Jules — Chapter 47

The band plays as Jules and Will start their first dance. The crowd presses close, rowdy and intoxicated, and Jules forces a smile while feeling mounting unease after the disastrous speech and the ushers’ earlier stunt. She notices Will looks disheveled and distracted, treading on her dress and downing wine.

Jules quietly asks Will what the commotion was about. Will dismisses it as “boys being boys,” blaming Johnno and hinting at leftover stag antics. Jules presses about Johnno’s speech—its references to the past and secrets. Will grows defensive, insisting it’s nothing, then tightens his grip on her arm.

When Jules says he’s hurting her, Will immediately switches tone, apologizing and turning on his familiar charm. The sudden shift feels like a mask to Jules, increasing her distrust even as the guests cheer around them.

Jules stresses that marriage should mean sharing everything. Will claims Johnno is a fantasist obsessed with an incident from youth, envious of Will’s success, and expecting debts that don’t exist. Jules counters that Johnno has clung to Will for too long, questioning any hold he might have.

As the song crescendos and the crowd applauds, Will pulls Jules close and promises that after tonight he will cut Johnno out of their lives. The pledge is meant to reassure, but for Jules it underscores the gravity of whatever lies between Will and Johnno—and deepens her sense that something is very wrong.