Dion and Grace land in a posh, seaside hotel for their honeymoon, and it's all high-end glamor. Grace is feeling like a fish out of water, though. The first thing she does is try to call Jade, but there is no answer. "Probably knee-deep in lectures," she mutters, setting her phone aside.

Meanwhile, Dion is already halfway out of his clothes and headed to the bathroom for a shower. Grace suddenly feels as awkward as a cat in a dog park. How was this supposed to go? Do they play it cool like buddies, or just sit there staring at the walls? Shaking off her nerves, she decides to change before Dion finishes. The sound of the water running kicks her into high gear, and she shimmies into something comfy, hoping to look casual.

The door swings open, and Dion strides out, wrapped in nothing but a towel and looking like he just walked out of a cologne commercial. His abs? A whole six-pack on full display. Grace's mouth goes dry as dust, and she's staring like she's never seen a man before.

"What?" Dion smirks, noticing her staring. "Enjoying the view?"

"Oh, nothing. Did you take a shower?" Grace asks.

"Oh, no! I just... uh... did you take a shower?" Grace stammers, her cheeks turning tomato-red.

Dion gives her a cheeky grin. "What'd you think I was doing in there? Playing peek-a-boo with the shampoo?" He raises an eyebrow, his smile downright wicked. "Or maybe you were picturing something... a little dirty?"

Grace practically chokes. "Dirty? Me? Ha! As if! I, uh... never mind, I'm... I'm just gonna go shower now." She springs up and bolts for the bathroom.

Just as she reaches the door, Dion calls out, laughing. "By the way, that wedding dress? Pure fire. I thought you might let me help you wriggle out of it."

Grace glances back, rolling her eyes. "Oh, sorry to rain on your parade,"

Once in the bathroom, she lets out a sigh, stripping down and jumping under the warm spray. It feels like heaven, washing away her jitters. She scrubs, shampoos, and lathers up like she's auditioning for a soap commercial, and then... reality hits. She forgot to grab a towel. Rookie mistake, right?

"Oh, for crying out loud," Grace mutters, realizing her towel's still outside. Rookie move!

She calls out, "Dion, can you toss me my towel?" but it's like talking to a brick wall. Cracking the door open just enough, she tries again. "Dion, my towel, please!"

Still no answer. Figuring he must've wandered off, she tiptoes out, hoping to grab it unnoticed.

But, of course, Dion's sitting on the bed, grinning like the cat that ate the canary. "Well, would you look at that? Didn't expect the honeymoon to come with a free show!"

Grace gasps, lets out a little squeal, and bolts back to the bathroom. "What's the matter?" Dion laughs. "I'm your husband,"

"Just hand me the towel, you goofball!" she shouts, feeling her face go hotter than a summer day.

"Alright, alright," Dion says, holding it out like he's offering a prize. Grace cracks the door just enough to stick her arm out, grabbing the towel as fast as lightning and slamming the door shut.

"C'mon, don't be so shy!" Dion calls, chuckling. "We've got a whole honeymoon to get cozy, you know!"

—--

When Grace steps out of the bathroom, the room is as empty. Just her luck! She grabs her phone and dials Jade, hoping her friend picks up. After a few rings, Jade finally answers.

"Hey, Jade!" Grace says, trying to sound cheerful, but her nerves are doing the cha-cha.

"Hi, Grace! I just got out of lectures, and you wouldn't believe the buzz going around about your wedding!" Jade says, her voice laced with disappointment instead of excitement.

"Wait, what? How's everyone talking about it?" Grace asks, her eyes wide as saucers.

"Girl, you can't keep secrets in this neck of the woods! News travels faster than a rumor at a high school cafeteria. But don't look at me—I'm not the one spreading it! You know our friends can't resist splashing wedding pics all over Instagram, right?" Jade's tone feels colder, and it makes Grace's heart feel like it just dropped a few floors.

"What are they saying?" Grace asks, her stomach churning like a washing machine.

"Well, Angelica is absolutely steaming! She acts like you stole her boyfriend right out from under her nose. And get this—people are saying you're the girl Dion kissed at that club while he was still with her. I told them it wasn't you, but they're not buying it!" Jade spills, her voice full of concern.

"Oh... thanks for trying to save me," Grace says, her voice quivering like a leaf in the wind.

"That's what friends are for! Just keeping it real, you know?" Jade replies, but her tone has a bite sharper than a lemon.

"Okay, I'm sorry, Jade. Why are you still mad at me? I didn't do anything wrong," Grace says, feeling her eyes start to mist up like a foggy morning.

"But you need to come clean with me! Remember how you always dance around telling me his name? You never mentioned that Dion is the same Dion who dated Angelica. Are you guys actually in love?" Jade presses, disappointment hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst.

Grace takes a deep breath, ready to spill the beans, but just then, Dion bursts back into the room.

"Are you not ready yet? Come on, let's get this show on the road! We're supposed to hit the town!" he says.

"Oh... Jade, I have to bounce. I'll call you later and spill all the details, bye!" Grace says quickly before hanging up.

"Spill what details about what?" Dion raises an eyebrow, a smirk dancing on his lips. "About your honeymoon?"

"It's none of your business!" Grace snaps back.

"Why are you so mad at me? I thought you liked this!" Dion says, trying to flash that charming smile of his. "Be nice to me, okay? We're paying you good money, remember?"

Grace's heart sinks like a rock hearing those words. Because of this mess, she feels like she's lost her friends and her respect. It's like being the punchline of a bad joke. But then, she remembers she's doing this for her mother, and that's the only motivation keeping her head above water.

Suddenly, an idea pops into her mind, and she gives Dion a firm look from under her lashes. "What about you, Dion? Aren't you just in this to snag your father's inheritance?"

Dion goes speechless, his mouth hanging open like a fish out of water, and Grace can't help but feel a spark of victory.