Chapter 3

“Actually, Adrian picked this dress himself,” I said smoothly. “He told me he liked me in something simple.”

I tossed the ball right back into his court.

His mother paused, then shot Adrian a look.

She did not say another word.

Chloe immediately slipped her arm through Mrs. Cole’s and pouted.

“Mrs. Cole, don’t blame Vivienne. I’m the one who stole her spotlight. I’ll go change.”

She turned as though she meant to leave, her eyes already turning red.

“Change what?”

Adrian grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.

Then he glared at me.

“Vivienne, do you have to make everyone uncomfortable?”

I watched his hand wrapped around Chloe’s wrist and remembered the dash-cam recording.

He had held her with that same force.

That same possessive grip.

“That woman is so stiff,” he had said. “She’s nothing like you.”

A wave of disgust rose in my throat.

But I only smiled.

Go ahead.

Make a bigger scene.

The harder they fell later, the better.

Adrian’s accusation cut through the noise of the reception area.

Several guests had already started watching.

I looked at his hand around Chloe’s wrist, then let out a faint, mocking laugh.

“Adrian, get one thing straight. You’re the one standing here with a bridesmaid in a wedding dress. Not me.”

He froze.

Only then did he seem to notice the attention around us.

He dropped Chloe’s wrist as though it had burned him, cleared his throat, and tried to cover his embarrassment.

“Enough. Let’s go inside.”

His lowered voice carried a warning.

I ignored him and headed for the main table in the ballroom.

The ceremony would begin in ten minutes.

I had barely sat down when Chloe approached with two glasses of red wine.

“Vivienne, I’m sorry about earlier. Let me toast you as an apology.”

She held one glass out to me, her eyes flickering with something unreadable.

“I don’t drink.”

“Oh, come on. Just one sip. It’s your engagement party. How can you not have a drink?”

Chloe would not let it go.

She stepped closer and pushed the glass toward me.

Then, suddenly, her heel slipped.

“Ah!”

She stumbled toward me.

I moved aside on instinct, but not quickly enough.

The full glass of red wine splashed across my engagement gown.

Dark red spread instantly across the expensive silk.

“Oh my God. I’m so sorry, Vivienne! I didn’t mean to!”

Chloe grabbed for napkins and started dabbing at my dress, only smearing the stain wider.

“Don’t touch me.”

I knocked her hand away and stood.

The dress was ruined.

It had been flown in from Paris.

Handmade over three months.

And now it was beyond saving.

Adrian rushed over at the commotion.

When he saw the wine stain, his brows drew together again.

“What happened?”

“Adrian, I swear I didn’t do it on purpose.” Chloe’s eyes filled with tears. “I only wanted to toast Vivienne, but my heel twisted…”

She looked like she was the victim.

Adrian sighed, then looked at me.

“Vivienne, Chloe didn’t mean to. Stop looking so upset.”

I stared at him.

“Are you blind? My dress is ruined, and you’re telling me not to be upset?”

“What do you want me to do?” Adrian’s voice rose. “Hit her?”

“It happened. Go change into the backup dress. The ceremony is about to start. Don’t keep everyone waiting.”