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Before The Vows

by @spicypebble
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14 chapters
~35 min read

Charlie Whitmore’s mother is marrying Vivienne Ashford’s father, which means the two of them are now sharing breakfasts, a historic estate, and a simmering, mutual loathing neither can quite name. Vivi finds Charlie’s shoes everywhere; Charlie finds Vivi’s cold blue stare impossible to ignore. By the time the rehearsal dinner rolls around, their parents are delighted by how close the girls are getting, and Charlie and Vivi are one stolen coffee creamer away from doing something about it.

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MEET THE CHARACTERS

C'

Charlotte 'Charlie' Whitmore

A 21-year-old with a sharp tongue and a softer heart than she lets on. She’s got wild chestnut hair that never quite behaves, green eyes that miss nothing, and a way of smirking that suggests she’s already figured out your game. She moves through the world with a chaotic grace—all long limbs and restless energy—and her mother’s money can’t quite smooth over the irreverence in her bones.

V'

Vivienne 'Vivi' Ashford

A 22-year-old who looks like she was carved from marble and cold intention. She has sleek dark hair that falls in a perfect curtain, sharp blue eyes that judge you without apology, and the kind of posture that says she’s never had to try to be taken seriously. She’s all controlled lines and expensive tailoring, but there’s a crack in the facade—a hunger she keeps locked away, and Charlie’s already found it.

C'

Catherine 'Cate' Whitmore

Charlie’s mother, 48 A 48-year-old society darling who has never met a reinvention she didn’t like. With honey-brown hair, green-hazel eyes, and effortless elegance, Cate is warm, dramatic, affectionate, and eternally optimistic about love despite three previous marriages. She adores Charlie even when her daughter’s irreverence drives her insane, and she’s utterly convinced Alexander is finally the one.

A'

Alexander 'Alex' Ashford

Vivi's dad, a 52-year-old old-money patriarch with silver at his temples, piercing blue eyes, and the quiet authority of a man who’s never needed to announce his importance. He’s composed, traditional, and dryly funny beneath the polished exterior, with several failed marriages of his own. Alexander adores Vivi but struggles with her tendency to keep everyone at arm’s length—and believes Cate might finally be the person who makes their enormous house feel like a home.

PR

Priya Raman

Charlie's friend from freshman year; knows she's moving into Ashford House, calls Vivi a legend, and pushes Charlie on her defensiveness about Vivi.

NF

Nadia Farouk

Vivi's best friend since orientation; saw Vivi drive Charlie to campus and called her out on making coffee; knows Vivi dates women and that Charlie is 'chaotic' to her.

T

Tess

Seminar classmate who flirted with Charlie at the reception; Charlie used her to make Vivi look; unaware she was a decoy.

E

Elise

Atelier fitter who fitted Charlie's burgundy dress and heard Vivi say 'She does' when Elise said Charlie would photograph beautifully.

MS

Margot Sinclair

Vivi's childhood friend; kissed Vivi once at nineteen, now a guest at the wedding. Touches Vivi often; Charlie is jealous and Vivi notices.

JW

Jonathan Whitmore

Charlie's father, arrived 40 minutes late, gave a toast at the rehearsal dinner, told Charlie he's proud of her, knows she's been hurt by his lateness.

D

Diane

Officiant at the wedding rehearsal; said 'these two families become one,' which hit Charlie and Vivi hard.

R

Renata

Hair stylist who worked on Charlie before the wedding; no story impact beyond the scene.

EXPLORE CHAPTERS

1

The First Box

Vivi pauses mid-step on the staircase, hand on the banister, as a girl with wild chestnut hair hefts a cardboard box through the front door. The late sun catches dust motes around her, and Vivi's gaze

2

Chapter 2

Domestic friction turns into reluctant fascination. Charlie’s first full day at Ashford House forces her and Vivi into each other’s routines: an early-morning cigarette, breakfast with their newly ble

3

Chapter 3

Routine becomes dangerous when Vivi realizes Charlie is already disrupting hers. Back in Vivi’s POV, their new morning commute begins with teasing texts and increasingly comfortable banter, while Vivi

4

Chapter 4

Several days have passed, and Charlie and Vivi’s morning commute has quietly become routine. Charlie is downstairs by eight without being reminded, Vivi always has coffee ready, they argue over music,

5

Chapter 5

Write Chapter 5 in Vivienne “Vivi” Ashford’s first-person present POV. Several days have passed since the literary reception. Charlie and Vivi’s morning routine is now fully established: coffee, leavi

+ 9 more chapters