Everyone in the Blackwell Estate big ballroom held their breath as the music crescendoed. A canopy of lights gleamed overhead, gold and ivory flowers lined the path, and a sea of luxury dresses and tuxedos murmured as guests turned to see the bride enter.
It was society’s wedding of the year—or decade. Tech billionaire Nathaniel Blackwell, 33, was marrying. Not to royalty or a longtime love, but to gorgeous fashion model Sabrina Monroe, with a mystery history. Eight months before, they met at a charity event. Nathaniel surprised everyone by announcing they were engaged and Sabrina was pregnant.
Though quick and dazzling, it seemed odd somehow.
Lila, Nathaniel’s 7-year-old niece, pulled at Claire’s sleeve as the officiant started speaking. Claire bent.
“Auntie,” Lila pleaded, pallid.
“She lied. The woman lied about the baby.”
A cold ran through Claire. “You mean what?”
“She said, ‘Thank goodness he’s rich and gullible. Everyone was duped by this phony belly. Her eyes welled with tears. “She said she tricked him.”
Claire regarded her niece. Lila was creative. She was extremely honest too. It didn’t feel fake.
As Sabrina neared the altar, her brother, handsome in a white tuxedo, smiled softly. Claire stood.
So did Lila.
“Wait!” Little thunderclaps of Lila’s voice filled the hall.
Faces turned. Cameras clicked. Halfway down the aisle, Sabrina froze. Nathan smiled less.
Room became quiet.
Lila, shivering, interrupted Claire’s attempt to quiet her niece.
“She lied about the baby! She denied being pregnant!”
Sabrina gasped, dropping the bouquet. Guest murmured. Nathaniel moved forward, confused.
Softly, he whispered, “Lila, honey.” “What are you discussing?”
Lila turned to him, crying. “She said you were ‘rich and gullible’ and she’s not pregnant. This was mentioned in the changing room. Although I didn’t want to, I heard her.”
The silence was so dense no one dared breathe.
Sabrina became stern. A kid, she is! Not knowing what she’s saying.”
“She knows enough,” Claire stated firmly, joining her daughter. Nate, we must chat. Privately.”
Her hands shook. Are you going to destroy our finest day with a child’s fantasy?
Nathan peered between them. His jaw tightened. “Lila wouldn’t lie.”
Sabrina paled.
He replied, “I need a moment,” calmly but coldly.
The visitors mumbled as Nathaniel escorted Lila, Claire, and Sabrina to the side corridor by taking her hand.
“Tell me exactly what you heard,” he whispered to Lila.
Lila sniffled. “I went the wrong way looking for Aunt Claire and found a dressing room. The door was slightly open. I heard Sabrina chatting to another woman. “Thank goodness he’s rich and gullible,” she remarked. I’ll get anything I want when he believes the baby is arriving. He won’t know I’m not pregnant. Then they laughed.”
Sabrina shook her head furiously. This is ridiculous. It didn’t. She lied out of jealousy!”
Of what? Claire asked calmly. You wear designer gowns? Your abrupt pregnancy? Maybe the inheritance?”
Sabrina lost her cool.
“Enough,” Nathaniel said. He faced Sabrina. “Be honest.”
Her eyes flashed at him. “You’ll trust a child over me?”
“She’s not a kid. I call her family.”
Sabrina crossed arms. “Fine. You want the truth? She stubbornly tilted her chin. “I’m not pregnant. No big deal, I thought. You loved me, so I knew you’d marry me. Once I was ‘pregnant’ with your kid, you wouldn’t leave. And honestly—who cares? You get a lovely woman, I get stability. We both win.”
Nathaniel saw her as a stranger. You lied to me. You manipulated me.”
“I saw an opportunity,” she shrugged. “You’re used to being sought for money. Do not be surprised.”
Claire guarded Lila.
“You were going to make him marry you with a fake pregnancy.”
“I would’ve made a great wife,” Sabrina stated almost proudly. “Someday you would’ve thanked me.”
Nathaniel was silent for a while. Pulling the ring off his finger.
“Finished.”
“You’re kidding!” Sabrina wept. “You humiliate me! Before everyone!”
“You did that yourself,” Claire remarked.
Nathaniel clutched Lila’s hand as they returned to the ballroom. Sabrina tracked, red-faced but attempting to seem cool.
Nathaniel took the microphone. The audience hushed again.
“I have an announcement,” he stated steadily.
Today’s wedding is off. Dinner will happen. Drinks. Music. I celebrate honesty and family.”
He shocked Lila, who blinked.
He grabbed her. “This girl just prevented my biggest mistake. And I owe her everything.”
Gasps, claps, and startled stillness characterised the attendees.
Sabrina left by a side entrance, never to return to high society.
Two months later, Nathaniel asked Claire and Lila to his lakeside cottage for lunch. On the balcony facing the ocean, the summer air was soft.
“So,” Nathaniel said, serving lemonade. “I’ve considered.”
“Uh-oh,” Claire joked. “Big brother thinking? It’s dangerous.”
Nathan laughed. “Seriously. Brave, Lila. So sincere. You acted without hesitation.”
Lila drank. “I didn’t want you duped.”
His grin was pleasant. You did more than rescue me. You showed me true love—trust, not conditions.”
Head tilted by Claire. “You mean family love?”
“Exactly,” Nathaniel responded. “I spent too long chasing looks, fame, and other bad things. The most important thing is… A calm Tuesday, lemonade, and kind people.”
Claire nodded, eyes moist. Nate, you always had us. Just detoured to see it.”
He chuckled. “Yeah. A bold girl and a phony baby bump.”
Lila was asked whether it was okay with her mother. Would love to take you out every other weekend. Fishing? Go-karts? But no slime.”
Lila laughed. “Deal!”
Claire grinned, content. “We’d love that, Uncle Nate.”
The new chapter was unexpected but precisely what he needed.
Inspired by true events and individuals, this work is dramatized for creativity. To preserve privacy and enrich the story, names, characters, and facts were altered. Any similarity to real people, events, or places is unintentional.