Chapter 1: The Secret Inside the Cake
The night before my wedding, I saw a text from my sister on my fiancé's phone — the next day, she went pale when our wedding cake arrived.
The night before my wedding, I couldn't sleep.
Around midnight, I stepped into the kitchen for water and noticed Ethan's phone buzzing on the counter.
One message.
From my sister, Lacey.
"Still thinking about that kiss?"
I stopped breathing.
Then another message appeared.
"We said it'd be our secret."
I stared at the screen.
Our wedding was only hours away.
"Not anymore," I whispered.
But the next morning, I didn't confront either of them.
I put on my wedding dress.
Lacey acted like nothing had happened.
"You look beautiful," she told me.
"Thanks."
Then Mama hurried into the room.
"Girls!
The new cake just got here — looks like heaven itself!"
Lacey's head snapped up.
"New cake?"
Mama explained that the original had been damaged on the road.
Lacey's face drained of color.
"Wait— that's not— I mean…
did Ethan approve it?"
Ethan barely reacted.
"As long as it's standing, it's fine."
But Lacey kept staring at me.
I smiled.
"You look pale, sis.
Everything okay?"
"Yeah.
Just…
warm, that's all."
I didn't confront her.
I didn't confront Ethan either.
I walked down the aisle and married him.
At the reception, Lacey wouldn't stay away from the cake table.
She kept biting her lip and watching that perfect white cake like she knew something no one else did.
Finally, the DJ called everyone over.
"Time for the cake, folks!"
Lacey leaned toward Ethan and whispered something.
He frowned.
"Relax."
That's when I stepped beside my new husband and smiled for the cameras.
"Ready?"
We pressed the knife into the cake together.
The frosting cracked.
Something slid out onto the white tablecloth.
A photograph.
Then another.
Ethan stared.
The guests leaned closer.
May you like
Lacey looked down at the photographs.
Her face changed.
