Acts of Redemption by Eleanor Aldrick
It’s finally wedding day and all of us WRATH ladies are in the family suite with Bella getting ready for her big day.
It’s the first time I’ll be out in public after having left Preston. So far there hasn’t been a big scandal, but a small local paper printed their theories that our relationship was on the rocks. I laugh internally. If they only knew.
“You need to stop sweating. I’m not touching up your makeup, you know.” The makeup artist, a friend of Cassie’s is doing all the bridesmaids in soft shades of pink and plum. “I swear, you’re sweating more than the bride.”
Bella turns to look at me, concern written all over her pretty face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m perfectly fine. Don’t you worry about me. It’s your day.’” I clap my hands together and squeal. “You’re finally going to be Mrs. William Hawthorne.”
“I still think William should have taken your name.” Cassie comments as she takes a sip of her mimosa. “Just saying.”
“Oh, stop. We all know that if that’s what Bella really wanted, that man would do it in a heartbeat.” Ashley gets a distant look in her eyes as she sighs. “Ugh, if only all of the WRATH men loved that fiercely.”
“Are you still withholding the cookie?” Alyssa giggles into her hands as Ashley turns the color of Bella’s Louboutin heels.
“Leave poor Ashley alone.” I call out, trying to end poor Ashley’s embarrassment. Feel a strange pull toward William’s sister and I hate to see her uncomfortable.
“Fine, I’ll set my eyes on you. Are you ready to deal with the masses today?” Casie beams up at me, not knowing that she’s just unleashed Dante’s Inferno inside my mind.
Right on cue, my palms get sweaty and I feel a bead of liquid glide down my forehead. “It’s time I was out in public. Besides, I couldn’t be anywhere safer than at a wedding being guarded by the most elite security firm in the nation. And It’s not like there will be paparazzi here, right?”
All the women look at each other as if they’re in on something I’m not.
“About that...” Bella clears her throat, taking her sweet time to spit out whatever she has to say. “I agreed to let one magazine come shoot the wedding.”
Cassie chimes in, seeing the color drain from my face. “It’s one of the most anticipated weddings of the year.”
I pull myself together, unwilling to let my fear of the media ruin this day for Bella. “Yes, of course it is! I’m glad you’re having this special moment documented. And hey, it’s not like I have a big sign above my head that says, ‘Senator’s wife, pregnant with lover’s baby,’ right?” I give an awkward laugh as my arms wrap around my waist.
With my fake reassurance, the girls go back to getting ready. Alyssa touching up her nails and Cassie supervising her friend do Bella’s makeup.
Ashley, however, plops down beside me in her pink monogrammed robe—Bella had one made for each of us and surprised us with them this morning as we arrived to get ready. Leaning in to me, she whispers, “It’s going to be fine. All eyes will be on the bride, and if anyone says anything, we’ll just tell them you’re my plus one.” She extends her pinkie out to me in offering, “Deal?”
“Deal.” I smile, taking her pinkie in mine and let out a long deep breath.
Everything is going to be okay.
Not okay. Not okay.
I spot my sister two tables away from the head table and she’s staring at me slacked jawed. Ren is giving his toast as the best man and I’m thankful for the time it’s buying me. I know as soon as everyone begins to eat, she’s going to approach me.
Making matters worse, Bella and Cassie seated me next to Aiden.
I see Clara’s internal cogs spinning. Her eyes dart back and forth between an oblivious Aiden and me. If I thought I was sweaty before, I must look like I’m coming from the sauna right about now.
“Hey, you okay?” Aiden leans into me, whispering his question.
“Don’t look now, but Clara is here and she’s staring right at us.” I manage to answer back without looking at him directly. I’m sure that Clara isn’t the only one who’s caught on to the fact that the senator’s wife is seated at the head table, sans the senator.
Out of my periphery I see Aiden’s eyes go wide, a rarity for a man who rarely shows emotion in public. “Okay then.”
“Okay then.” I reply, not saying anything else. I’m not trying to add more fuel to the fire.
As soon as Ren stops talking and the table begins to eat, I excuse myself, slipping past Bella and William, giving them both a kiss on the cheek and congratulating them once more and bee-lining it to my sister’s table.
I’m not even five feet from her when her loud voice booms over all those seated with her, “Charlotte, what a surprise. I hadn’t heard from you in so long and to find you seated at the head table no less.” All eyes fall on me and I feel as if I’m about to stroke out. Pressing my nails into my palms I try to suppress the rage at her throwing me under the bus like this.
“Right. Well, a lot has happened since we last spoke.” Turning to everyone around her table, I put on my best smile. “Hello, everyone. Please excuse me as I steal my sister away for a moment. I promise to bring her right back.”
“Take your time.” The man she’s seated next to mumbles into his drink.
Clara purses her lips in displeasure, but she doesn’t respond to his obvious dig. Instead, she puts on her mask of pleasantry and smiles at the others before getting up and following me to the ladies’ room.
All that disappears as soon as the door closes behind us, and her mask falls, showing me the raging bitch that lies beneath. “So, you’re into sloppy seconds, I see. Does Preston know?”
“Shh! Clara, watch your mouth.” I chastise her as I lower myself onto the ground, checking the stalls for evidence of any occupants. Standing up once the room has been cleared, I turn back toward my sister. “I’m not with Preston anymore and you don’t know what the hell you’re saying.”
“Oh, no. You don’t get to play dumb here. He’s my ex and never in the entirety of our relationship did he ever look at me the way he looks at you. I bet if you told him to walk on glass shards, he’d gladly do so.” She releases a maniacal laugh, seemingly becoming more unhinged by the minute.
“Look, this is not the right time or place for this conversation, but if you must know, I love him.” Shocked at the words that just came out of my mouth, I stumble a few steps back.
Apparently, Clara has the same reaction, so much so that she’s stunned silent.
“Like I said, this isn’t the time or place for this conversation. If you want, we can do this tomorrow or later this week.”
“So you’ve been ignoring me all this time and I’m supposed to believe you’ll just talk to me tomorrow as if you’re not dropping the biggest bombshell of the century on me?” She slowly walks toward me, her eyes narrow slits of rage. “No, you don’t get to call the shots. He was mine first.”
Circling me, she continues her verbal assault and I brace myself for the daggers I know she’s about to throw. “Say what you will, but I’m not engaging. I refuse to ruin this day for Bella.”
“You’ll leave this room when I’m good and ready.” Clara pokes at my back with her index finger before continuing, “Here I am, the spinster sister, on a date with the least desirable bachelor in Dallas, meanwhile you throw away a catch with Preston only to go after my ex? Do you hate me that much?”
“I don’t hate you, Clara. I love you. You’re my sister. I only want the best for you.”
A piercing cackle reverberates off the walls of the small room. “You’re a liar too? Oh, this just keeps getting better and better.”
“I’m not lying.” Crossing my hands over my chest, I jut my chin, proud and strong. “I love you and I do want the best for you, even if you don’t believe it. You can either choose to believe me and let me explain or you can shut me out, losing out on the only sister you have.”
She steps closer, opening her arms for an embrace, the action catching me off-guard since she still has murder in her eyes.
As soon as her arms are wrapped around me, she brings her mouth to my ear, “I’d rather die than hear you out. What you’ve done is unforgivable.” She pulls away, pushing me before delivering her punishing blow. “I hope you’re happy knowing it was my pussy he worshipped first.”
I stand there slack-jawed at what just transpired. I’ve lost my sister.
She walks to the door, opening it wide and stepping out without another word. As the door clicks shut, my knees shake and my stomach revolts. Turning around, I hurl into the sink, a mixture of nausea and my nerves catching up to me.
I splash my face with water, groaning into my hands. This couldn’t have gone worse.
“That was touching.” A familiar voice startles me, causing me to whirl around and spray water everywhere.
“Michaela? What are you doing here?” My face heats as my mind races through all of the possibilities of why my husband’s secretary could be at this wedding. “Is Preston here?”
“No, of course not. If you actually cared about the man, you’d know he’s been a useless sack of meat. Unwilling to do his job, let alone get out for the social event of the year.” She cocks a brow as she walks to the sink, turning on the tap to wash her hands. “I must say, it hasn’t disappointed me yet.”
“I don’t know what you heard, but I’d appreciate you keeping my family business to yourself.” Licking my lips, I try to sound as calm and confident as possible. “I know Preston wouldn’t appreciate his dirty laundry being aired out. We’re already expecting enough fallout from the divorce.”
Michaela dries her hands with a towelette as she walks to me, patting me on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Charlotte. Your secrets are safe with me.” Her fingers dig into me ever so slightly, and I have to wonder what has her so worked up. I’ve seen how Preston treats her. Hell, he treats the neighbor’s dog better than he does her.
Shaking my head, I decide to give her the benefit of the doubt. What’s done is done and there’s no going back in time. “Thank you. We both appreciate it.”
“Hmm.” She hums as she walks to the door. “I’ll see you around, Mrs. Rutherford.”
Lifting my hand, I wave goodbye, but losing all semblance of being put together as soon as the door closes.
“What have I gotten myself into?” I whisper to no one, the empty room as full as my jar of confidence right now.
Smoothing my hair down and inspecting my makeup, I assess the collateral damage of my emotional outburst. Thanks to Cassie’s friend and the use of waterproof makeup, my face is practically intact.
Giving myself a pep-talk, I finally gather the courage to step back into the main hall. I’m about to open the bathroom door when a cleaning lady enters, pushing a large cart.
“Hello,” I greet her while stepping around the cart, thinking I’m about to go find Aiden and let him in on the mess I’ve just been through.
Life, however, has different plans.
My body catapults forward, the organza from my dress tearing as it catches on something. I’m about to turn around when I feel the coolness of a wet cloth on my face. Struggling against the attacker, I manage to get a couple of good punches in, but whatever is on that rag is far stronger than me.
I put the last bit of energy I possess into kicking and biting, but it doesn’t work. As the world starts to fade around me, I whisper one last word, the sweet name dying on my lips, “Aiden.”
