My Sister Stole My Wedding, and I Never Looked Back

I turned around and walked out of the banquet hall.

Behind me, Edward’s voice rang out as he recited his wedding vows, his words filled with tenderness.

“I, Edward, take you as my wife. I promise that, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, I will stand by your side, love you, honor you, and protect you, until forever.”

Beth’s voice trembled.

“I do.”

I didn’t look back.

It was raining outside, and I was still wearing my formal wedding dress. I was a complete mess, freezing cold.

I hailed a cab.

The driver glanced at me through the rearview mirror and froze.

“Miss… are you getting married today?”

“What happened to you?”

I lowered my head and looked at myself. My hands were covered in blood, and two of my fingernails were split.

I had hurt myself pounding on the door.

“Yeah. But the wedding’s off.”

My voice was hoarse, thick with pain I couldn’t put into words.

The driver handed me a tissue and said solemnly,

“If he isn’t the man you love, you don’t have to hurt yourself like this.”

“Your parents would be heartbroken if they saw you like this.”

My hand stopped as I reached for the tissue.

Too bad, in my parents’ eyes, they had never seen anyone but Beth.

When I got home, I turned on the light in the entryway.

The entire house was filled with reminders of Edward and me.

The framed photo hanging on the wall had been taken when Edward and I seized control of the docks together.

Edward had looked so proud and confident back then, telling me that our future would only get better and better.

And that we would always be together.

Now, the person who would be by his side was going to be my sister instead.

Suddenly, my phone vibrated.

It was Alice calling.

“Monica! Where are you?”

“It’s all Edward’s fault. He was being so stupid and couldn’t find you after looking everywhere.”

“We just went to the storage room to look for you, but you weren’t there. So Beth went ahead and stood in for you during the wedding vows.”

“Come back quickly! All the guests are waiting for you!”

Her voice was full of urgency.

She sounded just like the best friend who had always stood firmly by my side.

But the scene I had just witnessed kept replaying in my mind.

She had already chosen their side, turning me into the fool everyone was laughing at.

I was silent for a few seconds.

Then I said, each word slow and deliberate,

“Weren’t you the ones who deliberately locked me in the storage room?”

“So Beth could take my place at my own wedding.”

The other end of the phone instantly fell silent.

After a long moment, Alice’s voice dropped.

“You know?”

I said nothing.

She hurriedly added,

“Monica, please, just let me explain—”

“Don’t.”

My mother’s voice suddenly came through the phone.

“Leave her alone. Let her do whatever she wants!”

“It’s actually better if she doesn’t come back. That way, she won’t ruin Beth and Edward’s wedding.”

I stood perfectly still, my fingernails digging deep into my palms.

The wounds split open again, and drops of blood fell one by one onto my wedding dress.

“Mom, today is my wedding. I’m the bride.”

“So what if you’re the bride? Beth has been giving in to you since you were little. Can’t you give in to her for once?”

My mother didn’t notice the disappointment and pain in my voice at all. Every word she spoke was filled with pressure.

Or maybe she knew exactly how hurt I was and simply didn’t care.

“He’s just a man. Do you really have to make the whole family miserable over him?”

“You’ve been this selfish since you were a child!”

With that, she hung up without a shred of hesitation.

A new post from Alice popped up on the family’s private network.

“These two are absolutely perfect together!”

Attached was a photo of Beth with her arm linked through Edward’s as they received the priest’s blessing.

They really did look perfect together.

My parents were the first to comment below.

“Wishing you both a lifetime of love and happiness together.”

Other members of the family quickly flooded the comments as well.

“Is this our Godmother? She’s absolutely gorgeous!”

“Congratulations, Godfather! When are you bringing the Godmother to the family council?”

Edward didn’t explain anything. He simply replied with two words.

“Thank you.”

Yet that was enough to let everyone draw their own conclusions.

I curled my lips into a bitter smile, took down the photo of Edward and me, and smashed it against the floor.

The smiling faces of Edward and me in the photograph were shattered beyond recognition.

When the sky began to lighten with the first pale glow of dawn, I picked up my phone and booked a flight to New York.

If everyone hated having me around,

then I would leave.

I would disappear completely into the vast sea of humanity.