Hidden Desires

Prologue

Leah stared at her reflection in the mirror, the morning light slipping through the windows of her Malibu suite. The distant crash of waves echoed in the background, almost like a pulse, steady and endless. Outside, she could hear the sounds of her wedding day coming to life.... guests chatting as they arrived, champagne glasses clinking, the soft rustle of dresses as people moved about.

But in this moment, she was alone. Just her, the mirror, and the thoughts she'd been pushing down for so long.

She had always been the girl from Brooklyn, the one who hustled, who knew how to navigate the chaos of the city. Leah had built her life on determination and grit, surviving and thriving in a world that didn't always make sense. She'd crossed the country, chasing dreams of success and carving out a place for herself in the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles. And now, here she was... about to marry a man who loved her, a man who promised her the world.

So why did she feel like she was about to lose everything?

Leah's fingers tightened around the edge of the vanity as she forced herself to breathe. She should be ecstatic, over the moon with happiness. The venue was perfect—a stunning estate overlooking the Pacific, the waves glistening under the California sun. Everything was exactly as it should be, down to the smallest detail. But as she looked at herself in the mirror, Leah couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Jennifer's face flashed in her mind. That smile, those eyes that always seemed to see right through her. Jennifer had been there from the start, her best friend, her rock in this sprawling city that never felt quite like home. Leah had been drawn to her from the moment they met, but she'd told herself it was just admiration, just the natural bond between two women who understood each other in ways no one else could.

But standing here now, minutes away from a lifetime commitment, Leah could no longer deny the truth she had buried deep inside. She was about to marry a man she didn't love, not the way she was supposed to. Not the way she loved Jennifer.

She blinked, trying to clear the haze of emotions clouding her thoughts. This was her wedding day, the day every girl dreams of. She had fought hard to get here, to build this life. And yet, as the minutes ticked by, Leah couldn't help but wonder if she was about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

The door opened behind her, and a soft voice called her name. It was one of the bridesmaids, reminding her that it was time.

Leah took one last look at herself in the mirror, at the woman she had become... the woman who had fought so hard to escape her roots, only to find herself longing for something she couldn't have. She forced a smile and turned away from the mirror, pushing her doubts to the back of her mind.

She had made her choice. Now, she just had to live with it.