CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-ONE: WEDDING PLANS IN MOTION

Mason turned to their parents, his voice firm. "I think that's enough for tonight. Claire needs rest, and we all need time to cool off and approach this rationally." As their parents reluctantly agreed and said their goodbyes, Claire couldn't help but feel a sense of dread. This was supposed to be the happiest time of their lives, but instead, it felt like they were being pulled in a thousand different directions. The next morning, Claire woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly. Groaning, she reached for it, squinting at the bright screen. It was a message from her old friend, Emily. "Hey Claire! I heard about the engagement – congrats! Just wondering if my invite got lost in the mail?" Claire's stomach dropped. With all the chaos surrounding the guest list, she hadn't even thought about inviting her own friends yet. She quickly typed out a reply, trying to sound casual. "Thanks, Em! We're still in the early stages of planning. No invites sent out yet, but of course