02
Maybe it was the air conditioning in the lounge that made me feel so cold, but the more
spine.
Andrew reached for me b
10:09 PM
D
He would report back to me about Amelia’s needs, only visiting her in emergencies, and even then, I would tag along.
But now, I was left in the dark. When had he decided to let her wear my wedding dress? When had he chosen to replace me in this ceremony? I had no
idea.
02
Maybe it was the air conditioning in the lounge that made me feel so cold, but the more I thought about it, the more I felt a chill creeping down my spine.
Andrew reached for me, but I pulled away sharply.
I fixed him with a steady gaze. “You need to bring back the wedding dress. I refuse to let her wear it.”
He frowned, frustration etched across his face. “Stop being dramatic, Evelina. It’s just a ceremony. We can always have ours later.”
The way his lips curled up and the irritation in his eyes cut deep. I retorted, “Forget the wedding dress. She wants to have a wedding ceremony, and
the groom has to be you? Is it her unreasonable demands because she’s sick, or are you just going along with it like a leaf in the wind in our relationship?”
His face darkened at my words as if I had struck a nerve.
Without another word, he turned on his heel and headed for the door, throwing a parting shot over his shoulder.
“Dating you is a total drag. You never think about my feelings and always make a scene.”
I thought to myself, “Is it really me who doesn’t care about his feelings? Am I the one being unreasonable?”
The sound of the door locking snapped me back to reality.
I lifted my skirt and pounded on the door. “I don’t agree! I’ve been looking forward to this wedding for so long. It’s not just some ceremony…”
Through the door, I heard his impatient voice. “Can’t you be less heartless? She’s on her deathbed, is it really too much to let her have this one last thing?”
I thought, “She’s dying? Because she’s sick, I’ve put up with so much for years. Now I’m supposed to give up my wedding and my husband too? Did I cause her illness?”
I gripped the doorknob, forcing myself to calm down. “Andrew, think this through. Don’t end up regretting it.”
There was a pause outside, and then I heard his footsteps retreating, resolute but fading away.
I sank down to the floor, my extravagant skirt pooling around me, feeling emptiness settle in
She really did ruin my wedding.
Amelia had succeeded.
My phone buzzed urgently on the vanity.
my
chest.
It was a call from my parents.
Before I could answer, the call dropped.
The lounge was just a door away from the main hall, and I could clearly hear the gasps and murmurs of surprise outside.
Then, the sound of applause erupted as the emcee guided the guests.
Amelia’s account sent another video notification.
The camera panned to the big screen, showcasing all the photoshoots Andrew and I had painstakingly arranged, now with Amelia’s face digitally swapped in.
Those sunny days I had spent with makeup on, my feet aching from standing all day, and countless hours I had spent perfecting every pose? All of it had been turned into her in the wedding gown.
This infuriated me even more than Andrew’s words.
My hands shook with rage, but I still clicked to watch the next video.
In it, Amelia walked toward Andrew, illuminated by the stage lights.
In the shadows behind her, I could see my parents‘ worried faces searching for me, only to be held back by two security guards.
At that moment, tears streamed down my face, landing on my phone screen where my parents‘ faces appeared.
“I have chosen the wrong person. Why do I have to drag my parents into this mess?”
I couldn’t bring myself to watch the rest of the video.
In the midst of the chaos just a wall away, my mind began to clear.
After staring at myself in the mirror for what felt like ages, I finally slipped out of the ill–fitting wedding dress, wiped off my makeup, and put on my old clothes.
All I felt was relief.
At least I had seen the truth before it was too late.
10:09 PM
