Watching all this, my best friend beside me couldn't hold her anger back anymore.

She grabbed my shoulder and shook it, furious that I wouldn't fight for myself.

"Cassandra Mercer, you can actually put up with this?"

"When in your whole life have you ever been treated like this?"

I calmly kept working my phone.

Karen was so worked up she looked ready to jump out of the car.

"Are you even listening to me? If you really marry Jonathan Dickerson, your whole life is ruined!"

I finished with my phone, finally lifted my head to look at her, and let a bright smile curve across my lips.

"Take these files. When we get to the hotel, hand them to the planner and tell them to change what gets played inside."

Karen froze for a second. Then her tight shoulders eased, and she squinted at me with a wicked little grin.

Twenty-some years of friendship, and she knew exactly what I meant.

The motorcade came to a stop at the hotel entrance.

Jonathan still hadn't remembered I existed. He circled around to the passenger side with all his attention and opened the door for Marianne.

As she stepped out, Marianne stumbled, and Jonathan rushed to catch her by the waist. The two of them exchanged a smile, an intimate, glaring little moment.

Karen forced the words out through clenched teeth.

"Cassie, from here on, you just watch me."

"That scummy man won't be smiling much longer."

Not letting anything show on my face, I gathered up my gown and walked into the hotel, then went to the suite to touch up my makeup as the schedule called for.

But Marianne, clinging on like a ghost, barged straight in.

"Are you a fly? You have to follow us everywhere?"

Karen's eyes went wide and her voice jumped, but Marianne didn't care in the slightest. She leaned in close to me and said, her tone laced with a challenge:

"Cassie, you know how it is. Jonathan and I grew up together from little kids. Childhood sweethearts."

"I know his tastes better than anyone. I only came to see if your makeup needs any adjusting."

I gave her a cool glance and said nothing.

The next thing I knew, Marianne pulled a lipstick straight out of her pocket and swiped it across my lips before I could react.

The dark red instantly turned my festive bridal look dim, cold, and harsh.

When she was done, she struggled to hold back a laugh.

"There, much better. Jonathan's sure to love it."

She'd done it on purpose, plain and simple.

Karen couldn't take it anymore. She grabbed Marianne's arm and shoved her hard to the side.

"So you've got it out for our Cassie, is that it?"

Aching for me, Karen pulled out a tissue to wipe my lips, but I waved her off.

"Don't. Honestly, I think it looks good like this."

Dark red. The exact opposite of a wedding's festive style.

But thinking about the heroine's revenge show that was about to begin, I found this look fit perfectly with what I was about to do.

Marianne saw all this and took it for my meek compromise.

She straightened her back, her face full of pride.

"That's more like it. I knew Cassie would know better."

With that, she practically skipped out of the suite.

By the time I reached the banquet hall, my friend and I split off in two directions.

Karen went backstage to find the sound engineer, and I turned to see my parents standing off to the side of the parents' seats, awkward and cornered.

"Marianne, you have no manners at all. This seat is for honoring the parents. What are you doing sitting here?"

As I came closer, I understood what the argument was about.

Marianne kept her chin up, righteous as anything, no trace of deference even in front of her elders.

"Jonathan told me I'm his only family. I have every right to be honored alongside him and his bride."

"Or is it that the bride's family looks down on him? You think that because he grew up in an orphanage, you can throw your weight around and shove me off to the guest tables?"

My parents, who were always so even-tempered, couldn't hold it in any longer. Both their faces darkened.

My mother's chest was heaving, and my father's shoulders shook so hard I thought he would throw Marianne out of the hall the next second.

"If you're really set on making things hard for me, then fine, I won't sit here."

"I'll go find Jonathan and let him settle it. Let's see whether he still wants this wedding once his only family has been bullied."

She raised her voice and threatened us through narrowed eyes.

"Mom, Dad, let it go. Just switch seats."

My parents looked at me with trembling eyes, the disappointment of watching someone refuse to stand up for herself written all over their faces.

But it wasn't the moment to explain.

Swallowing their anger, they went along with me and changed seats.

As we sat down, my father still couldn't help asking.

"After the way Jonathan treats you, are you really going to wrong yourself and marry him?"

I pressed my lips together into the faintest curve.

Just then, across the room, Karen flashed me an "OK" sign.

I patted my parents on the shoulder.

"Mom, Dad, don't worry. I know exactly what I'm doing."

By then it was time for the ceremony.

I walked slowly up onto the stage, the spotlight falling on Jonathan and me.

Every eye in the hall turned toward us.

I held my emotions in check and went along with him through the earlier steps.

Then came the champagne tower and the toast, and the host worked the whole room up into a fever.

"Let's have our newlyweds share their toast together."

"And let everyone here send their blessings with a round of applause."

Jonathan seemed very pleased with how much I'd endured and put up with today. He picked up a glass and put it in my hand.

"Cassie, drink this, and may our happiness last forever."

I curved my lips slightly and took the glass.

I didn't answer his vow. Instead I swung my arm and threw the champagne right in his face.

"A piece of trash like you doesn't deserve happiness at all."

"Jonathan, let's break up!"