It was the fifth spring since I'd left Sean Mason, and I'd become a bridal shop attendant for his fiancée.
Rebecca Henson twirled in a cathedral-length wedding gown, beaming as she spun into Sean's arms and tilted her face up at him with a coy pout.
"Is the waist too tight? What if the baby keeps growing and I can't fit into it?"
Sean wrapped his arm around her waist, his expression soft with adoration.
"The Managern we'll buy it now, and after the baby's born, you can wear it again just for me."
Rebecca laughed and pressed a kiss to his jaw.
"Sean, do you want the baby to be a boy or a girl?"
"As long as it's yours, I'll love it either way."
I knelt at their feet, head bowed, smoothing the folds of the gown. My fingers gripping the lace had gone white at the knuckles.
My gaze drifted to the gentle swell of her belly, and a sharp pain lanced through my chest.
Sean and I had once had a child too.
But I was the one who'd chased wealth over love. I'd terminated the pregnancy and abandoned him.
——
Terrified he might recognize me, I tugged my mask higher and forced myself to stay calm.
Even so, their conversation crawled into my ears like insects with legs of their own, gnawing through my veins until my fingers trembled beyond my control.
Rebecca gathered her skirt and twirled before the full-length mirror.
"Sean, do you think this shows too much skin? What if the older relatives start gossiping at the wedding?"
Sean's hands settled naturally around her waist. The mirror reflected two faces that looked like they belonged together.
"Nobody would dare say a word about you. There are over a dozen more gowns to try. If you like them, buy them all. I'll propose to you every single day at the estate."
"And I'll marry you every single day in a new gown?" Rebecca tilted her head, her eyes sparkling.
"Mm."
Just one syllable, dripping with indulgence.
Sean had always loved like that. Endlessly patient, endlessly giving. No one knew this better than I did.
Because five years ago, he'd been my husband. He used to hold me the same way.
Back then we were dirt poor, crammed into a tiny rental in the worst part of town.
The room was barely big enough to turn around in, but he'd still wrap his arms around me from behind and whisper against my ear:
"When I make it big, I'll buy you a huge house. Floor-to-ceiling windows draped in white tulle, and you'll wear a wedding dress for me every day."
I told him a wedding dress was only meant to be worn once.
He said then we'd have a wedding at home. One a day.
I called him ridiculous, and he tickled me until we both tumbled onto that creaky twin bed, laughing so hard we couldn't breathe.
"Hey, you."
Rebecca's imperious voice yanked me out of the memory. I looked up to find her lifting her chin at me, eyes brimming with contempt.
"Lady, help me out of this one. The waist really is too tight."
I dropped my gaze, scrambling to obey. My knees had gone numb from kneeling, and when I braced myself against the floor to stand, my heart stuttered. Black spots swarmed my vision.
Rebecca had her back to me. I steadied my breathing as best I could, terrified of damaging a gown worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pinching the zipper tab with painstaking care, I eased it down.
"Ow! Watch it, you clumsy hag! You pinched my skin, are you blind?"
Rebecca shrieked, clutching her waist as she whipped around, her eyes wide with fury.
I froze, instinctively stepping back.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to."
Rebecca let out a cold laugh, raking her gaze over me like I was something scraped off the bottom of her shoe.
"I'm a celebrity, you know. My waist is insured. Could a broke nobody like you even afford to pay for the damage? Get on your knees and check it. Now."
The manager rushed over at the commotion, bowing and scraping with apologies.
"Miss Henson, please, calm down. Elaine Cox, do as she says!"
I bit down on my lip and slowly crouched, pressing my hands to the floor. My eyes landed on her back.
Smooth. Unmarked. Not a scratch on it.
