Part 1A Funeral March for My Wedding

My fiancé’s adopted sister has a talent for pushing me to my breaking point.

I like my water ice-cold. She once swapped it for boiling water, leaving my mouth a landscape of swollen blisters.

I was rushing to a crucial meeting. She slashed my tires, making me miss the appointment and lose the contract.

…

This time, at the wedding I had dreamed of, she replaced our wedding march with a funeral dirge, then pouted with a look of feigned innocence.

“Oh, my silly brain,” she simpered. “I mixed them up. Which one was it again?”

The mournful music looped for half an hour.

Before I could even scream at her, my fiancé, Terence, was already soothing her.

“It’s not a big deal. We’ll just push the ceremony back a bit. Take your time, Bonnie. It’s your first time managing an event this big, it’s normal for things to go wrong.”

I was left standing on the altar alone, my white wedding gown feeling like a funeral shroud.

Finally, Bonnie found the right song.

Then, the rings went missing. After that, she managed to “trip” and drench me in tea.

My expression turned to ice.

That was it. I wasn't marrying him. No man was worth this kind of humiliation.

* * *

Terence frantically dabbed at my dress with a napkin, trying to make light of the situation for the guests.

“It’s nothing, everyone, just a little hiccup! Please be understanding, it’s Bonnie’s first time helping with a wedding.”

He then turned to my stony face, his tone teasing.

“You’re not going to throw a tantrum over a little thing like this, are you? Look, it’s all clean now.”

I looked down. A prominent brown stain marred the front of my gown.

It was hideous. Filthy.

This dress was my creation. I had poured my heart into it, collaborating with the designer on every single detail. I’d even driven through a rainstorm just to argue over the placement of a single pearl. The boutique staff had grown weary of my perfectionism.

“Miss Reed, it’s flawless. You’re going to be the most beautiful bride.”

And now…

Bonnie grabbed my arm, her eyes red-rimmed.

“Autumn, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

It was always like this. I would endure, and endure, and a flimsy apology was supposed to make it all go away. Not anymore.

The guests were murmuring amongst themselves, the air thick with awkwardness.

Terence’s grandfather struck the floor with his cane, then produced a small, ornate box.

“Autumn, this jade ring belonged to Terence’s grandmother. I was going to give it to you after your first child was born, but consider it a wedding gift.”

He gave Terence a pointed look.

Terence grabbed my hand, forcefully pulling me back onto the stage.

As the officiant tried to smooth things over, a semblance of festivity returned. Terence gazed at me, his eyes full of what was supposed to pass for love, waiting for me to recite my vows.

I just stared back at him and said, my voice cold and clear, “I don’t.”

The thorn in my heart was lodged too deep.

The smile on Terence’s face froze. He leaned in, hissing, “What are you doing? My grandfather just gave you Grandma’s ring. Don’t blow this out of proportion over a few little mistakes.”

Little mistakes. He had no idea how many times I’d listened to our wedding song to ensure it was perfect. He had no idea how many sleepless nights I’d spent poring over every detail of this day, all while juggling my demanding job. I had invested every ounce of my being into this, wanting to give myself the perfect beginning.

I had spent a small fortune to fly my family here, to finally show the people who’d always looked down on me that I had made it.

Instead, I had become a laughingstock.

My stepmother and stepsister were whispering, their smirks venomous.

“I knew it. As if she could ever marry into a family like this. We flew business class for this?”

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, willing myself not to cry.

Terence caught my gaze, and the rebuke on his lips died. He took the ring, trying to force it onto my finger, but the size was wrong. It squeezed my knuckle painfully.

“How can that be?”

I yanked my hand back.

“It’s meant for a ring finger after the vows. Of course it won’t fit a middle finger during them.”

The jade ring clattered to the floor. Bonnie immediately dove for it.

I walked over to her, ripped the veil from my hair, and crowned her with it.

“Congratulations.”