Chapter eleven

The entire venue plunged into stunned silence.

Emma's face went ghostly pale, her fingers tightening around Andrew's. Andrew, on the other hand, looked like he had just been slapped.

I barely had time to process what was happening before Lucas spoke.

"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered under his breath before turning to the woman standing at the back of the aisle. His voice was sharp when he addressed her. "Madeline, this isn't the time."

Madeline.

Oh, hell.

Andrew's ex—the one he had broken up with years ago. The one who, as far as I knew, had completely disappeared from his life.

Until now.

She took a shaky step forward, her heels clicking against the wooden floor. "I'm sorry, but I have to say something."

Emma's grip on my wrist was vice-like.

Lucas shot Andrew a look. "You want me to handle this?"

Andrew let out a breath, looking torn between rage and panic. "I—"

Before he could say anything, Emma's voice rang out, firm and unwavering.

"No."

We all turned to her.

Emma lifted her chin, her expression unreadable. "If she has something to say, let her say it. But she better make it quick."

My respect for her doubled in that moment.

Madeline hesitated, then glanced at Andrew. "Can we talk? Alone?"

Andrew's jaw ticked. "Absolutely not."

Her face fell. "Please, Andrew. You owe me that much."

"I don't owe you anything, Madeline," he shot back. "You don't get to show up on my wedding day and demand a private conversation."

I stepped forward, my patience snapping. "Alright. That's enough. We're not turning this into a spectacle."

Lucas exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "She's not wrong. We should take this somewhere private before someone live-streams it."

I nodded. "Agreed."

Emma didn't move, her expression unreadable. "Fine. But I'm coming."

Andrew turned to her, concern flashing in his eyes. "Are you sure?"

Emma lifted her chin. "I want to hear whatever she has to say for myself."

And that was how we ended up in one of the side rooms of the venue—Emma, Andrew, Lucas, me… and Madeline.

The tension was suffocating.

Madeline wrung her hands. "I didn't come here to ruin your wedding, Andrew."

Emma scoffed. "Could've fooled me."

Madeline flinched. "I swear, I just—I needed to see you one last time."

Andrew crossed his arms. "Why?"

She swallowed hard, then glanced at Emma. "Because I needed to tell you the truth. About why we broke up."

Emma stiffened. "What do you mean?"

Andrew frowned. "Madeline, this isn't—"

"I lied."

Silence.

She took a deep breath. "Back then, when I said I was the one who wanted to end things? That wasn't true."

My eyes narrowed.

Andrew's expression darkened. "Madeline—"

"I left because I had to, not because I wanted to," she continued. "Andrew, your father—"

Andrew froze.

Something in my stomach twisted.

Emma's brows furrowed. "His father?"

Madeline exhaled shakily. "He gave me an ultimatum. Either I walk away from you quietly, or he'd make sure my family paid for it."

My blood ran cold.

Andrew's face was unreadable. "You expect me to believe that?"

Tears welled in Madeline's eyes. "I'm not lying. I wanted to tell you. I tried—but he made it very clear what would happen if I didn't disappear."

I stole a glance at Lucas, who had gone completely still.

Because this?

This sounded eerily familiar.

Andrew finally spoke, his voice low. "Why now?"

Madeline swallowed hard. "Because he's not here to control me anymore."

A heavy silence settled over the room.

Then, finally, Emma spoke.

"Andrew?"

He turned to her, his expression unreadable. "I… I don't know what to say."

Emma lifted her chin. "Then let me make it easy for you."

We all braced ourselves.

Then, to everyone's shock, she took Andrew's hand in hers and squeezed.

"Do you want to marry me?"

Andrew's throat bobbed. Then, without hesitation, "Yes."

Emma smiled softly. "Then let's go get married."

And just like that, the tension in the room snapped.

Madeline let out a choked noise, wiping at her eyes. "I—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to—"

Emma turned to her, her voice firm but not unkind. "I believe you. But this doesn't change us."

Madeline nodded, looking exhausted. "I know."

Andrew let out a breath. "We should get back before people assume I left you at the altar."

Emma rolled her eyes. "Please. Like I'd let you."

I grinned. That was the Emma I knew.

We filed out of the room, and just as I thought we were in the clear, Lucas fell into step beside me, voice low.

"Déjà vu, huh?"

I stiffened.

Because, damn it, he was right.

And that was terrifying.