“Oh, Julia,” she sighed. “Don’t be so sensitive. I’m the most important woman in his life, and I always will be. You should respect that.”

That’s when Ethan finally spoke. But he didn’t say what I wanted him to say.

“It’s okay, baby,” he said, like it was no big deal. “It’s just a chair.”

Just a chair,  I thought.  Just a chair? Okay.

“You know what, Patricia?” I said with a soft smile. “You’re absolutely right. Let’s do it your way.”

Her face lit up with surprise and she smiled as if she had won.

Little did she know that I had a plan in mind that would make her face blush with embarrassment.

Patricia leaned back in her chair, rejoicing in what she clearly saw as her victory.

Meanwhile, Ethan was busy welcoming the guests as if nothing unusual had happened.

I sat there for a few minutes, forcing a smile and pretending to go along with this charade. But inside, I was seething.

“Excuse me for a moment,” I said, standing up and smoothing out my dress. “I need to step away for a bit.”

Neither Patricia nor Ethan paid any attention to what I was doing in the hallway.

Once out of sight, I pulled out my phone to make an important call.

“Hello, it’s Julia,” I said, my voice calm and collected despite the fire burning inside me. “I have to make a last-minute adjustment to the cake. Yes, I know it’s short-term, but it’s really important.”

The person on the other end of the line hesitated for a moment before asking for details. I smiled to myself, knowing it would be worth every extra penny.

“I’ll send you a picture right away,” I continued. “Just follow the instructions, and make sure it’s delivered before the cake is cut. Can you do that?”

The answer was a tentative yes, and I quickly sent the photo and details.

“Perfect,” I said. “Thank you very much.”

After hanging up, I took a moment to collect myself, adjusting my veil and letting the smile that tugged at the corners of my lips fade into a neutral expression.

When I returned to the head table, Patricia was still courting, reliving for the hundredth time one of Ethan’s childhood stories.