The Lies Behind Her Marriage novel Chapter 287

The Truth About The Bride & Groom.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” Dennis greeted the crowd. He was in charge of a certain game he called, ‘The Truth About The Bride & Groom.’

“Again, welcome to Serena and Nathaniel’s second wedding,” Dennis said with a smile. His assistant, Peter, held a cue card and smiled at the crowd.

“Peter and I have had the pleasure of witnessing the love between Serena and Nathaniel for the second time around,” Dennis said. “Now, it’s time to test how much you know the couple—and if you are not so familiar with them, let’s just say you are not that close.”

“Or you are only here because the married couple are your bosses,” Dennis added. He raised his hands and asked, “Any party crashers around here? Be honest—we won’t kick you out… yet.”

A wave of laughter rolled through the venue, even Serena and Nathaniel giggling in their seats.

The couple was seated at a center table, set apart from the rest, framed by crystal light and soft sapphire glow.

They watched as the wedding organizers handed out name cards to the guests. At the front rows, Ali beamed and held up her card. “It’s Mommy and Daddy!”

Then, Ali ran to Serena, hugging her. After that, she went to her favorite spot and sat on her father’s lap.

“Looks like Ali is excited to play,” Dennis remarked.

Dennis looked at the crowd. “Are you ready? The rules are simple. Peter and I will ask questions, and you raise either Serena’s or Nathaniel’s name.”

“Ready!” Alice’s voice was the loudest.

“I’m so ready!” Sebastian’s voice followed.

“First question,” Dennis asked. “Who is more in love?”

People raised names, but they were a mix of Nathaniel and Serena.

“This is a tough one,” Peter said. “I’d say, Nathan.”

“I’d say Nathan, too,” Dennis said. “But we haven’t seen Serena for a long time.”

Sterling raised Nathaniel’s name and declared, “It better be Nathan.”

The room fell into laughter, even more so when Norman Collins added, “It is my grandson. Period!”

Serena was still chuckling in her seat when Nathaniel raised her name, declaring, “It’s me. It’s me. I love Serena more.”

“Next question,” Dennis read from his cue card. “Who chased harder the second time around?”

Everyone raised Nathaniel’s name. It was already known to all that he had begged for his second chance.

“Who says ‘I love you’ more often now?” Peter asked.

There was only one answer, and it was… Nathaniel.

From then on, the questions continued. Often, only the adults participated. The kids tried to keep up.

Dennis: “Who is more protective?”

“Protective?” Ali asked. “It’s Daddy!”

Dennis: “Who is the gentle one?”

Sebastian raised Serena’s name and said, “It’s Mommy!”

Dennis: “Who is more stubborn?”

The crowd was divided, but many believed it was Serena.

Peter: “Who handles the kids better?”

Again, there was a mix of answers, but surprisingly, Celine answered Nathaniel.

Peter: “Who made the reunion unnecessarily difficult?”

“What?” Serena reacted. “Excuse me, he had to prove himself!”

The guests cracked up again because, obviously, she was the answer.

Peter: “Who kissed first?”

Alice raised Nathaniel’s name first.

Peter smirked at Alice, saying, “Of course, you’d know, while the rest of us were oblivious.”

Yet again, the ballroom broke into warm, easy laughter.

“Now the next questions are for the couple only,” Dennis said, turning to Serena and Nathaniel. He smirked and asked, “Who made the first move?”

Serena raised Nathaniel’s name. “Alice already answered this.”

“Right,” Dennis acknowledged. “But who made the better move?”

The venue stirred with delighted reactions.

Alice kept asking questions, barely letting Noelle breathe. She could hear the MC announce the bouquet toss, but she was still busy chatting with Alice.

Noelle did not mind not getting the bouquet… or so she thought.

“Noelle, look,” Alice pointed upward.

And just like that, Serena’s bouquet landed in her arms.

“What the—” Noelle was shocked. How did it happen?

Alice laughed.

At the front, Serena was laughing so hard. “Congratulations, Noelle.”

Well, it was no secret. She and Silas were getting married soon, so Noelle just laughed at the idea and raised the flowers. “Yay!”

What followed next was the garter toss. Noelle was sure Silas would fight for the garter, but what he did next was a little over the top.

The single men had already stood up, but Silas took his fruit fork and pointed it at Nathaniel, threatening him.

“We can do this the easy way… or the embarrassing way,” Silas said seriously.

The crowd broke into wild, unstoppable chuckles.

However, it did not stop there. Silas said clearly, “Give me the garter now, or I’ll tell Dad about that night you climbed over to Serena’s window.”

“What do you mean, Silas?” Sterling asked from his seat.

Nathaniel quickly gave the garter to Silas and explained to Sterling, “Nothing, Dad. Serena and I once reenacted Romeo and Juliet. I climbed into her room through the window.”

“After we got together,” he clarified.

“Anyway,” Nathaniel cut in smoothly, reclaiming control of the room. “Congratulations to Silas and Noelle. They are the next bride and groom!”

Noelle expected the standard tradition for the garter placement, but what happened next left her by surprise.

After Silas placed the garter around her thigh, he dropped to one knee.

The lights dimmed.

A single spotlight settled over them, and the ballroom fell silent.

A soft melody filled the air.