Chapter 3 ''Cafe Conversations and Quiet Dominance''

The chatter and clink of china filled the air at the popular cafe as Olivia, Clara, and Mabel sipped their coffee and savored their slices of cake. They were the picture of sophistication, with Olivia taking center stage as usual.

"Olivia, you are the luckiest girl alive!" Clara gushed, batting her eyelashes in awe. "Gideon is the most handsome man in the city, and he's madly in love with you. Tell us everything about your whirlwind romance. How did you two meet?"

Olivia blushed, a soft smile playing on her lips. "Oh, it was just the most romantic thing. I was shopping for a gift for my father and I was in such a hurry, I wasn't watching where I was going and I bumped right into Gideon. It was love at first sight, I swear!"

Mabel gasped, her eyes widening in wonder. "That's straight out of a fairy tale, Olivia! So, when's the wedding? Have you set a date yet?"

Olivia beamed, her excitement palpable.

"Yes, yes, we have! It's going to be a grand affair, of course," Olivia said, a dreamy look on her face. "The ceremony will be held at the Bryson family estate in the Hamptons, and we're inviting all of New York's elite. And, wait for it, the dress I ordered from Paris is to die for! You two are going to be my bridesmaids, of course."

Clara and Mabel squealed in delight, congratulating their friend on her good fortune.

"You know," Olivia added, setting down her coffee cup, "I just feel so lucky to have found someone like Gideon. He's so charming, and he's already made such a great impression on my family. My father just adores him!"

Clara and Mabel exchanged knowing looks but remained silent. They were too good of friends to express their reservations about the whirlwind romance, especially when Olivia seemed so blissfully happy.

"And you know what else?" Olivia continued a gleam in her eye. "I've already picked out the most beautiful engagement ring. It's an heirloom from our family, passed down for many generations! A diamond so pure... a diamond as big as my head. I can't wait to show it off!"

The conversation continued to revolve around Olivia and her upcoming nuptials, the three friends discussing every detail from the flowers to the catering. It was clear that Olivia was the princess of this fairytale, her perfect life just a few short months away.

Amidst the laughter and the gushing, Mabel's smile began to falter, the hint of a shadow clouding her expression. While Clara gushed over Olivia's good fortune, Mabel couldn't help but feel a stab of jealousy deep in her heart.

Why did Olivia have to be the one with the perfect life? It always seemed that Olivia got what she wanted, even when it wasn't meant for her. And here she was, about to marry the man of her dreams.

Clara, on the other hand, tried to push her doubts away, reminding herself that she was happy for her friend.

But Clara couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right. It wasn't just the way Gideon looked, or the way he smiled, or the way his body moved; it was more than that. There was something about the way he carried himself, a smooth charm that seemed almost...calculated.

Clara shifted uneasily in her chair, her eyes glancing around the café to avoid making eye contact with Olivia. She didn't want to ruin her friend's happiness, but she couldn't help but feel like there was something sinister lurking beneath Gideon's polished exterior.

As the afternoon progressed, the conversation turned to other topics, but Clara couldn't help but steal furtive glances at Olivia. She seemed so blissfully unaware of Clara's doubts, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she chattered on about her upcoming wedding.

Eventually, Clara decided to broach the subject, choosing her words carefully. "Olivia, I'm so happy for you, I am. But have you considered...are you sure Gideon is the one?"

Mabel's mouth fell open, shocked by Clara's audacity.

Olivia's expression hardened, her cheerful demeanor vanishing in an instant. "Of course I'm sure, Clara," she snapped, her voice sharp. "Gideon is perfect for me, and I won't have you trying to undermine my happiness. You know, sometimes I think you're just jealous that you're still single, that you can't find a man as good as him."

Clara reeled from the verbal attack, her cheeks flushing red with embarrassment. She stammered, trying to defend herself.

Mabel jumped in, trying to diffuse the situation. "Olivia, calm down."

"No, Mabel," Olivia said, her eyes blazing. "I won't calm down. Clara's been acting strange ever since I announced my engagement. And I won't have her ruining the best time of my life." She turned back to Clara, her voice dripping with contempt. "If you can't be happy for me, then maybe you shouldn't be in my life at all."

Clara bit her lip, fighting back tears. "I...I'm sorry, Olivia. I didn't mean to upset you." Her worries were coming from a place of concern and it hurt her that Olivia wasn't seeing that.

Olivia stood, shoving her chair back with a loud screech.

"Save it, Clara," Olivia snarled. "I don't want your pity or your apologies. I want you to leave."

Clara and Mabel watched in stunned silence as Olivia stormed out of the café, leaving them sitting in an uncomfortable silence.

After a few moments, Mabel cleared her throat. "I'm sure she didn't mean it. She's just stressed about the wedding."

Clara nodded, but the damage had been done. As she stood to leave, she knew that her friendship with Olivia would never be the same. And her doubts about Gideon had only grown stronger.

Why was Olivia getting unnecessarily angry over a question? Could it be that her speculations were correct?