Chapter 2: The Wedding and a Ghost from the Past

When I woke, dawn was just a smudge of blue behind the curtains. For a second, I forgot where I was—the Mansion and my new home blurred together.

A housekeeper and a couple of bridesmaids bustled in to help me dress, their laughter filling the room. Someone handed me a mug of diner coffee gone lukewarm. The bridesmaids gossiped about the high school football team between pinning my hair.

"You hit the jackpot, Nora. Derek Parker’s the dream guy around here—my cousin’s been trying to get his attention since junior prom."

They teased and fussed, making me feel like I belonged. Derek really was a good man—steady, handy, never judging me for my made-up past. In a town where everyone talked, he kept my secrets safe.

He’d look at me with those steady eyes and say, "You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. Having you as my wife is the luckiest thing that’s ever happened to me."

His words were simple and true, and for a moment, the ghosts of D.C. faded. I let myself smile and soak it in, surrounded by women who felt like friends, not rivals.

I’d spent years hiding—scarves over my face, windows closed. Here, I was known for my work at the clinic, not my secrets. Even if this guest had seen me before, would he even recognize me?

And honestly, what were the odds? The Governor was practically a myth out here. I’d picked Silver Hollow for a reason. Here, I was just Nora Monroe.

Standing in the wedding hall, sunlight streamed through stained glass, scattering color everywhere. My hands shook as I clutched the white ribbon, sweat making it slick. The place was packed—neighbors, relatives, everyone craning for a look. Someone’s baby fussed in the back. I took comfort in the noise and the crowd.

That guest—him—was there, but he didn’t say a word. I caught whispers around me: "Who is that? How could Silver Hollow have such a man of bearing and looks?"

"I’ve never seen him before, but from the Parker family’s attitude, he must be someone rich or important."

"I wonder if he’s married? My cousin is pretty handsome…"

I ignored the gossip, focusing on the fact that after tonight, I’d be a Parker. If the Governor and his lady stayed longer, I’d just have to be extra careful.

The ceremony ended in a wave of applause. Derek squeezed my hand, eyes bright. As we left, I tripped—heat rushed up my neck as I wobbled, praying no one saw. Of course, everyone did. But a hand caught me, steady and sure, then let go fast.

Even through the dress, his touch burned—a mix of comfort and warning. I stammered, "Thank you," barely able to meet his gaze. He studied me through the veil, his presence pressing in.

"Ma’am looks a little familiar. Like someone I used to know."

My heart was hammering so loud, I was sure he could hear it. Did he really not recognize me, or was this just the first move in a game I’d already lost?

That voice—etched into my bones. I kept my head down, praying the veil and two hard years had changed me enough.

Someone called out, breaking the spell: "Dr. Monroe is a healer from the Silver Hollow Clinic, with a miracle touch. Brother, maybe you’ve seen her before."

The tension broke. People laughed, swapped stories about the time I’d saved a kid or stitched up a farmhand. He looked away, his voice polite but sharp: "Oh. Dr. Monroe, is it? Skilled in medicine? Then I must have been mistaken."

Derek clapped him on the shoulder, grinning. "There are plenty of women in the world. Some resemblance isn’t so strange."

He led me outside, and I finally breathed again. My name was Nora Monroe now, and here, I was someone new.