"You’ve already called it a bridesmaid dress, but I’m the one who’s the bride today," Viella sneered, her voice dripping with condescension. "Besides, I’ve always known that your marriage to that husband of yours was just a way to appease your families. Now that you’ve run off and left your wedding, there’s no way it’s happening today!"
I shot back, my voice firm and unwavering. "Who says I can’t get married? I just stepped out for a moment. Once I go back, everything will go as planned."
I gestured toward the grand hall behind the lawn, my heart pounding in my chest.
"In a little while, I’ll be getting married right there."
Viella burst into laughter, a cruel sound that cut through the air. "Sure, sure, your husband loves you to death. He's such a saint; he'll tolerate his bride running off to chase another man, making him look like a fool."
She gazed at me, a mocking pity in her eyes. "Ravenna, I know you're upset, but this is your choice, isn’t it? Stop pretending and spouting ridiculous nonsense."
"Do you even know how much it costs to hold a wedding in the grand hall of Sinclair Garden? Just the venue fee alone is 200,000 dollars! And it’s not just about the money—it’s all about connections."
"For me, Hendrick went through hell to pull strings, booking this lawn three months ahead. And now you're bragging about getting married in the grand hall? Be careful you don’t make a fool of yourself!"
As she finished, her sycophants erupted in laughter.
"I think Ravenna’s gone mad, bragging like that."
"Poor delusional bride. It’s almost sad."
Seeing my refusal to part with the dress, Viella couldn’t hide her impatience. She turned to Hendrick, her voice dripping with challenge. "Hendrick, don’t you think this wedding dress would look better on me than on her?"
Without sparing me a single glance, Hendrick raised an eyebrow, his voice smooth and confident. "Do you even need to ask? Of course, it would look better on you, baby."
His answer was all Viella needed. She immediately reached for my veil, her fingers brushing against my skin like a mockery. "I know this wedding dress is expensive. Your pathetic husband even bought it from some high-end brand overseas. Ravenna, since we’re such good friends, let me try it on!"
It was because we were supposed to be friends that I had asked her to be my bridesmaid. But I never imagined she’d already be tangled up with Hendrick.
I shouted, my voice sharp and desperate, "Don’t touch my veil! I’m going to walk down the aisle in this in just a moment!"
Viella’s sneer was cold and cruel. "Stop pretending! Walk down what aisle? Just take off the wedding dress!"
As I dug in my heels, refusing to budge, she turned to her group, frustration in her eyes. "Why are you all just standing there? Help me out!"
But her command fell on deaf ears. Instead, they looked to Hendrick, waiting for his signal.
I couldn’t help but stare at him, a small thread of hope still clinging to my heart, praying that after everything we had shared, he wouldn’t let her do this to me.
But Hendrick shot me a cold, indifferent glance, his voice as sharp as ice. "Didn’t you hear what your future sister-in-law said? Go, take off Ravenna’s wedding dress and let my fiancée try it on."
In an instant, a dozen hands reached for me, pulling at my dress, tugging at my veil.
I screamed. I shouted. And then, in the depths of despair, I shut my eyes.
This was the man I had loved for fifteen long years. A childhood friend who had always placed me at the bottom of his heart.
Just then, a sharp voice cut through the air, commanding, “Stop! What do you think you’re doing?”
I froze, stunned. The voice… sounded so much like my husband, someone I barely knew.
There was a flurry of footsteps, frantic and hurried, and in the next breath, a jacket, warm from the heat of a man’s body, was draped over my shoulders, shielding me from the chaos.
I couldn’t resist the urge to turn, and when I did, I was met with a face that took my breath away.
It was him.
My new husband, Milo Emerson.
