It dawned on me that this must be Rosa's father. Oh shit. A drunken Vivian was one thing, but I'd never fool her own dad.
So I said nothing, just nodded and allowed him to take my arm. The flashes stopped. I could see again.
“This marriage will give you security. Give us security. Things have been rough with the business, but that will be over with once you're a Carrington.”
This marriage wasn't about love for either side. It was all about money.
I would not let it happen.
“Time to move,” he said quietly, nudging me a bit. “Chin up. You'll do fine.”
It was surreal, walking down the aisle for a wedding that wasn't my own. I wanted to turn and run, to get away from the hundreds of people staring at me.
But then I peered up at the altar through my veil, and there was Asher.
He looked so handsome in his black tux. Handsome, but very sad. How would he react when he found out who I was beneath the veil? Would he be angry? Demand that Macy let Rosa out of the closet?
Too late for questions. Rosa's dad let me go, and up I went to stand across from Asher. He refused to look at me. His jaw clenched as he glared at his father, who sat smugly in the front row pew.
The pastor stood between us, beaming. “We have gathered here today to witness the union of Asher Carrington and Rosa Marquez. On this day, two will become one.”
It was impossible to get his attention without making a scene. All I could do was stand there and wait.
“Love is a many-splendored thing. It is patient, it is kind...”
Asher, it's me! I screamed in my head as though he could hear me.
But then, amazingly, he looked up, and his eyes widened in disbelief. Despite the veil shrouding my face, he knew right away.
“Sarah? What are you doing here?” he mouthed silently.
I wanted desperately to tell him, but couldn't. Not now, with everyone watching us. All I could do was offer him a reassuring smile and a wink. It was what he liked to do to tell me everything would be all right.
Finally, he relaxed and smiled back. He didn't seem mad that I'd crashed the wedding. No, he seemed happy. He wanted me here.
Did he want to marry me, too?
Just a few weeks ago, we'd planned to marry because it was the only way to save what mattered most to both of us.
Now, though, something mattered more to me than my store. If I'd lose it for him, so be it.
A little boy came forth with two rings on a pillow.
“Rosa, if you will please put the ring on Asher's left hand,” the pastor said.
Trembling, I picked up the larger ring. Asher held out his hand for me, and I put the ring on as asked.
Maybe this wasn't a real wedding, but it meant something to me nonetheless.
“And now, Asher, please do the same for your bride.”
He didn't take the ring on the pillow, but instead reached into his pocket and pulled out a different one. It was the little white gold one I'd told him I wanted, back when we were still plotting this whole thing together.
“I held onto it,” he whispered. “Just in case.”
When he took my hand, it felt like the first time we'd touched, that snowy day when he'd rescued me from my fall. The same warmth. The same spark that drew me to him, that said I'd be stupid to let him go.
I held my breath as he slid the ring gently on my finger. Yes, this was just right. Just as it should be. Fake wedding or not, it was Asher I wanted to marry. It could never be anybody else, could it?
A quick glance at Heath and Vivian interrupted my happy moment. Heath must have realized something wasn't quite right, probably because Asher looked far too pleased for his liking. He whispered something to his wife, who simply put a finger to her lips to shush him. Momentarily defeated, he slumped back in the pew.
“The union is complete,” the pastor said cheerily. “Mr. Carrington, you may now kiss the bride.”
My heart pounded. Once everyone saw I wasn't Rosa, there would be an uproar.
Asher didn't hesitate, though. He lifted my veil, revealing my identity to the world. Gasps and shrieks echoed through the church.
“Who is that?”
“Where's Rosa?”
“What the hell is going on here?”
Asher ignored all of them, pulled me close, and gave me a kiss so sweet I forgot everything else. His arms belonged around me, just like this, and I belonged in them too.
Then he pulled away and looked over at the pastor, who was gaping silently at us, his face red and twisted with confusion.
“Well, pastor? Aren't you going to pronounce us husband and wife?”
The poor man adjusted his glasses. “B-but... I...”
“Just what is the meaning of this?”
Heath's ferocious voice boomed across the chapel. Asher met his glare defiantly.
“You're going to lose your store if you keep this up,” he warned me softly.
“I don't mind. I'd rather that than see you marry someone else. Unless, of course, you wanted that.”
He scoffed. “Absolutely not. I'm not the marrying kind, anyway.”
My heart started to sink.
“Or at least, that's how I used to think.”
He looked a bit scared, but certain. I felt the same. Heath could try to ruin our lives if he liked, so long as Asher and I had each other.
Vivian sobbed loudly. “Oh, it's so beautiful! Look how perfect they are together.”
Heath shot her a nasty look. On Rosa's family's side of the church, things were getting pretty heated. Her dad stormed up to him.
“What sort of circus are you
