Chapter 4 - A Place Card Without a Name
On the morning of the wedding, the estate transformed.
White flowers covered the stone arches. Crystal chandeliers hung from temporary structures above the lawn. Musicians tested their instruments beneath a silk canopy while photographers searched for perfect angles.
Jenna helped wherever she was needed.
She found a missing cuff link for her father.
She repaired a tear in a flower girl’s dress.
She rewrote a last-minute welcome message for Victoria’s father after Nicholas complained that the original sounded “too ordinary.”
By noon, Jenna had solved seven problems.
No one had asked whether she had eaten breakfast.
At two o’clock, she returned to her small room and found her floral dress hanging from the wardrobe.
It had belonged to her mother.
The dress was colorful but elegant, covered in painted blue, gold, and rose-colored flowers. Jenna had altered it carefully so the fabric would feel modern while preserving the shape her mother had loved.
When Jenna entered the bridal suite, Victoria smiled.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thank you.”
“Was that your mother’s?”
Jenna nodded.
Victoria touched one of the flowers on the sleeve.
“Nicholas told me she loved bright colors.”
“She believed people wore black when they wanted to disappear.”
Victoria’s smile faded slightly.
“He misses her more than he admits.”
“I know.”
For all his faults, Nicholas had loved their mother deeply. After her death, he had responded by building a life that appeared impossible to damage.
Expensive watches.
Exclusive rooms.
Perfect photographs.
Jenna had responded by writing.
Victoria looked toward the door before lowering her voice.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Is Nicholas’s company all right?”
Jenna chose her words carefully.
“Why are you asking?”
“He has been taking calls in the middle of the night. Yesterday, I heard him arguing with someone about unpaid invoices.”
“Have you asked him?”
“He says everything will be solved after the wedding.”
Jenna understood immediately.
Nicholas expected Emmett Stewart’s investment to rescue Aurelius Events.
“He should tell you the truth,” Jenna said.
“That doesn’t answer my question.”
“It’s the only answer I’m qualified to give.”
Victoria looked disappointed, but she nodded.
A wedding coordinator entered and announced that it was time for photographs.
For the next hour, Jenna stood exactly where she was directed.
Beside her father.
Behind the bridesmaids.
At the end of the sibling portrait.
Then Nicholas reviewed one of the photographs on the camera screen.
“Can we take another without the floral dress?” he asked.
The photographer blinked.
“Without your sister?”
“The colors are distracting.”
Jenna stared at him.
Their father shifted uncomfortably but said nothing.
Victoria frowned.
“Nicholas, it’s one photograph.”
“It’s the main family portrait.”
“And she is your family.”
Nicholas exhaled.
“Fine. We’ll fix the colors during editing.”
Jenna stepped away before anyone could see how much the comment had hurt.
Near the reception entrance, a long board displayed the seating chart.
She searched for her name.
Table One held the bride and groom.
Table Two held immediate family.
Table Three included executives and major clients.
Table Four included family friends.
Jenna searched every line.
Her name was missing.
“Looking for this?”
Nicholas stood behind her holding a small place card.
JENNA HART - TABLE 19
She glanced toward Table 19.
It was the children’s table.
“You moved me.”
“Victoria’s aunt arrived unexpectedly.”
“There are open seats at Table Four.”
“Those are for potential business partners.”
“I am your sister.”
“And everyone knows that. You don’t need to sit beside me to prove it.”
Jenna felt her hands grow cold.
“Why the children’s table?”
“You’re good with kids.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
Nicholas lowered his voice.
“Emmett Stewart will be here. So will three members of his board. I need tonight to go perfectly.”
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You have a habit of correcting people.”
“When they lie.”
“You see? That. That tone.”
Jenna looked at him in disbelief.
“I wrote your rehearsal toast. I rewrote your father-in-law’s welcome speech. I have spent two days solving problems for you.”
“And I appreciate it.”
“No, you use it.”
His expression hardened.
“Please don’t create drama at my wedding.”
Jenna almost laughed.
He had removed her from the family table and was accusing her of creating drama.
“You’re ashamed of me,” she said.
“I’m not ashamed of you.”
“Then introduce me honestly.”
“As what? A freelancer who writes speeches no one knows about?”
Jenna said nothing.
Nicholas mistook her silence for defeat.
He leaned closer.
“Sit at Table 19. Smile for the photographs. And don’t ruin the image.”
Then he walked away.
Jenna looked at the place card in her hand.
For years, she had believed patience was the same as love.
For years, she had allowed Nicholas to diminish her because confronting him felt cruel.
But standing before the seating chart, she finally understood something.
Nicholas was not failing to see her.
May you like
He had made a deliberate choice not to see her.
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