Part 1My Bridal Dress Taken, I Depart

My twin sister and I were getting married on the exact same day.

But on the morning of the wedding, someone shredded her gown to pieces.

When my husband found out, he took my wedding dress and gave it to her.

The wedding coordinator was frantically calling for the bride and groom to line up. I was spinning in circles, tearing the bridal suite apart looking for my dress.

That was when my husband finally looked at me, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.

"It's Hailey's first time getting married. She deserves to have a flawless day. You two are exactly the same size, so I let her borrow your gown."

I stared at him, entirely unable to process his words.

"What about me? This is my first wedding, too."

Carter furrowed his brow, completely exasperated.

"Hailey is your twin sister. Can't you just be the bigger person for once? Besides, we already signed the marriage license at the courthouse last month. Today is just for show. I already talked to Hailey. She's going to walk down the aisle a second time pretending to be you. You guys are identical anyway. As long as you keep your mouth shut, no one will ever know."

* * *

Half an hour ago, when Carter told me he gave my dress to Hailey, I thought I was having a stroke.

I stood frozen in the hallway for a full thirty seconds.

When my brain finally rebooted, I shoved past him and marched straight for the ballroom doors.

Hailey and I had booked our receptions at the same luxury hotel.

My reception was in the Sapphire Room.

Hers was right next door in the Emerald Room.

I stepped into the dim ballroom.

Up on the altar, Hailey was exchanging rings with her groom.

A brilliant spotlight shone down on her lace bodice and flowing train.

Pure, radiant, and absolutely breathtaking.

It was my dress.

The tips of my fingers went completely numb. I planted my foot, ready to storm that stage.

But Carter grabbed me from behind.

His grip was brutal. His fingers dug into my bare upper arm like steel claws. He practically dragged me backward, shoving me all the way into the secluded bridal suite.

"Jules, stop acting crazy! This is the most important moment of Hailey's entire life!"

He slammed the door shut and yanked at his bowtie, looking thoroughly annoyed.

My eyes began to burn. A pathetic, choked sob clawed its way up my throat.

"Is today not the most important moment of my life, too?"

I stared at him without blinking.

I wanted to look right through this man. We had known each other since childhood. We had been dating for two years.

Carter avoided my eyes.

A fleeting shadow of guilt passed over his face before it vanished.

He reached out to hold my hands, speaking to me like a disappointed parent.

"Jules, Hailey isn't built like you. She's highly sensitive, and you know she has a weak heart. If her wedding day was ruined, she would spiral into a depression she might never recover from."

"We all grew up together. You know Hailey has always needed extra protection. Whatever she wanted, if you didn't have it, you helped her get it. If you did have it, you gave it to her."

"Why are you throwing a temper tantrum over something so trivial?"

I slapped his hands away and let out a dry, hollow laugh. "You think I'm throwing a temper tantrum?"

"What else would you call it?" Carter ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, his voice rising with frustration. "It's just a piece of fabric! I'll buy you ten new designer dresses tomorrow if you want. Do you really have to be this relentless?"

I looked at his self-righteous face.

Every compromise I had ever made, every boundary I had ever let them cross, suddenly felt like jagged glass lodged in my throat.

I couldn't breathe.

Since I was a little girl, I was conditioned to yield to Hailey.

If she wanted my favorite doll, I handed it over.

If she wanted the trophy I won at the science fair, I let her put her name on it.

When she developed a crush on Carter and actively tried to steal him, I quietly stepped back.

But then Carter came to me. He asked me out. He looked me in the eyes and said he finally realized I was the one he loved, not Hailey.

That was the only reason we were standing here today.

I had swallowed all the unfairness because my mother drilled it into my skull every single day.

She always told me Hailey was fragile. Hailey was sickly. I had to yield.

But did I really have to yield my wedding? My dress? My own husband?

When I didn't say anything, Carter assumed I had surrendered.

His tone softened.

He reached out to stroke my cheek.

"Be a good girl. I promise I'll make it up to you tonight, okay? Let's go out there. We have to do our vows. You can just wear one of the bridesmaid dresses. It's just family and friends out there anyway, nobody is going to judge you."

I leaned back, dodging his touch. I reached onto the vanity, picked up my diamond engagement ring, and dropped it onto the glass table.

The sharp clink echoed in the quiet room.

It sounded like a gunshot.

Carter’s face went completely pale.

"Jules, are you seriously doing this?"

"Did you think I was joking?" I looked at him. My voice was so dead and calm it even scared me. "Carter, I'm done yielding. You can have the dress. You can have the wedding."

"I want a divorce."

"Absolutely not!"