Part 2My spirit beast is the book of secrets

"Come on, ladies, don't make it so hard on us! Just tell us where the wedding shoes are!"

"Yeah, come on! We'll even give you cash, whatever you want!"

They were practically begging on their knees, trying to get us to give up the shoes.

I couldn't help but chuckle. I turned to my bridesmaids.

"Alright, time's almost up. Let's bring out the shoes."

Everyone's eyes immediately landed on the three bridesmaids.

But they just stood there, completely still, looking at each other.

It took a moment for them to react, then they all said at once:

"I didn't hide them!"

"I have no idea where the wedding shoes are."

The atmosphere suddenly turned really awkward. Liam's face grew serious.

"Search again, thoroughly."

But even after searching every nook and cranny of the room, the wedding shoes were nowhere to be found.

Someone cautiously asked, "Could someone have played a prank and hidden them outside?"

As soon as that was said, everyone instinctively rushed outside to continue the search, without Liam even needing to say a word.

But the entire house was practically turned upside down, and there was still no sign of the wedding shoes.

The ceremony was about to start, and one of Liam's groomsmen suggested,

"Liam, the guests are waiting. Why don't we head to the venue first? I'll arrange for a new pair to be delivered."

Liam didn't answer right away. Instead, he looked up at me.

Clearly, he was asking for my opinion.

I frowned, a knot of annoyance forming in my stomach.

But I guess no one could have predicted something like this.

So, after two seconds of hesitation, I nodded and conceded, "I guess that's the only way."

But just then, Liam's childhood friend, Chloe, suddenly jumped out from a corner.

In front of everyone, she lifted her floor-length skirt.

Her voice was proud and playful.

"The wedding shoes are with me! I told you guys, you'd never find them, right?"

Chloe didn't seem to notice the sudden, chilling silence that fell over the room after she spoke.

Everyone stared at her feet, their faces etched with shock.

One of my bridesmaids finally pieced it together, her voice belated.

"Oh, I remember now! I was about to hide them in the closet, and Chloe said she had a better spot. Then someone knocked on the door, and I didn't pay attention to where she put them."

"I'm so sorry, Summer. I never thought she'd mess with something so important."

Then, her voice turning accusatory, she demanded, "Chloe! How could you wear Summer's wedding shoes?"

Chloe gave her an innocent look, as if she hadn't caught the accusation in her voice.

She turned to me. "Summer, I just wanted to help you hide the wedding shoes. I'll take them off for you right now. I promise you won't miss the scheduled time."

Looking at her face, I had no doubt. I saw the pure, unadulterated malice in her eyes.

No wonder Chloe, who was usually always stirring up drama, had been so unusually quiet today. So quiet, I hadn't even noticed her presence.

She was waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

I couldn't help but let out a furious laugh. "Are you seriously asking me to wear shoes you've worn at my own wedding?"

That one sentence was enough to make Chloe's eyes well up.

She looked at Liam, all teary-eyed and wronged.

"Liam, I was just trying to be helpful. I thought you and Summer would be happy if I hid the wedding shoes perfectly."

"Besides, I've never been married! How was I supposed to know you can't wear wedding shoes?"

Never been married or not, you don't just wear someone else's shoes, especially *my* wedding shoes.

I silently cursed under my breath, feeling a wave of disgust, then retorted,

"Just because you've never been married, does that mean you have no common decency?"

Then again, if she had any decency, she wouldn't always be getting in my face like this.

But what truly shocked me was that, at a time like this, Liam actually sided with her.

He defended her, saying, "It's just a pair of wedding shoes, Summer. Do you have to be so mean?"

I looked up and saw him frowning, an impatient look on his face.

For a split second, all the fire in me just died.

Not that I wasn't angry anymore, but suddenly, it just felt… pointless.

Liam didn't notice my change in demeanor. He casually added,

"I'll have a new pair sent over right away. Happy now?"

He said it as if *I* was the one being unreasonable.

I forced a tight smile. My voice was calm as I said,

"No, thanks. Let's just call off the wedding."