"Mr. Vance, I set up a little pre-wedding prank for you two. What do you think—funny, right?"
Her foot slipped. She let out a soft gasp, as though she'd lost her balance, and tumbled right into Clay's arms.
She looked up at him, her cheeks flushed pink.
"Sorry."
That was her favorite little seduction trick. I'd seen it more times than I could count.
In my previous life, the moment I opened my eyes and saw Roberta standing over me like a nightmare come to life—saw my long-awaited bridal makeup ruined beyond repair—watched her flirt and pull the same old moves to seduce my husband—
My fear and rage had come crashing down like a flood.
I'd screamed and lunged at her, ripped her away from him, and slapped her across the face.
I'd shrieked: "Get out! You're trying to seduce my boyfriend again, aren't you? I won't let you get away with it!"
Clay had immediately called the bridesmaids over to hold me down.
Roberta had cowered in the corner, face red, eyes brimming with pitiful tears:
"I didn't do anything. Mrs. Vance, you've misunderstood. This was just a pre-wedding prank."
No matter how I tried to explain—that she was a loyalty tester, that she'd seduced boyfriend after boyfriend, that she'd destroyed relationship after relationship—
Roberta just stood there, trembling and crying:
"I really didn't! I don't even know you. I'm just a makeup artist."
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'll get on my knees and apologize if you want. Please stop making up stories about me…"
Everyone had whispered among themselves:
"A loyalty tester? She reads too many novels. People like that don't exist."
"She's probably been the jealous wife for so long she thinks every woman is after her husband. Tsk, tsk, tsk. How embarrassing..."
My protests had grown feeble against the tide of sneering and mockery from the guests, and under Clay's weary gaze.
He sighed, resigned, and walked over to wrap me in a gentle embrace.
"It's okay. If you don't like her, we'll fire her. How about that?"
"But you should've just told me directly, instead of making up rumors about the poor girl..."
I'd thought he was simply like the rest of the guests, fooled by Roberta's lies and her act.
It wasn't until the moment I died that I finally understood.
His heart had already shifted toward Roberta.
...
This time, I watched expressionlessly as Roberta threw herself into Clay's arms.
I didn't miss the flicker of desire that passed through his eyes.