've got to be kidding me."

And just like that, the wedding was officially a disaster.