Chapter 5: The Message That Changed the Wedding Morning
At 8:15 a.m., Simone sat in the back of Warren's SUV, staring at her phone.
The drive from the bakery to the venue had taken less than twenty minutes, but she hadn't stopped thinking about the cake.
It was supposed to be ruined.
Aaliyah was supposed to be humiliated.
Instead, the five-tier masterpiece was now sitting in the ballroom, attracting compliments from everyone who saw it.
Simone hated that.
She hated the way people praised Aaliyah without understanding how much effort it took to earn that praise.
She hated that Marcus loved her.
And she especially hated that their father had watched everything happen and still treated Aaliyah like the person who had caused the problem.
"Stop staring at your phone," Monique said from the front passenger seat.
"You're making yourself miserable.""
Simone locked the screen.
"I'm not miserable.""
"Then stop acting like you lost something.""
Simone looked out the window.
"I did lose something.""
Monique sighed.
"Marcus was never yours.""
Simone turned sharply.
"Don't say that.""
"I'm telling you the truth.""
"You don't understand.""
Monique looked back at her.
"I understand perfectly. You wanted a man who chose your sister. But you cannot spend your life punishing her for it.""
Simone's eyes filled with tears.
For a moment, she looked like a little girl again.
Then her expression hardened.
"You're supposed to be on my side.""
"I am on your side. That's why I'm telling you to stop before you embarrass yourself.""
Simone turned away.
She wasn't listening anymore.
Her phone buzzed.
A new message appeared from Darius, the venue's assistant event manager.
*Darius:* Everything is set up. Do you still need access to the service hallway?
Simone typed quickly.
*Simone:* Yes. Just keep the staff away from the cake for a few minutes.
*Darius:* I thought you said it was already damaged.
*Simone:* It is. I just need to make sure nobody discovers it until the reception.
She stared at the message.
Then pressed send.
Darius had known Simone since college. He had recently started working at the venue and had no idea how complicated her relationship with Aaliyah was.
He had agreed to help because Simone told him the cake had been made with ingredients that might cause an allergic reaction.
She had lied.
And she intended to keep lying.
At the venue, Aaliyah was standing near the bridal suite while Denise reviewed the final arrangements.
"Your photographer is here," Denise said.
"The florist is bringing the last arrangements in about fifteen minutes.""
Aaliyah nodded.
"Perfect.""
"Also, the cake is getting a lot of attention.""
Aaliyah laughed.
"Already?""
"One of the servers asked whether it was made by a professional.""
Aaliyah smiled.
"That's kind of you.""
Denise glanced at her.
"Are you a professional?""
"I own the bakery on Madison Street.""
Denise's eyes widened.
"The Carter family bakery?""
"Yes.""
"Oh, I've heard of that place. Your father has been around forever.""
Aaliyah's smile became smaller.
"He has.""
Denise looked at her schedule.
"Well, I'll make sure the cake receives the attention it deserves.""
Aaliyah thanked her and went upstairs.
In the bridal suite, her wedding dress hung from a padded hanger.
It was an elegant ivory gown with a fitted bodice, delicate lace sleeves, and a flowing skirt. Her mother would have loved it.
Aaliyah stood in front of the mirror.
She touched the small photograph tucked inside her handbag.
"Wish you were here, Mom.""
A soft knock came at the door.
Tasha entered carrying a makeup bag.
"Ready to become somebody's wife?""
Aaliyah smiled.
"I think so.""
Tasha set down the bag.
"Then sit down. We have a face to beat.""
For the next hour, the two women prepared together.
Tasha helped Aaliyah with her makeup while the stylist arranged her hair.
They laughed about old school photographs and terrible first dates.
But beneath the laughter, Aaliyah felt something unfamiliar.
A sense of peace.
For once, she wasn't trying to win her father's approval.
She wasn't competing with Simone.
She wasn't waiting for Monique to acknowledge her.
She was getting married to a man who loved her.
That was enough.
At 10:42 a.m., Marcus arrived.
He was wearing a tailored black suit, a crisp white shirt, and a small gold lapel pin.
When he entered the bridal suite doorway, he stopped.
Aaliyah turned.
"You're not supposed to see me before the ceremony.""
Marcus smiled.
"I know. But I needed to check on something.""
Tasha raised an eyebrow.
"Really? What?""
Marcus walked closer.
"Whether my future wife is still planning to marry me.""
Aaliyah laughed.
"That depends. Did you bring the ring?""
He pulled the ring box from his pocket.
"Wouldn't dream of coming without it.""
He took her hand and kissed her knuckles.
For a moment, Aaliyah forgot about everything else.
Then Marcus noticed the exhaustion around her eyes.
"Baby, did you sleep?""
"A little.""
"You're lying.""
"Maybe.""
He studied her face.
"Did something happen at the bakery?""
Aaliyah hesitated.
Marcus lowered his voice.
"You can tell me anything.""
She looked toward Tasha.
Tasha gave her a small nod.
"Simone destroyed the original cake last night," Aaliyah said.
Marcus went completely still.
"What?""
"She pushed it into the sink.""
"On purpose?""
"Yes.""
"And your father?""
"He told me to order another one.""
Marcus closed his eyes briefly.
"Why didn't you call me?""
"Because I didn't want to spend our wedding morning fighting with my family.""
He took both her hands.
"Aaliyah, you don't have to protect people who hurt you.""
She looked down.
"I know.""
"Did you make another cake?""
A small smile appeared on her face.
"Something better.""
Marcus laughed softly.
"Of course you did.""
He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.
"I can't wait to see it.""
Then he stepped back.
"I'll see you at the altar.""
When he left, Aaliyah looked at Tasha.
"He's a good man.""
"Yes, he is.""
Aaliyah returned to the mirror.
But downstairs, something was happening.
Darius had entered the service hallway carrying a small plastic container.
He looked toward the reception room.
The five-tier cake stood untouched.
Aaliyah's gold decorations gleamed beneath the lights.
He checked his phone.
*Simone:* Are you there?
*Darius:* Yes.
*Simone:* Do it now.
Darius swallowed.
He had agreed to keep people away from the cake, not to destroy it.
But Simone had sent him a photograph of an ingredient label, claiming that Aaliyah had used something dangerous.
He approached the cake.
Then stopped.
A server appeared around the corner.
"Hey, Darius. What are you doing?""
Darius quickly moved the container behind his back.
"Nothing. Just checking the display.""
The server looked at the cake.
"Looks amazing, doesn't it?""
"Yeah.""
"Denise said nobody is allowed to touch it.""
Darius nodded.
"Right.""
The server walked away.
Darius stared at his phone.
Then he typed another message.
*Darius:* I can't do this. The cake looks fine.
Simone's reply came almost immediately.
*Simone:* You don't understand. If you don't help me, I'll tell Denise you stole the vendor's deposit money.
Darius's face went pale.
He looked down the empty hallway.
Then at the cake.
May you like
He was trapped.
And upstairs, Aaliyah was about to discover that the wedding cake wasn't the only thing Simone intended to destroy.
