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Chapter 4

Author: Puppy Power
Leah's POV

I felt a wave of warmth washing over me. Delaney Sinclair was Holden's older sister and a close friend of mine.

Back when Holden first introduced us, Delaney and I had hit it off right away over shared interests. Even if things ended with Holden, Delaney was an unexpected gift from the relationship—one I didn't want to lose.

I got dressed and followed the address she had sent me to the restaurant.

Before I even entered, I heard Delaney's heated voice coming from the private room.

"Are you out of your mind? You're going to hold a wedding ceremony with a hologram? On the day before you marry Leah? And in the exact same banquet hall? Holden, have you lost your mind? What if Leah finds out?"

Holden's voice remained calm and composed.

"Delaney, how can you stop me from having a wedding with Summer? Don't get things backward. The only reason you're so close to Leah is because she reminds you of Summer, isn't it?

"Anyway, remember to bring Piper on our wedding day. Summer and I raised her together. Our wedding wouldn't be complete without her."

He paused for a moment before his voice turned resolute. "Leah will never find out. I'll make it up to her in the future."

Delaney let out a deep sigh. After a long silence, she finally said softly, "Okay. I understand."

In that moment, I felt as though my heart had stopped beating. So none of it had ever really been mine.

Holden was going to hold a wedding ceremony with someone else in my wedding hall, just one day before he was going to marry me.

The man I loved wasn't really mine, the wedding wasn't mine, the friend I treasured wasn't mine, and even Piper was something Summer had left behind. I was nothing more than a substitute for someone they missed.

I stood outside the door, feeling the world spinning around me, and fled in a panic.

When I returned home, Piper came running toward me.

I'd been raising Piper for all five years I'd been with Holden. I'd still been clinging to one tiny, unrealistic hope. I had wondered if Holden would let me take Piper with me if we broke up, if we ever broke up one day. And if he wouldn't, would he at least let me visit her from time to time?

But that last bit of hope had come crashing down outside the private room.

…

At 2:00 pm, Delaney and Holden came back together. Delaney was carrying the food she'd packed for me.

She came over with a stern expression and patted me on the head. "I heard you stayed up all night. With the wedding so close, you'll look worn-out before your wedding at this rate."

I flinched and ducked away from her hand. "The team took on a big project. It's pretty urgent, and I can't hold everyone back."

I tried my best to keep my voice steady. "I think I'll move into the studio with the team for the next few days. It'll be easier for us to communicate and work together. I'll be back in time for the wedding."

Holden's brows drew together, and his voice turned cold and dismissive. "Huh? The team?"

I pulled out the suitcase I had packed beforehand.

Delaney looked anxious and hurried to stop me. "Leah, what job could possibly be more important than your wedding?"

Holden probably thought I was still upset about what had happened the night before, so he let out a cold laugh. "Let her go. She said she'll be back on the wedding day, didn't she? It's just a ceremony anyway."

With my back to him, I nodded and said softly, "Yeah. It's just a ceremony."

…

When I arrived at the studio, I worked with the team for a few days and finally finished the project.

I handed over all the coordination with Holden and the hotel to my team, then ended up at a mall wandered around until I found myself at a mall.

In a large glass window, my reflection stared back at me—long hair down to my waist, a flowing white dress, a gentle expression…

Holden had molded me into this version of myself, but none of it was the real me.

I stood there staring blankly for a long time. In my mind, I saw Summer's hologram standing beside me this morning, looking almost like my reflection in a mirror.

A message suddenly popped up on my phone. It was from Holden's burner account.

"Thank you for the hologram you made. I just went to the rehearsal, and it's exactly what I imagined. I heard from your team that the deadline was very tight, and that you stayed up several nights without sleep to get it done. Thank you for that.

"Will you be free tomorrow? I'd like to invite you to witness my wedding with Summer."

A smile tugged at my lips, but tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Okay," I replied.

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  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 9

    Leah's POVHolden had never cried in front of me before. Or rather, he had never cried for me. Hearing him sob, my eyes reddened too. But I didn't turn around. Instead, I pushed the door open and walked away without looking back.The next day, the remaining payment was made. After splitting the money with the team at the studio, I packed my things and went traveling on my own.For the past five years, I had always hoped Holden and I could travel somewhere together, but he was always too busy with work and had never taken a single trip with me. Now, I could go wherever I wanted. I wandered from place to place, stopping whenever I pleased, and somehow ended up working while traveling for over a month.When I returned to Ashbury, I rented a place near the studio.The very next day, when I arrived at the studio, one of my colleagues told me that someone was waiting outside to see me. It was Holden.My colleague hesitated before telling me that Holden had been coming almost every

  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 8

    Third-Person POVRight. There was Piper, too. Holden and Leah had first met because of Piper.Back then, Piper had gone missing, and Holden had been frantic with worry. It was Leah who had contacted him through the phone number on Piper's tag.For the past five years, Leah had taken care of Piper like she was her own child, taking even better care of Piper than Holden did. Even Piper seemed to prefer Leah over Holden.Holden figured that if he brought Piper along to apologize to Leah, Leah would surely forgive him. So Holden hurried back into the hall, picked Piper up, and was about to rush out when his parents stopped him. "Holden, where's Leah? Are you still going ahead with the wedding tomorrow?"Holden closed his eyes, as though all the fight had gone out of him. "Mom, Dad, cancel tomorrow's wedding. I need to get Leah back."His mother slumped back into her chair.Holden took one last look at Summer on the stage. She was still there, following her programmed instruction

  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 7

    Leah's POVI turned back and smiled at Holden. "What were you going to say?"Holden tightened his grip on my hand, a pleading look in his eyes. "Leah, this isn't what you think it is. Summer has been dead for years. I was just… I just—""Just what? Just trying to fulfill some obsession from your youth? And I was supposed to be grateful to play the role of Summer's substitute all along?"He shook his head, his expression crumbling. "No, that's not it…"I pulled my hand free and shot him a look of confusion. "Then what is it, Holden? She was the one who loved strawberry cakes; she was the one who liked wearing white dresses; she didn't have a mole on her nose, and her voice was nothing like mine. "For the past five years, you've been molding me into Summer bit by bit. You're not going to tell me you loved me, are you?"I let out a contemptuous laugh, my voice catching slightly. "Mr. Sinclair, you've paid a 500,000-dollar deposit. Remember to transfer the remaining 500,000 dolla

  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 6

    Leah's POVI didn't move a muscle, simply letting Holden's gaze roam over me.After looking me over a few times, he gave me a polite smile before turning his attention back to Summer. He hadn't recognized me.Something indescribable stirred in my chest. I couldn't tell whether it was disappointment or something else.Yesterday at the mall, I had my hair cut, bought new clothes, and changed my makeup. This morning, when I stood in front of the mirror wearing sunglasses, I could barely recognize myself either. But this was who I really was.Down in the audience, Holden's parents were crying so hard they nearly collapsed. Holden had no choice but to step off the stage, set Piper aside, and quietly comfort them.The moment Piper's paws hit the floor, she came charging straight toward me, running circles around my legs in delight.My eyes suddenly grew hot, and I couldn't help but reach down and pick her up. Delaney's voice carried a hint of embarrassment. "I'm sorry. She's such

  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 5

    Leah's POVThe next day, I went to the hotel. It was the same hotel Holden and I had booked a year ago for our wedding.I had always hated hassle and wasn't particularly picky about things, so when the hotel called some time ago to discuss the wedding decorations, Holden had taken over the whole thing. I'd secretly been happy about it, thinking that it was sweet of him to handle things. I never imagined that the reason he had taken care of everything himself was because he was planning his wedding with someone else.The moment I pushed open the door, Summer's AI short film was playing on the giant screen. I'd watched it countless times before.There weren't many people in the room, but I knew every single one of them. Delaney was there. A few of Holden's childhood friends and relatives he had introduced me to over the years were there too.Holden's parents were dressed in the outfits I'd bought for them to wear at our wedding, wiping away their tears.On the screen, Summer and

  • I Designed My Fiancé's Wedding… With His Dead Ex   Chapter 4

    Leah's POV I felt a wave of warmth washing over me. Delaney Sinclair was Holden's older sister and a close friend of mine.Back when Holden first introduced us, Delaney and I had hit it off right away over shared interests. Even if things ended with Holden, Delaney was an unexpected gift from the relationship—one I didn't want to lose.I got dressed and followed the address she had sent me to the restaurant.Before I even entered, I heard Delaney's heated voice coming from the private room."Are you out of your mind? You're going to hold a wedding ceremony with a hologram? On the day before you marry Leah? And in the exact same banquet hall? Holden, have you lost your mind? What if Leah finds out?"Holden's voice remained calm and composed."Delaney, how can you stop me from having a wedding with Summer? Don't get things backward. The only reason you're so close to Leah is because she reminds you of Summer, isn't it? "Anyway, remember to bring Piper on our wedding day. Summer

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