The ceremony continued as if nothing had changed.
The officiant's voice remained steady, guiding the moment with calm authority. Guests sat quietly, focused, the earlier excitement now replaced with careful attention.
Zara stood beside Tunde, her hand still in his.
But her mind wasn't still anymore.
She could feel it clearly now.
That quiet tension.
That shift in the air.
Her grip on the bouquet tightened slightly as her eyes moved again—quick, controlled.
Simi.
She had moved closer.
Not enough to draw attention.
But enough for Zara to notice.
Step by step.
Deliberate.
Unhurried.
Like she had all the time in the world.
Zara swallowed lightly and faced forward again.
Maybe she was overthinking.
Maybe this was nothing.
But the feeling in her chest said otherwise.
Beside her, Tunde adjusted his stance again.
His fingers shifted slightly around hers.
Not as relaxed as before.
Zara noticed.
She turned her head just a little.
"Tunde," she whispered softly.
He didn't look at her immediately.
"Hmm?" he responded.
"Do you—" she paused.
Then stopped.
What was she going to say?
Do you see her?
Do you feel it too?
It sounded like nothing.
So she shook her head slightly.
"Nothing."
Tunde glanced at her briefly.
Then nodded once.
"Okay."
But his expression had changed.
Just slightly.
Like he already understood more than she said.
The officiant continued speaking, unaware of the shift happening beneath the surface.
"Let us proceed…"
Zara forced herself to focus.
To listen.
To stay present.
This was her wedding.
Nothing should distract her.
Nothing should matter more than this moment.
But still—
Her eyes moved again.
Simi was no longer at the edge.
She was closer now.
Much closer.
Standing among guests, blending in just enough.
But not enough.
Zara could still pick her out.
Still feel her presence.
Still sense that something was coming.
Across the hall, Tunde's mother shifted slightly in her seat.
Her eyes followed the movement too.
Brief.
Subtle.
But intentional.
She saw Simi.
And for a split second—
Their eyes met.
No words.
No reaction.
Just a look.
Then she faced forward again.
Calm.
Composed.
Like nothing had happened.
Zara's heart skipped.
She saw that.
She wasn't supposed to.
But she did.
And now—
Everything felt different.
"Tunde," she whispered again, softer this time.
He leaned slightly toward her.
"What is it?"
Zara hesitated.
Her voice lowered even more.
"That woman…"
She didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
Tunde's eyes moved immediately.
Quick.
Sharp.
He saw her.
Simi.
Now clearly within the hall.
Closer than before.
For the first time since the ceremony began—
Tunde's expression shifted.
Not fully.
Not openly.
But enough.
Zara saw it.
Felt it.
And that was all she needed.
The officiant's voice continued in the background, steady, controlled, completely unaware.
But at the front—
Everything had changed.
Zara's fingers tightened around the bouquet again.
Her breathing slowed, but her heartbeat didn't.
She kept her eyes forward now.
She didn't want to look again.
Didn't need to.
She already knew.
Beside her, Tunde straightened slightly.
His grip on her hand firmer now.
Not just steady.
Protective.
Or maybe—
Tense.
The room remained calm.
Guests unaware.
Smiles still present.
Phones still raised.
Everything still moving exactly as planned.
Except—
Simi took another step forward.
And this time—
She didn't stop.