Chapter 2

TWISTED HEART

SVL18

HOPE JONES

.

My head was pounding mercilessly, the kind of ache that made it hard to even lift it. When I finally did, the whole room spun. Samantha was sprawled out on the floor, Evelyn was passed out on the couch… and I honestly had no idea how we’d even made it back here last night.

“Guys,” I croaked.

“Mmh?” Samantha mumbled without opening her eyes.

“Guys, wake up.”

I glanced at the time—then bolted upright. “Oh, no… ohhh, no!”

“What?!” Samantha gasped, instantly awake.

“In two hours… I’m getting married!”

That made them both shoot up in a panic.

“Oh God! Ohhh God!” Samantha yelped.

“Wait, I’m calling a cab,” Evelyn said, fumbling with her phone.

I noticed dozens of missed calls from my mother and Luke. Jesus, I was in trouble. The cab arrived quickly, and we piled in, heading to the venue where I was supposed to be walking down the aisle.

“Where’s Olivia?” I asked.

“She didn’t come home last night,” Evelyn replied.

“I am never drinking again,” I muttered, though I doubted anyone believed me.

When we arrived, we rushed inside. The moment my mother saw me, she shook her head.

“Hope!” she scolded.

“Sorry, Mom.”

“We’ve been trying to call you for hours!”

“We’re so sorry, Mama,” Samantha said quickly.

“Here’s some water, Mama,” Olivia said, appearing suddenly.

“Wait, what are you doing here?” Evelyn demanded.

“When did you get here?” Samantha added.

“I’ve been trying to reach you guys forever! I’m just glad you made it.”

“Where were you last night?” I asked.

“Not important right now,” she said breezily. “You need to get ready.”

I slipped into the shower, trying to breathe. God… I couldn’t believe I was actually getting married today. Last night, I’d been excited—now a cold wave of nerves was flooding me.

“You okay?” Samantha asked from her perch on the toilet seat.

“I’m terrified.”

“It’s normal. I just want you to know I’m proud and happy for you. I know you love Luke, and I hope the two of you take good care of each other.”

“You’re going to make me cry.”

“Damn, I can’t believe you’re getting married,” she said with a grin.

“Same here.”

“Hope, get out of the water—we’re running late!” Mom called from the other room.

I stepped out, wrapped in a towel, and began dressing as the makeup artist arrived. My phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Sweetheart,” Luke’s voice came warmly. “I’ve been trying to call.”

“My phone was off, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“If it were up to me, we’d already be married by now. I’ve missed you.”

“You’ll see me soon, love.”

“I can’t wait to see how beautiful you look in your wedding dress.”

I couldn’t help blushing. “Babe, I’ve got to go.”

“All right.”

When I hung up, Olivia smirked. “Mmm… love is in the air.”

“Where were you last night?” I pressed again.

She blushed. “With Nico.”

“Ohhh, so you were…?”

She nodded shyly.

Mom appeared with my wedding dress. The sight of it made my heart skip. This was really happening.

.

LUKE MARLEY

.

I stood with my groomsmen, adjusting my suit. It fit perfectly, and with my fresh haircut, I knew I looked sharp. Hope was going to be blown away.

“Man, you clean up good,” Shawn said. “Especially for someone who—let’s be honest—just slept with his fiancée’s best friend last night.”

I shot him a look. “It was a mistake… I was drunk.”

Derek shook his head. “I thought you said you’d changed, Luke.”

Jack, my brother, snorted. “He’ll never change.”

“It just happened,” I muttered.

“Please,” Shawn said. “You weren’t that drunk. You just can’t keep it in your pants.”

“Hope’s a catch, man,” Derek added. “Why would you throw that away?”

“Stay out of my business,” I snapped. “And you, Shawn, cheated on your girlfriend—so don’t play saint with me.”

“Yeah, but she was a nightmare,” Shawn said. “Hope is loyal. She’s the kind of woman you marry.”

Jack gave me a sharp look. “Mess around with Olivia, and you’ll wake up with more than guilt—probably HIV.”

“Drop it,” I growled. “It’s over between me and Olivia. I promise.”

.

SEAN PARKER

.

I was pacing when Rasta arrived with a pile of photographs of women.

“What am I supposed to do with all these?” I asked.

“Boss, every one of these women is willing to pretend to be your girlfriend.”

“I’m not interested in gold-diggers. My father would spot them instantly.”

“So… why don’t you just find someone real?”

“And risk losing my business deal? No. I need this cover. If anyone asks where my money comes from, this is the story.”

“You really think you’ll find someone genuine these days?” he asked.

“That’s the point—I don’t need genuine. I need convincing.”

Nathan walked in without knocking. “With all the money you’ve got, what are you still chasing?”

“What do you want?” I asked flatly.

“Just letting you know, you’re wasting your time. Everyone knows you don’t have a girlfriend.”

“And you do? Or are we talking about Sandy again?”

“Yes, we fight, but couples do that.”

“You know nothing about my business, Nathan.”

“I know enough,” he said darkly. “If it were up to me, I’d sell the whole empire.”

“Then go back to wherever you came from.”

He smirked. “May the best man win.”

When he left, Rasta said, “We really need to find someone to fake-date you. Are you sure you can pull this off?”

“I can pull off anything,” I said.

.

HOPE JONES

.

When I saw Luke waiting at the altar, my uncle steadying me, my breath caught. Soft music filled the air, and Luke’s smile found me instantly.

“Sweetheart,” he murmured when I reached him.

“Hello,” I whispered back.

“You look stunning.”

The pastor began the ceremony—but then Olivia’s voice rang out.

“Wait! Please, just for a moment!”

Everyone turned.

“What are you doing?” Samantha hissed at her.

“There’s something I need to say,” Olivia said, stepping forward.

“Olivia,” Luke warned.

“No, Luke. I’m making things easier.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

Olivia’s eyes found mine. “Hope, I’m sorry. I know you’ll hate me for this, but I can’t lie anymore. Luke and I have been sleeping together for two years. We’re in love.”

The air left my lungs. My eyes darted to Luke, desperate for denial, but the guilt in his expression told me the truth. Tears burned my eyes.

“It’s true?” I choked.

“Please, listen—” he began.

“Don’t deny it, Luke,” Olivia cut in. “We slept together last night too.”

Samantha gasped and lunged at her, slapping her hard before they began shoving each other. I looked at Luke one last time—and walked away.

“Hope, please!” he called.

I turned, fury shaking me. “Don’t touch me, Luke! You slept with my best friend. My best friend!”

He tried to speak. I slapped him hard across the face. “We’re done! There is no wedding!”

“You’ll regret this!” Olivia sneered.

“Shut up, Olivia!” Luke shouted.

I didn’t stay to hear more. I ran, vision blurred with tears. Outside, I nearly stumbled into the path of an oncoming car.

“You crazy?!” the driver yelled, jumping out. He was tall, lean, with dreadlocks.

“I… I’m sorry,” I stammered.

“Where are you going?”

“I don’t know.”

“Get in. I’ll take you.”

I hesitated, glancing back to see Luke chasing after me. I slid into the stranger’s car.

“My name’s Rasta. Where do you live?”

“Hope,” I said, giving him my address.

“Running away?”

“He cheated.”

“Damn. And you’re too beautiful for that.”

I said nothing. When we reached my place, I thanked him quietly before hurrying inside. Upstairs, I sank to the floor of my bedroom and sobbed until my chest hurt.

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