The Bride He Replaced

On the day of our wedding, my fiancé, Shawn Chandler, insisted that I wear a bridesmaid’s dress while having a million-dollar wedding gown custom-made for his childhood sweetheart.

“Jessica said she wants to fulfill her dream of wearing a wedding dress. She’s been looking forward to seeing me get married since she was little.”

I threw the bridesmaid’s dress into the trash.

His expression darkened as he scolded me, “Why are you so unreasonable? Even if you wear a bridesmaid’s dress, you’ll still be the bride. And if it weren’t for the fact that you’re pregnant, I wouldn’t be marrying you at all!”

Placing my hand over my belly, I slammed the door and left.

That night, he posted wedding photos with Jessica Jordan on his social media.

Five years later, Shawn and I met again at a charity gala. He was invited as a specially invited donor, with Jessica by his side in a custom designer gown. The two behaved intimately.

When he saw me crouching in a corner sorting a donated box of old clothes, he frowned and walked over. “Tiana Larrinson, you refused to wear that bridesmaid’s dress back then, and now, you’ve fallen so low that you’re rummaging through other people’s old clothes?

“Look at you, sneaking into events like this by picking through scraps. You should’ve just listened to me back then.”

I was confused, and it took me a long time to remember who he was. What he did not know was that the items up for auction at this charity gala were my and my daughter's old clothes.

“Tiana Larrinson?”

Hearing my name, I instinctively looked up.

Shawn Chandler stood over me, frowning. Beside him was Jessica Jordan, glittering with jewels in a custom designer gown.

“So, it is really you.” He let out a sneer as his gaze swept across my plain clothes and the old garments in my hands. “You refused to wear the bridesmaid’s dress back then, and now, you’ve fallen so low that you’re rummaging through other people’s old clothes?”

Jessica covered her mouth and giggled. She leaned closer and spoke as though she was concerned. “Ms. Larrinson, what are you doing here? Doesn’t this gala require at least half a million to get in? Don’t tell me you snuck in to freeload?”

Shawn sneered. His disdain toward me was obvious.

“How could she possibly qualify? A disgusting woman who abandoned her fiancé over a wedding dress. Forget the half a million, she probably can’t even afford a meal now.”

“That’s none of your business," I said coldly, turning to leave.

Shawn stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “Tiana, look at you now. You should’ve just listened to me on the wedding day. If you’d been a little more sensible, you’d still be Mrs. Chandler instead of a beggar, stealing clothes no one else wants.”

The guests around us began gossiping upon hearing him.

Jessica got even more smug and deliberately raised her voice. “Shawn, I’ve been the one helping you move on these past five years. I’ll get jealous if you keep talking like that.”

“Ms. Larrinson, it’s too late for regrets. Shawn donated ten million just to bring me to this event.”

I looked at the small diamond ring on Jessica’s index finger and sneered, “It’s been five years, and Shawn still hasn’t married you? That diamond’s so small, like your devotion isn’t worth as much as that one million.”

Jessica quickly hid her hand behind her back. Her expression was distorted. “What nonsense are you talking about?! Shawn and I are getting married soon. The wedding’s set for next month. He’s going to reserve the entire Maladeivs!”

At that, Shawn’s expression darkened. He checked his watch impatiently. “Jessica, stop wasting time. Mr. Lynch and the others are waiting for us.”

He cast me one last cold glare. His voice was hoarse. “Throw those rags away and come work as a receptionist at my company. You used to be my woman. Ending up like this is an embarrassment.”

Jessica bit her lip, unable to hide the bitterness in her voice. “Shawn, how could you take in someone like her...”

Shawn’s tall figure loomed over me, casting me in shadow as he waited for an answer.

“Mommy!”

My daughter ran toward me from the crowd and threw herself into my arms.

Shawn stared at her face, momentarily stunned. “Tiana… Is this girl my child?”