Chapter 1

I'd spent three whole months preparing for this.

I hadn't let myself eat a single extra bite of carbs, and I'd spent eight hours a day at the gym. After all that, the day of our full dress rehearsal had finally arrived.

But when I looked at the plain dress in front of me, I frowned.

"Why a plain dress? Where's the heirloom gown?

"Who said you could bring this dress up here?"

The maid lowered her head. "Ms. Amherst, Mr. Harrison had the gown delivered to Ms. Brooks's house a while ago.

"Those were his orders. If you came in to try on the gown, I was supposed to bring you this dress instead."

My expression hardened. I didn't believe a word she said.

Every Harrison heir's wedding had to include the heirloom gown. It was a family ritual.

Had Theodore lost his mind? Why would he ever order something like that?

It seemed the old men on the Harrison board still hadn't given up on their schemes. With Theodore away in Sicily expanding the drug trade, they'd seen their chance and set their sights on me.

I clenched my fists and spoke in an icy voice. "Go tell those men Theodore will be back any minute.

"If they still want the Harrison family's protection, they'll bring that gown back to me themselves and apologize. Right now."

The words had barely left my mouth when Theodore pushed the door open and walked in.

He'd clearly heard every word. He pulled me into his arms and tried to calm me down.

"Hailey, don't be mad.

"I don't care about any of this. All I want is for the wedding to go smoothly."

Still upset, I leaned against his shoulder. Before I could say anything, Theodore spoke as if it were no big deal. "The maid's telling the truth. I was the one who sent the heirloom gown to Layla.

"Layla's young, and she's stood by me all these years. She just liked the wedding dress, that's all. It's not like it's worth anything.

"Besides, who knows how many people have worn that old gown? It's our wedding. Of course you should walk down the aisle in the best dress you can find."

I froze.

I wanted to lose my temper, but Theodore looked so worn out that I swallowed my anger and kept my voice gentle. "But the wedding's only perfect if I'm wearing that gown, Theodore. Did you forget the rules?

"That gown belongs to your future wife. What right does Layla have to wear it? If she likes it that much, we can get her another dress."

Theodore stiffened, then abruptly pulled away from me.

He frowned, unable to hide his impatience.

"Hailey, are rules all you ever think about?

"I'm the Harrison heir. What I say goes."

Theodore had turned on me without warning. My expression hardened, too.

Just then, an overly sweet voice called out. "Theodore, you're finally back!"

Layla Brooks swept in. She lifted her skirt and twirled, and the train of the heirloom gown shimmered pale gold across the dressing room.

Her cheeks still held a trace of baby fat, and the simple, classic gown didn't quite suit her.

But Layla only seemed to have eyes for Theodore. She draped herself over him. "Do I look pretty? Don't I look just like a princess in an oil painting?"

Theodore looked away from me, and the impatience vanished from his face in an instant.

He smiled and reached over to straighten the pearls on Layla's sleeve. "Beautiful.

"This dress was made for a girl like you. You're pretty, full of life, and you light up every room you enter."

Layla spun again, delighted, and the lace hem brushed against my calves.

It was as if she'd only just noticed someone else was in the room. She clapped a hand over her mouth and stared at me in surprise.

"Ms. Amherst!"

She took half a step back, caught her shoe on the train, and stumbled.

Theodore reached out right away and caught her by the waist, steadying her.

A perfectly timed blush rose to Layla's cheeks. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was so happy that I didn't even notice you were here.

"The other day, I walked past the dressing room and saw how gorgeous this dress was. I only mentioned to Theodore that I'd love to try it on. I never thought he'd actually send it over."

She looked up, her eyes shining with tears. "But I'm already wearing it... Taking it off and handing it back to you now just doesn't seem right.

"Ms. Amherst, do you really want to get married in a dress I've already worn?"

The dressing room went quiet for a few seconds.

The harsh light fell on Layla, and the heirloom gown she wore was barely recognizable.

The handmade lace at the waist had split open, and her shoes had left gray smudges all over the lining of the skirt.

She'd gotten what I wanted so badly without even trying. Then she'd dirtied it and trampled it underfoot.

Meanwhile, my supposedly considerate fiancé was still holding up her skirt for her.

Suddenly, I was done with all of it.