Chapter 3

Within a week, my world fell apart.

Not because Noah and Amber went public—that just fed the town gossip machine. What really crushed me were the cancellation calls.

The first one was polite. Mrs. Miller cleared her throat and said, "Lily, I'd like to postpone my daughter's wedding planning... the timing just isn't right."

The second was blunt: "Sorry Lily, we've decided to go with someone else. You understand, given everything that's happened..."

By the fifth call, I didn't need to hear the rest. I knew what they were thinking—who wants a woman who got dumped planning their dream wedding? Like heartbreak was catching.

I sat in my studio, watching the numbers in my appointment book shrink, and almost laughed at the irony. These same people used to gush over my designs, saying they were "so romantic they made you believe in love again." Now they treated me like I had the plague.

That afternoon, I went to the coffee shop on Main Street. The second I walked in, all the chatter died.

I ignored the stares and ordered my usual Americano. While waiting, I caught whispers behind me:

"Poor thing..."

"Maybe she was just too boring to keep him interested."

"I heard Noah and Amber have been hooking up for months."

Each word felt like a tiny knife. I dug my nails into my palms. In my past life, these whispers had destroyed me, made me feel like damaged goods.

This time, I just grabbed my coffee and left.

I didn't owe anyone an explanation.

Back at the studio, I tried to focus on my last remaining job—planning the Johnsons' anniversary party. At least old married couples wouldn't dump me over my love life.

The bell chimed.

I looked up to see a stranger outside. Dark hair, steel-blue eyes, wearing a simple gray t-shirt and jeans, carrying a leather notebook. Early thirties, with something I couldn't quite pin down—not the cozy familiarity of a local, but the sharp awareness of someone who watched the world.

"Hi," he said, stepping inside. His voice was deep, steady. "I'm Cameron. I heard you're the best wedding planner in town."

I forced on my professional smile. "Thank you. What can I help you with?"

Only after I spoke did I realize how drained I sounded. This week had hollowed me out.

Cameron sat across from me, his gaze direct but not invasive, like he was studying something worth understanding.

"I'm writing a book," he said. "About weddings. I'd like to learn about what you do."

A writer. We didn't get many of those around here. I nodded, pulling out a fresh notebook. "What specifically interests you? The logistics? Budgets? Or—"

"Why do people need weddings?" he cut in.

My pen froze. What kind of question was that?

Cameron must have seen my confusion because he smiled slightly. "Sorry, I tend to ask weird questions. But it matters for the book."

I set down my pen, thinking about the wedding plans I'd burned last week, all those beautiful dreams turned to ash.

"Because... people need a moment to make promises," I said slowly. "Promises that they'll face whatever comes next together."

"Even when those promises get broken?" His eyes were too knowing.

The question hit right where it hurt most. I managed a bitter smile. "That's exactly why the moment matters. At least then, it's real."

At least in that moment, everyone believes in forever.

Cameron studied me for a long beat. Then he said, "You just called off your own wedding, didn't you?"

Every muscle in my body went rigid. Suspicion flooded through me like ice water. "Small towns love their gossip."

"I'm not gossiping," Cameron shook his head, his expression genuine. "You just... you look like someone who's learned something. The kind of thing you only learn the hard way."

His words hit me like a sucker punch to the chest. Nobody had said that before. Everyone either pitied me, blamed me, or treated me like entertainment. Only this stranger saw that my pain had taught me something.

I swallowed hard, fighting back tears. "So what exactly do you need for this book?"

Cameron opened his notebook. "I want you to design a wedding. A complete plan, just for research. Money's not an issue, and there's no deadline."

I stared at him. This was my first real job since the breakup—and a big one.

"Why me?" I heard myself ask. "Everyone in town is saying—"

"I don't care what they're saying," Cameron interrupted, his voice firm. "I've seen your work. The Hendersons' anniversary, the Miller engagement party. Your designs have heart, not just pretty stuff thrown together."

Something inside me almost broke.

All week, everyone had been writing me off. Clients bailed, the town whispered, even Dad said maybe I was "overreacting." Only this stranger I'd just met saw what I was worth.

"Okay," I tried to keep my voice steady. "I'll take the job."

Cameron smiled—subtle, but somehow it felt like sunshine.

That evening, we met at Marina Restaurant to talk details. I brought my portfolio, Cameron brought his notebook, and we claimed a table by the window.

"What makes a perfect wedding?" Cameron asked, pen ready.

I thought about it. "There's no such thing as perfect. But if I had to pick... it's when the couple looks at each other, and for that moment, nothing else exists."

Cameron stopped writing and looked up. "Is that what you wanted?"

Yes. Once.

Before I could answer, the restaurant door opened. Noah's voice drifted over, followed by Amber's giggly laugh.

My whole body went tense.