The ring had only ever been an afterthought, something Brian bought to give me after we got engaged.
When he told me he'd gone to pick it out himself, I was happy.
After he brought it home, I kept it the traditional way, tucked away and untouched.
The plan was for me to put it on for the first time on our wedding day.
But this morning, just before the ceremony, the makeup artist asked if I wanted to try the ring on first.
It would have matched the gown nicely.
So I slipped it onto my finger, and that was when I learned it didn't fit. I couldn't get it on.
I'd assumed Brian had simply forgotten to check my ring size. I was even thinking I'd mention it to him after the wedding.
Now I understood. The ring had never been bought for me at all.
Judy seemed entirely oblivious, pressing her phone into my hands.
“You always take the best pictures. Come on, get one of me and Brian together.”
She had Brian's arm hooked in hers, and his face wore a helpless smile.
But under it ran something else, an indulgence with no bottom to it.
The hand holding the phone felt like it was burning.
And the whole time, Brian made no move to stop any of it.
I lifted the phone, aimed it at the two of them, and pressed the shutter.
Then I handed the phone back to Judy.
“It came out nice.”
That part, at least, I meant. Judy really was beautiful.
She took the phone and beamed at once.
“It really did! Thank you so much!”
Brian saw the photo too, and the smile on his face turned a degree more genuine.
It was right then that the makeup artist came hurrying out.
She had her phone in her hand and was making straight for us.
“Mr. Simmons, Miss Harding, there's something I need to tell you.”
“The car bringing the backup gown is stuck on the highway, and we're almost out of time before the ceremony, so……”
Her eyes settled on Judy.
The meaning was plain enough. All Judy had to do was take off the gown now and give it back to me.
And there'd be no problem at all.
But the second Judy caught that look, she ducked behind Brian.
“Brian! I don't want to! I want to wear the dress!”
“I've never worn a wedding dress before. Tomorrow's my birthday. Can't this dress just be my birthday present?”
Brian gave me an awkward glance.
Then he looked at Judy, and in the end he just patted her head gently.
He turned to the makeup artist.
“It's fine. If the car really can't make it in time, we don't have to use the gown.”
“I'm pretty sure there were a few white dresses in the luggage I packed for Judy. They're close enough to a wedding gown. A dress works just as well. Go ahead and start the bride's makeup now.”
The makeup artist's expression soured when she heard that.
She started to say something, but I'd already reached out and taken hold of her hand.
“That's fine. I'll go get my makeup done now.”
She stared at me like I was a ghost.
It wasn't until we'd walked into the makeup room that she noticed my nails had dug into my palm.
The manicure I'd done so carefully for the wedding had blood crusted in the seams of every nail.
She quickly set about bandaging the cuts.
Then, carefully, she ventured a question.
“Miss Harding, are you really going to get married in just a regular dress? You tried on more than fifty gowns before you settled on that one. Didn't you say you lost over ten pounds just to fit into it?”
“You're really just going to let her have it?”
She didn't say another word, and the ache in my chest only sharpened.
But right now, none of that mattered.
“It's fine. Let her have it.”
“Actually, I need you to do one thing for me, and then you can all go. I'll give you the cash gifts now, ahead of time.”
“They wrecked six months of my work. I am not letting either of them off.”
When she'd heard me out, she gave me a quiet thumbs-up.
“That's exactly how you pay a cheating bastard back!”
With that, she walked straight out.
I did a quick, simple job on my own makeup in the mirror.
The wedding symphony drifted in from beyond the door.
So did the emcee's voice on the stage, already cueing the opening run of the program.
Brian couldn't see me now anyway. The groom and bride aren't allowed to meet before the ceremony begins.
I stepped out of the makeup room and took my place at the entrance to the backstage.
Watching Brian standing up there on the stage, I couldn't help but smile.
The grand show of my revenge was about to begin.
