Chapter 10
At the venue, Cole stood in his tuxedo while Carter and Valerie wore matching groomsman and
bridesmaid looks.
It was a simple lawn ceremony, attended mostly by young people. Everyone seemed to know that a show was coming. They were just waiting for the curtain to rise.
When the livestream crew rolled their cases onto the grass, Cole was puzzled and stepped forward to ask
what they were doing.
Once he heard they were hired by Maya, a crease formed between his brows.
He intended to punish Maya, but he hadn’t planned on humiliating her in front of the entire internet. If this
went live, it could nuke her future.
“Sorry, but today isn’t a good day to stream. I need you to-”
Before he could finish, Valerie slipped in beside him, tugging at his sleeve with a sweet smile. “Cole, if
Maya invited them, we should respect her wishes.”
Then, she stood between the brothers, waved at the camera, and said brightly, “Hi, everyone. I’m today’s bridesmaid and a childhood friend of both the groom and groomsman…”
The brothers pursed their lips and let it happen.
Watching this through a phone screen, Maya let out a mocking laugh.
Showtime came and went, but the bride didn’t appear.
Cole called Maya again and again, but every time, her phone went straight to voicemail.
He frowned and told his assistant, Matthew Erickson, “Check the hospital. She might be with Belinda.”
He hadn’t invited Belinda on purpose, afraid she wouldn’t be able to take the shock.
The unanswered ring kept droning in his ear, and unease tightened in his chest.
Had Maya figured something out?
Before he could decide what to do, the massive LED screen behind him crackled to life, and a familiar
voice traveled across the lawn.
“If Maya finds out I’ve been pretending to be you this whole time, she’ll lose her mind.”
“As if she’d ever guess Cole has a twin!”
“Just wait until she finds out she’s been sleeping with Cole’s brother for three years. I want a front row
seat for that reaction!”
“This is what she gets! Watching her fall from cloud nine right into hell will make it all worth it!”
Cole and Carter went white. Maya already knew about it.
Panic flared in both of them, but before they could move, the footage was cut. A new video filled the
screen.
A university restroom came into focus.
Valerie barked orders while a group of women yanked at Maya’s clothes, pressed burning cigarette tips. into her skin, slapped her hard, and finally shoved her head into a toilet.
The whole place went silent. Only Maya’s ragged screams echoed over the speakers.
Onscreen, Valerie’s flawlessly made-up face looked vicious and triumphant. “How dare you steal my
crown as campus queen? Get on your knees and apologize, or I’ll make your life hell for the next three
years!”
Cole and Carter stood frozen on the grass, chilled to the bone.
One clip after another of Valerie bullying Maya played across the big screen.
The montage ended on Valerie’s malicious expression.
The brothers snapped out of their daze, turning toward her with stiff movements.
They finally realized that Valerie had been lying to them the whole time.
