"Alright," I said calmly as I set the glass down.
Relief flashed across Trevor's face. He gently ruffled my hair.
"I knew you'd understand. The doctor said Sophia's mental state has been really unstable lately. She could hurt herself at any time. As her future sister-in-law, just be patient with her."
He praised me for being understanding, as if it were only natural.
It was as if the wedding dress I'd poured my heart into meant nothing at all.
"Let's go rehearse at the venue," I said, standing up and stepping away from his touch.
Trevor assumed I was just cranky from waking up and didn't think much of it.
He walked to the closet and pulled out a backup dress before handing it to me. "You'll look beautiful in this, too, Mrs. Gibson."
I took the dress and changed right in front of him.
There was no real design to it. It was plain, almost dull. But none of that mattered anymore.
The moment we stepped out of the room, the sunlight from the island hit my eyes hard.
Outside the reception hall was a massive swimming pool. Trevor's friends had already arrived and were standing together, smoking.
When they saw the backup dress, several of them exchanged looks.
"That's a classy look, Helena. It's much better than that lacey dress."
The mockery in their voices was obvious. Trevor frowned slightly and shot them a look. "Shut up. One more word and I'll send you all back home."
They fell silent, but the amusement in their eyes remained.
Just then, the sound of heels clicked across the ground. Sophia walked over in a red dress.
With a glass of champagne in hand, she smiled brightly at Trevor.
"Trevor, don't I look pretty today?"
"You look fine," he answered casually.
Then, Sophia turned toward me.
That was when I noticed the antique tiara resting in her curled hair.
It was an heirloom passed down from my grandmother.
I'd imagined wearing it at my wedding countless times. It was the closest thing I had to having my mom there to watch me get married.
For safety reasons, I'd locked it in the bedroom's safe. Only Trevor and I knew the password.
I clenched my fists.
I stared at the tiara and snapped, "Who told you you could touch that?"
Sophia adjusted the crooked tiara on her head.
"Calm down. I just wanted to try it on for a bit."
"Take it off," I commanded, stepping forward.
Sophia immediately backed up. "Trevor, look how scary she is. I was only borrowing it. It's not like I was going to break it."
Trevor frowned and moved in front of her protectively before looking at me.
"Helena, enough," he said. "It's just a tiara. She'll return it tomorrow exactly as it was. You know she can't handle emotional stress."
I stared at him in disbelief.
"I'll say it one more time. Take it off and give it back."
I wasn't hysterical. I stated it calmly.
Sophia hid behind him. A smirk played on her lips.
She suddenly let go of Trevor and stepped backward until she stood right at the edge of the pool.
"Fine, I'll give it back. Just stop pressuring me. Life's pointless anyway."
As she spoke, she started tugging wildly at the tiara on her head. Her movements were rough and careless.
"Sophia, stop!" Trevor's expression changed instantly as he reached for her.
Sophia's foot slipped. "Ah!"
With a scream, she fell backward into the deep end of the pool. The tiara went down with her as water splashed upward.
"Sophia!"
Trevor's face darkened. Without even taking off his suit jacket, he dove straight into the water.
His friends immediately started shouting.
"Helena, what's wrong with you? If something happens to Sophia, that's on you!"
I stood at the edge of the pool and watched Trevor struggle to hold Sophia above the water.
I watched as my mom's heirloom flashed faintly beneath the surface before disappearing into the drain below.
A sharp pain twisted through my chest. I could barely breathe.
Trevor carried Sophia back onto the deck. Someone immediately handed him a towel.
He took the towel, left the shaking Sophia behind, and walked over to me.
His face was dark as he wrapped the towel around my shoulders to shield them from the ocean breeze.
Disappointment filled his eyes as he stared at my pale expression.
"Have you always been this ruthless?" he began. "Did someone have to die for a piece of jewelry?"
I looked into his eyes and laughed incredulously as I felt the warmth of the towel around my shoulders.
"If you keep acting like this, I may have to reconsider tomorrow's wedding," he said coldly.
