Chapter 6: The Secret Beneath the Gold Decorations
At 11:26 a.m., the ballroom began filling with guests.
Family members arrived in elegant dresses and tailored suits. The wedding coordinator checked the seating chart, musicians tested their instruments, and servers carried trays of sparkling drinks between the tables.
The midnight-blue cake stood proudly near the center of the room.
Guests stopped to admire it.
A woman in a champagne-colored dress leaned toward her husband.
"Look at those flowers.""
Her husband took out his phone.
"That's incredible.""
Another guest approached Denise.
"Who made the cake?""
Denise smiled.
"The bride.""
The woman blinked.
"The bride made this?""
"Every detail.""
The woman shook her head.
"That girl is talented.""
Near the entrance, Warren heard the compliment.
He straightened his jacket.
"Yes, she's always been good with cakes," he said.
Monique stood beside him.
"She gets that from being around you.""
Warren nodded.
Neither mentioned that Aaliyah had built the entire masterpiece after Simone destroyed her first attempt.
Simone entered the ballroom a few minutes later.
She wore a fitted burgundy dress and gold heels. Her hair fell in long curls over one shoulder.
She stopped when she saw the cake surrounded by guests.
A woman was taking photographs.
Another was asking Denise about ordering something similar.
Simone's fingernails dug into her palm.
"Why is everybody making such a big deal out of it?"" she whispered.
Monique glanced at her.
"Because it's beautiful.""
Simone turned.
"You're supposed to agree with me.""
"I'm not going to pretend something ugly is beautiful just to make you feel better.""
Simone stared at her mother.
Then she walked toward the service hallway.
She needed to know why Darius hadn't followed through.
She found him near the kitchen entrance.
"Where is it?""
Darius looked over his shoulder.
"Simone, you need to leave.""
"Did you do it?""
"No.""
Her eyes widened.
"What do you mean, no?""
"I told you I couldn't.""
Simone stepped closer.
"You promised.""
"I didn't promise to poison anybody's food.""
Darius lowered his voice.
"You told me the cake contained something dangerous. I checked the ingredient information. It's completely normal.""
Simone's face went cold.
"You went through my things?""
"I checked the information you sent me.""
"You have no idea what you're talking about.""
Darius shook his head.
"I'm done.""
Simone grabbed his sleeve.
"You're not walking away.""
He pulled his arm free.
"Don't touch me.""
At that moment, Denise appeared.
"Is everything okay?""
Darius immediately stepped back.
Simone forced a smile.
"Of course. We were just discussing the cake.""
Denise looked between them.
"Please don't go near it. The bride specifically requested that nobody touch the decorations.""
Simone nodded.
"Absolutely.""
Denise walked away.
Darius looked at Simone.
"Leave me alone.""
He returned to the kitchen.
Simone watched him go.
Her original plan had failed.
But she still had another way to hurt Aaliyah.
She took out her phone and opened the family group chat.
Then she typed:
*Simone:* Everyone should know that Aaliyah didn't make that cake herself. She ordered it and is pretending she did.
She attached an old photograph of a professional wedding cake.
It wasn't the same design, but it was similar enough to create suspicion.
Then she sent it.
Within seconds, replies appeared.
*Aunt Renee:* What are you talking about?
*Cousin Brianna:* I thought Aaliyah made it.
*Simone:* Ask her.
Simone smiled.
She slipped the phone into her handbag.
But she hadn't noticed that Darius was standing in the kitchen doorway.
He had seen the message.
And he had taken a screenshot.
Upstairs, Aaliyah was getting dressed.
The stylist fastened the final buttons along the back of her gown.
Tasha adjusted the veil.
"Look at you.""
Aaliyah studied her reflection.
For a moment, she could almost see her mother standing behind her.
The same warm eyes.
The same smile.
The same stubborn chin.
Tasha stepped closer.
"You look like a queen.""
Aaliyah laughed softly.
"You're going to make me cry.""
"Don't you dare. I just finished your makeup.""
Aaliyah picked up her bouquet.
White roses.
Small gold ribbons.
A single blue flower hidden among them.
It matched the cake.
Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced down.
The family group chat was full of messages.
She read Simone's accusation.
Her expression changed.
Tasha noticed immediately.
"What happened?""
Aaliyah handed her the phone.
Tasha read the messages.
"Oh, she has lost her mind.""
Aaliyah looked at the photograph.
"That's not even my cake.""
"She's trying to make people doubt you.""
Aaliyah returned the phone to her handbag.
"Let her.""
Tasha stared at her.
"You're not going to respond?""
"No.""
"Why?""
Aaliyah looked toward the mirror.
"Because the cake is downstairs. People can see it. And I know what I made.""
Tasha smiled.
"That's my girl.""
A knock sounded.
Denise entered.
"Aaliyah, sweetheart, we're ready for you whenever you are.""
Aaliyah took a deep breath.
"Thank you.""
Denise hesitated.
"There's one thing I wanted to tell you.""
"What is it?""
"Someone sent a message to the family group chat questioning whether you actually made the cake.""
Aaliyah's expression remained steady.
"I know.""
Denise looked uncomfortable.
"I don't want to interfere with family matters, but I witnessed you delivering it. I saw the design sketches, too.""
Aaliyah smiled.
"Thank you, Denise.""
"And there's something else.""
Denise lowered her voice.
"Darius came to me a few minutes ago. He said someone had asked him to tamper with the cake.""
Aaliyah's smile disappeared.
"What?""
"He refused. But he saved the messages.""
Tasha stepped forward.
"Who asked him?""
Denise looked at Aaliyah.
"I think you already know.""
For a few seconds, the room was silent.
Aaliyah looked at her bouquet.
Then at the wedding dress.
Then at the door leading to the ceremony.
She could hear the guests settling into their seats downstairs.
The musicians were beginning to play.
She had spent the entire night rebuilding something that someone else had deliberately destroyed.
And now that same person had tried to interfere again.
But this time, there was evidence.
"Can I see the messages?"" Aaliyah asked.
Denise nodded.
"I have them.""
She handed Aaliyah a printed copy of the screenshots Darius had provided.
The first message was from Simone.
The second contained the false ingredient claim.
The third was a threat against Darius.
Aaliyah read every line.
Her fingers tightened around the paper.
Tasha whispered, "What are you going to do?""
Aaliyah looked toward the ballroom.
Then she folded the screenshots carefully and placed them inside her handbag.
"Nothing yet.""
"Nothing?""
Aaliyah shook her head.
"I'm getting married.""
She took one step toward the door.
Then another.
But before she could leave, Denise's phone rang.
The coordinator answered.
"Hello?""
Her expression changed.
"What do you mean?""
She listened for several seconds.
Then she looked at Aaliyah.
"I'm sorry. There's a problem.""
Aaliyah stopped.
"What happened?""
Denise lowered the phone.
"Your father is downstairs. He's telling the guests that the wedding cake was purchased from another bakery and that you're taking credit for someone else's work.""
Tasha's mouth fell open.
Aaliyah stared at Denise.
For the first time that morning, her face showed genuine hurt.
Her father hadn't simply failed to defend her.
He was now helping Simone destroy her reputation.
And downstairs, Warren was standing beside the magnificent five-tier cake, holding a microphone.
He tapped it twice.
"Before we begin," he announced, "there's something about this cake everyone needs to understand.""
Aaliyah heard his voice through the ballroom speakers.
May you like
Then he said the words that would change the entire wedding.
"My daughter didn't make this cake.""
