“I want them moved,” I said, my voice deadpan. “Now.”
Harrison sighed, dragging a hand through his perfectly styled hair. “We can’t do that now, Eleanor. The guests are seated. If we start dragging chairs to the front, it’s going to cause a scene. Just… get through the ceremony. We’ll make sure they have a nice table at the reception, okay in the back corner.”
“A nice table in the back corner.”
“Don’t do this, Eleanor,” he warned, his tone shifting from patronizing to threatening. “Don’t ruin this day over petty insecurities. Look at everything my family is giving you.”
My family. His family. The divide had never been clearer.
“You’re right,” I whispered, looking down at the heavy diamond on my left hand. “We shouldn’t cause a scene over seating arrangements.”
Harrison smiled, visibly relieved. He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “That’s my good girl. I’ll see you at the altar in five minutes. Take a deep breath.”
He turned and walked briskly back down the aisle, slipping back into his role as the golden prince, pausing to shake hands and offer charming smiles to the assembled elite.
My father stood up, his joints popping slightly. “Eleanor, please. We’re fine. Let’s just get you married.”
I looked at my parents. The two people who had worked sixteen-hour days, who had sacrificed vacations and luxuries to make sure I had everything I needed to succeed. They thought I was a junior analyst at a mid-tier firm, making a decent living but heavily reliant on Harrison’s wealth for this extravagant display.
They didn’t know the truth. None of them did.
“Dad,” I said, my voice steady, the icy calm settling deep into my bones. “Do you trust me?”
He looked taken aback. “Of course I do, Ellie.”
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