Chapter 2

"Do you like it? If you do, I'll pay for it now."

Summer didn't answer right away. Instead, she looked at Sean and cautiously asked, "You've already bought me an eighteen-thousand-dollar gown for the ceremony. Isn't another five thousand for a backup dress a little too much?

"Maybe I should just pick something cheaper. I'm only marrying a regular guy, anyway. I don't need anything fancy."

She said all the right things, but the look on her face made it obvious she didn't want to give the dress up. I could see it, and so could Sean.

"Don't settle," he said. "You only get married once. Wear what you love, or you'll end up regretting it."

He handed his card to the sales associate.

"I'll take this one too. Put it together with the eighteen-thousand-dollar gown from earlier."

Then he smiled at Summer.

"Professor Ford has done so much for me. Spending a little over twenty thousand on your wedding dresses is nothing."

Seeing Sean spend that kind of money without batting an eye, I suddenly thought back to the day I chose my own wedding dress.

I'd wanted to buy a new one, but Sean insisted that I rent instead. According to him, buying something I'd only wear once was a ridiculous waste of money.

I usually went along with what Sean wanted, but I couldn't do it in this instance.

I only planned to get married once, and I couldn't stand the thought of walking down the aisle in a dress someone else had already worn.

So I went to the bridal boutique by myself, tried on dresses, and sent Sean pictures of the ones I liked. I begged and reasoned with him until he finally gave in and agreed to let me buy one.

Of course, he still insisted we split the cost fifty-fifty.

"Ms. Zane, we can take care of the refund over here."

The sales associate's voice pulled me back to the present. Sean and Summer heard her too and turned in my direction.

"Liana? Are you here to try on dresses too?" Summer asked.

The associate helping me hesitated, clearly about to explain, but Sean scoffed before she got the chance.

"I thought you said you couldn't afford the rest of the dress because of your dad's accident. So where'd the money come from all of a sudden?"

Summer stared at me in surprise.

"Liana, you didn't make up the whole thing just to get out of paying your share, did you?"

She frowned, as though the idea genuinely bothered her.

"I'm not trying to come at you, but you agreed to split everything fifty-fifty. Making up an excuse at the last minute so you can stick him with the bill is pretty gross.

"My boyfriend and I split things too, but I paid for my own wedding dress and jewelry. He didn't have to spend a cent."

Then she gave Sean a sympathetic glance.

"Sean might have more money than my boyfriend, but that doesn't make him your personal ATM."

Sean's expression darkened as she spoke.

"That's enough, Summer. Not every woman cares as little about money as you and Professor Ford do."

He turned to me, his gaze cold.

"Liana, this better be the last time."

Then he took Summer over to another counter to pay for the dresses.

Behind me, the sales associate lowered her voice.

"Ms. Zane... Mr. Chase is your fiancé? He doesn't know you're canceling the dress?"

I shook my head.

"No matter. Just process the refund, please."