4

Nora called on the day of our scheduled wedding rehearsal.

"Ms. Harper, Mr. Reed asked us to go ahead with the rehearsal. The backdrop and your wedding dress have both been delivered. Can you confirm?"

I put down my pen.

"I never confirmed it. Please stop setting up. I'll come over and sort this out."

Then Julian showed up at my studio and blocked the doorway.

"Both sets of parents are here. We're having dinner tonight."

I shook my head. "I'm going to pick up my dress. I'm not discussing anything else."

He frowned.

"Wren, do you really have to make a scene in front of our parents?"

I looked up at him. "I already sent the cancellation notice. You're the one who insisted on bringing them here."

"I just don't want you to regret this later."

I ignored him, grabbed my bag, and walked past him.

The backdrop was still up when I arrived, decorated with the white roses I'd chosen myself.

When my mother saw me, she hurried to her feet.

"Wren, sweetheart, whatever's bothering you, sit down and tell us about it."

I squeezed her hand, but my gaze went to the head table.

Celia was wearing my wedding dress.

I'd revised the design three times before settling on the delicate row of crystals around the waist.

The dress was too long for her, and she'd stepped on the hem while a staff member tried to straighten it.

I stopped short.

Julian followed my gaze and rushed to explain. "She was helping check the measurements, so she tried it on."

"If you're checking my measurements, why is she wearing my dress?"

Celia's eyes went red.

"Wren, it's my fault. Don't blame Julian."

I walked up to her. My fingertips brushed the skirt, then fell away.

On the day we got engaged, Julian came with me to pick out a wedding dress. He'd insisted on being there to see me in it.

But now, the dress was on someone else.

"Wren," he said, reaching for me, "sit down first. Don't embarrass everyone."

I pulled free of his hand.

"Could someone please take her to change? Document any damage to the dress and add it to the bill."

Celia went pale. "You want me to pay for it?"

"You wore my dress without permission. Why shouldn't you?"

"I told you, I'm the one who asked her to try it on," Julian said, stepping in front of her. "If you've got a problem, take it up with me."

I looked at him, my eyes burning.

This time, I didn't back down.

"Fine. I'll send the bill to you."

Adam's face darkened. "It's one dress. Did you have to take it this far?"

"Today it's the dress. Yesterday it was the house. Before that, it was my project. When have you ever stood up for me?"

His lips moved, but nothing came out.

I turned to both sets of parents and took off my ring.

"I'm sorry. The engagement is over."

The ring dropped onto the table.

Julian's expression finally changed. "You're serious? After all these years together, you can just walk away like none of it mattered?"

I looked down at my bare finger.

"I couldn't bring myself to let go before. That's why I stayed this long."

He reached for the ring. "Then let's talk again. I can have Celia move out."

I looked at him. "Too late. I'm done holding on."

Suddenly Celia rushed over and grabbed my wrist.

"Wren, I'll take the dress off, just don't cancel the wedding!"

She grabbed at me, caught her foot in the train, and stumbled into the champagne tower.

Julian lunged to protect her, but the glasses crashed to the floor, splashing champagne onto my skirt.

My brother blocked my way. "Look what you've done. Are you happy now?"

I pulled away from him and pointed at the hall's security camera.

"The footage will show who grabbed whom first."

Julian had his arms around Celia, who'd gone deathly pale. He looked as though he still had something to say.

I stepped back and called security. "Please show them out."

Behind me came the sound of muffled sobbing.

"Julian, am I causing trouble for all of you?"

Julian instinctively turned back and took her arm. "Don't think like that."

I called Nora over and confirmed that the backdrop would be taken down and the dress returned to the shop for inspection.

Julian followed me to the door. "Wren, where are you going? We're not done talking."

"But I'm done."

Outside, a light rain was falling.

He tried to put his jacket over my shoulders, but I raised a hand to stop him and opened my umbrella.

My car had already arrived.

Julian stood behind me, panic finally creeping into his voice. "Wren, don't go. Let's start over."

I stopped in the rain.

"Julian, you always thought I'd be waiting for you to let me back in, no matter how many times you shut me out."

I gripped my umbrella tighter. "But this time, I'm the one walking away."

Then I walked off into the rain and never looked back.