The ceremony continued without interruption.
The officiant spoke calmly, guiding each step with practiced ease. The guests remained attentive, their earlier excitement now settled into quiet observation.
Zara stood beside Tunde, her expression composed, her posture steady.
But her awareness had shifted.
She wasn't just standing there anymore.
She was watching.
Carefully.
Her eyes moved again—subtle, controlled.
Back to where she had seen her.
Simi.
Still standing.
Still watching.
Zara tried not to make it obvious, but something about her presence refused to blend into the crowd. Everyone else seemed part of the celebration.
She didn't.
She looked like someone waiting for something.
Zara looked forward again, tightening her grip on her bouquet slightly.
Maybe she was overthinking.
This was a big wedding.
People moved differently.
Not everyone would sit.
Not everyone would smile.
Still—
That feeling remained.
Beside her, Tunde shifted slightly.
His focus was still ahead, but for a brief second, his eyes moved.
Not toward Zara.
Not toward the officiant.
Toward the side of the hall.
Toward the same direction.
Zara noticed.
Her heart skipped once.
Just once.
Then Tunde looked forward again, his expression unchanged.
Like nothing had happened.
Zara swallowed lightly.
"Repeat after me," the officiant said, bringing her attention back.
Zara nodded faintly, following the words as instructed.
Her voice remained steady.
Clear.
Controlled.
But her thoughts weren't.
They drifted again.
Back to that moment.
That glance.
That quiet shift.
She turned her eyes again, just briefly.
Simi had moved.
Not far.
Just a few steps.
But closer.
Zara's breath slowed.
Something about the way she moved wasn't random.
It was deliberate.
Measured.
Like she knew exactly where she needed to be.
Zara looked forward again quickly.
Her heart was beating faster now.
She didn't understand why.
Nothing had happened.
Nothing had been said.
Everything was still going smoothly.
But the feeling was stronger now.
Harder to ignore.
Beside her, Tunde adjusted his stance again.
His jaw tightened slightly.
It was subtle.
Almost invisible.
But Zara saw it.
And that made it worse.
Because now—
She knew she wasn't the only one who had noticed something.
The officiant continued, his voice steady, filling the hall with calm authority.
"Marriage is built on understanding…"
The words flowed.
But they no longer settled.
Not the way they should.
Zara's fingers curled slightly around the bouquet.
Her eyes stayed forward.
But her mind stayed alert.
Waiting.
Watching.
The room remained quiet.
Orderly.
Perfect.
But beneath it—
Something was shifting.
Slowly.
Quietly.
And whatever it was—
It was getting closer.