Veil of Protection - End

Chapter 13: Happily Ever After

Veronica Tremont stepped out of the sleek black sedan, clutching her robe closed as a cool morning breeze swept across the driveway. The venue loomed before her - grand, elegant, and exactly as she'd imagined it through countless mood boards and Pinterest scrolls.

She paused at the bottom of the stone steps, drew a steadying breath, then began her slow ascent. Countless days of stress and planning had led to this moment, and her heart fluttered with a whirlwind of emotions - excitement, nerves, and the weight of anticipation.

Inside, the venue was already buzzing with activity - florists perfecting wall-mounted arrangements, assistants hurrying past with armfuls of supplies, and clipboard-wielding coordinators murmuring into discreet headsets. Veronica took it all in, watching as the results of her meticulous planning finally came to life. She had fine-tuned every detail, agonised over each decision - and now that the day had finally arrived, it all felt strangely surreal. The venue alone had taken four months to secure, and she’d travelled to three countries just to find the perfect fabric for her dress. The flowers had been flown in from Holland, the cake designer brought in from Vienna, and the photographer booked a full year in advance. But above all, she’d obsessed over one thing: her appearance!

That was why she’d hired them - the most exclusive beauty team in the state. A quartet of glamorous professionals known simply as the glam squad. They didn’t advertise. They didn’t post on social media. Their clients came through whispered recommendations passed between the wives and daughters of the ultra-wealthy.

According to her planner, they were “the best money could buy” - so skilled it bordered on the supernatural. They were praised not only for their artistry and discretion but also for their eerie synchronicity. Veronica couldn’t wait to meet them.

And as she opened the door to her bridal suite, she wasn’t disappointed.

She paused in the doorway, momentarily caught off guard by the sight of four bewitching figures standing in a perfect line at the centre of the room - each one unique in appearance, yet together forming a seamless, curated whole. Then, as if rehearsed, they all smiled and chirped in unison, “Welcome, Miss Tremont,” - their voices blending into a single harmony. Something about it made the hairs on Veronica’s neck prickle.

Cautiously, Veronica stepped inside, offering a polite smile as the door clicked shut behind her. Her eyes swept the room, pausing briefly on her exquisite wedding gown displayed on a mannequin. But that didn’t hold her gaze for long - she was completely transfixed by them: The glam squad. Just as striking as the photos in her research had promised. Perhaps more so.

Her eyes fell first on the woman to the far left - ethereal in soft pink, wearing a halter-neck dress that clung to her bony frame like silk on porcelain. Her white pumps appeared impossibly high, the thick ankle straps emphasising the fragility of her slender legs. Her platinum blonde hair was swept into an elegant, braided updo, regal and immaculate. Her huge, pouty lips were glossed bubblegum pink, and her bright blue eyes shimmered beneath pastel eyeshadow and sweeping lashes. Around her neck, a double-looped silver necklace glinted under the overhead lights, her heart-shaped earrings catching the same glow.

Daisy Whitmore, Veronica recognised. Makeup, skincare, and injectables. She looks almost too fragile to be real.

Next to Daisy stood an olive-skinned goddess in a high-low ball gown of deep purple, speckled with shimmer that caught the light like stars in motion. The front hemline revealed shapely legs perched atop forest green platform heels, giving her a towering presence, while long, soft caramel-coloured curls - sprouting from a ponytail - cascaded down her back. Her shimmering green eyeshadow was perfectly blended, offset by glossy coral lips and lashes so long they brushed her brow bone.

Luisa Diamante, Veronica noted. The nail specialist. A true beauty to behold.

Third in line, a curvy, ebony-skinned woman stood in a burnt-orange gown that left little to the imagination, hugging every inch of her curvy silhouette. The plunging neckline showed off an impressive cleavage, held aloft with no sign of a bra. Her legs - long, smooth, and gleaming - peeked from the thigh-high slit, made even longer by towering white sandals with impossibly thin heels. Her silver hair was drawn up into a high ponytail, falling in glossy waves behind her back, with a thick braid sweeping around her temples. Her makeup was bold - high-gloss lips, smokey eyes, and lashes like spider legs.

Melody Jackson, Veronica recalled. Hair and piercings. I read she trained under that celebrity stylist in Manhattan. God, that contouring... she looks like a painting come to life.

And finally, on the far right stood a petite Asian woman, though her black platform Mary-Jane pumps - with their towering heels and gladiator-style straps - elevated her to almost average height. Her deep red gown clung to her shapely figure, the plunging back and daring thigh-high slit lending her an almost theatrical presence. Sheer black tights softened the curves of her short legs, completing the bold yet refined look. Her glossy, black hair was styled into a sleek, vintage-inspired style, each curl perfectly gelled in place with meticulous care. Her makeup was perfection: intense red lips, strong contouring, and thick, exaggerated lashes that cast shadows over her cheekbones. Long, red acrylic nails curled gently as she adjusted a gold heart pendant resting at her collarbone. Matching hoop earrings framed her face, swinging subtly each time she moved.

Jaclyn Liu, Veronica remembered. Specialist in brows and lashes. She looks like she’s never had a single hair out of place in her life.

(See image 41)

“It's so lovely to finally meet you,” Daisy said, taking the lead as she waved a bony hand tipped with claw-like pink nails. Her British accent was airy and sweet, floating from lips so full they barely closed all the way. “You look radiant already, sweetie. But just you wait - we’re going to make sure you absolutely glow for your big day.”

Internally, Javier winced. "Here we go again," he thought.

This would be the twenty-eighth wedding in the past eleven months. Twenty-eight brides with their unrealistic expectations and teary monologues about finding their soulmate. Twenty-eight times he’d had to smile through filler-swollen lips and tell someone how “lucky” they were, when all he felt was hollow.

“I’ll be doing your makeup today,” he continued, “I've looked over your colours and I can't wait to help create the best version of you.”

"It's hard to remember what the best version of me even looks like anymore," he thought bitterly. "I've been deep undercover before but this time it feels like I've been buried and forgotten about."

Beside him, Luisa took her cue with a dramatic flick of her voluminous curls. “Hola, preciosa,” she purred, her voice rich with a well-rehearsed Colombian lilt. “I’m Luisa, and I’ll be taking care of your nails today, Mami.”

Larry’s hips swayed slightly as he gestured toward Veronica’s hands, but his mind was elsewhere. "Fifteen years I spent on construction sites," he thought. "Ran a crew of thirty men. Poured concrete, scaled scaffolding, broke up fights on payday. And now? I push back cuticles and sculpt useless nails. All that experience - what a waste!"

"You have beautiful hands,” he added aloud. “I'm thinking something elegant, timeless. French maybe, or ombre with a little diamond detail, Si?”

Next up to speak was Melody, her expression bright and friendly. “Sugar, you made the right call bringin’ us in today,” she said, her Southern drawl as rich as molasses. “I’m Melody - I’ll be workin’ on your hair. Got a few ideas in mind, but we’ll see what speaks to us., alright?"

Michael already knew what he was going to do - every bride wanted the same thing: whatever was trending that month. It would be a few hours of tedium, and inwardly, he was drowning. "I had a corner office in Midtown. I read markets like other people read menus. I gave TV interviews in bespoke suits. And now? I debate whether a tiara clip will sit right with a soft curl or if it would look better with a waterfall braid. Oh! When will it end."

Finally, it was Jaclyn's turn, speaking in a thick Chinese accent. “I doing your brows and lashes,” she said softly. “We open up the eyes, soften the shape and create allure… make you a whole new person.”

Jaclyn's voice was calm and professional - but inside, Jamal's was tired and bored. "Yeah right," he thought bitterly. "New person... Try being turned from a world-class athlete into a miniature Chinese doll. I cleared two metres in Tokyo. Had Nike sniffing around for endorsements. And now? I can barely reach the middle shelves at the grocery store."

(See image 42)

After giving their little speeches, the four former men eased back into position and waited - smiles fixed, backs straight, heels planted. This caused Veronica to hesitate for a moment, her expression flickering with confusion, before brightening into a wide, delighted grin, realising it was her turn to speak. “Thank you, ladies. That’s wonderful to hear,” she beamed. “I can’t wait to get started.”

For her, this was the beginning of a perfect day. For Larry, Jamal, Javier, and Michael, it was just another day of going through the motions in a life none of them had chosen, waiting for a court date that would never come. Their futures erased, their pasts buried behind feminised frames and altered faces.

NINA, in her cold brilliance, had created the perfect trap - four strangers living the same lie, too afraid to speak the truth in case they were the only one pretending, too consumed by the fear of being exposed to suspect the others.

There would be no escape!

No rescue!

No returning to the lives they once knew!

Only more ceremonies. More bridezillas. More lies - while bound in designer dresses and tottering on sky-high heels.

But at least they had each other - to paint, polish, and maintain their perfect appearances forevermore.

The End