to further his career, but honestly Serena, he used you too. I bet once he’d got what he wanted from you he dropped you like a hot stone.”
Serena pauses, “He lost his phone, he told me. Anyway, he loves me. I love him. You’re just jealous that he’s ended it with you!” There is an edge of defiant certainty in her voice and she sounds genuinely convinced.
I recall the conversation from last night and know without needing to hear more that Lucinda is right. Lucinda scoffs at Serena’s protestations.
“He’s been trying to keep you sweet so you didn’t say anything. He told me as much this morning. I may be a fool, but at least I knew the score. He’s taken you for a ride Serena, and you fell for it. I feel sorry for you really. He still wants me. He told me so.”
Serena wails and takes a few hurried steps closer to Lucinda with a murderous look in her eyes. Just as I think we are all about to witness some grevious bodily harm she stops, as if remembering something. She turns, as if in slow motion to look at her husband-to-be.
“Ewan...” she falters, “I’m so, so sorry. I never meant to hurt you.”
Really?” he queries, fixing her with a steely gaze. “It may have escaped your attention, but this is our wedding day Serena. OUR FUCKING WEDDING DAY!”
Crocodile tears are rolling down Serena’s face. I’m sure I can see her mentally weighing up her options
“I don’t know what came over me. The things he said to me, he confused me. I love you, I want to marry you!”
Ewan laughs, a cold humourless noise.
“It may have escaped your attention, but I’ve been stood here for the last ten minutes. I heard what you said.” He puts on a falsetto voice in an impression of his fiancée, “He loves me, I love him!” He shakes his head. “Serena, I’m not stupid. I’ve known about this for a while.”
She looks visibly shocked. I hear gasps coming from around me. My own voice is included.
“What, what do you mean?” she asks in a shaky voice.
“I mean, I’ve known about you and him for a while now. I must confess that I had no idea about your new criminal career though. That’s a new low Serena”
“So why are you here!” she exclaims, a hint of anger in her voice. She must have realised that the game is up. “Why did you come here to marry me?”
He shrugs. “I wanted to see if you’d come clean. I wondered if I at least meant that much to you. Obviously not.”
He walks towards the aisle with his back to her. Turning, almost as an afterthought, he continues, “I’ve changed the honeymoon tickets; I’m going with my brother. I suspect the police will be looking for you so I advise you stay in the country.”
With that he walks away from her towards the door. He stops next to where I’m stood.
“Lauren, if what has been said is true, then I hope everything works out for you. I’m sorry she’s ruined your life as well as mine.”
His voice is wobbling but his face remains fixed. I lunge forwards and grab him in a tight hug.
“Thank you,” I whisper in his ear. He squeezes me back and I let him go. As he walks out, I turn my attention to the front of the room. Lucinda is still at the lectern and Serena is stood, motionless next to the registrar.
“Let’s go,” I whisper to Sebastian.
We turn to leave and progress quickly towards the door. Just as I think that we’ve made it, I’m spun round quickly by a hand on my shoulder. Serena looks like a broken woman. She’s started to cry and has mascara streaming down her face.
“Lauren,” she pleads, “I didn’t do anything. I don’t know what they’re talking about. You’re my best friend, I’d never do that to you.”
I can’t help it. A snort of laughter has escaped my lips before I have time to stop it.
“Serena, you tried to ruin my career, have me prosecuted, steal my work and have dressed me like I’ve escaped from a fairground. You are no friend of mine.”
She grabs my wrist and for a terrible moment I think she is going to get on her knees and beg for forgiveness. She doesn’t. The pressure increases and I wince in pain. In an instant, her face shifts and her tone changes.
“You think you’re something special, but you’re not,” she