Chapter 3

I began preparing for my wedding.

Meanwhile, Dylan was immersed in his sweet romance with Whitney, acting as if I had never existed.

It was not until one day, when he was waiting for Whitney to try on wedding gowns, that he suddenly thought of me. He took his phone out and realized we hadn’t spoken in two weeks. A flicker of unease crossed his mind.

“Dyl, how do I look in this one?” Whitney stepped out of the fitting room in a lavish gown covered in diamonds.

A flash of amazement lit up Dylan’s eyes, and whatever unease he felt vanished in an instant. “You look stunning.”

He stood up and walked toward her, unable to resist pulling her into a passionate kiss.

That was the moment I walked in. The sight of them burned into my eyes like fire. My heart ached like it was being pricked over and over by a thousand tiny needles.

Dylan saw me too. He let go of Whitney in a panic but quickly regained his composure. His first instinct was to blame me. “You didn’t message me for two weeks. I thought you were busy. But you have time to follow me around?”

He thought I was stalking him? I nearly laughed from the absurdity of it.

Just as I was about to respond, his gaze landed on the box in my hand, and he suddenly smiled.

“Vee, you already finished designing the ring? There was no need to rush. It's not yet the wedding date…”

He assumed the ring box I was holding contained the wedding ring I had designed for him.

I cut him off, saying, “Dylan, this is my ring. I’m getting married too.”

The smile froze on his face, his expression instantly darkening. “That’s not funny. Or is this some kind of trick to make me call off the wedding with Whitney?”

He was convinced I was throwing a tantrum to make him change his mind.

I did not bother explaining. Instead, I turned to the sales assistant. “Could you please bring out the wedding gown I'm keeping reserved here? Rosie Sandler designed it.”

Rosie Sandler was my mother. Before she passed away, she designed that gown just for me.

When the assistant brought out the gown, a flicker of envy flashed in Whitney’s eyes.

She immediately turned to Dylan, clinging to his arm. “Dyl, I love that gown. I wish I could wear it for our wedding.”

Dylan stared at the gown, his expression complicated. Of course, he remembered what that gown meant to me. Back then, he even promised to put the gown on me himself on the day of our wedding.

However, faced with Whitney’s hopeful gaze, he nodded.

Then, he turned to me and said, “Vee, give Whitney the gown.”

I stared at him, feeling the last of my warmth drain away. “You know this was my mother’s gift to me.”

“She’ll give it back after the wedding. Why are you being so petty? Come on, who else could you even marry besides me? Keeping the gown would be a waste.”

It felt like he had stabbed me straight in the heart, deep and merciless.

I replied coldly, “The size doesn’t fit. Ms. Jackson won’t be able to wear it.”

The gown was tailored to my exact measurements. Whitney was slightly curvier. Of course, it would not fit.

However, Dylan did not care. He turned to the sales assistant. “Then alter it. Change it to fit Whitney.”

The sales assistant hesitated. “Mr. Lane, the fabric and embroidery of this gown are extremely delicate. If we alter it, it can’t be restored.”

Tears welled in Whitney’s eyes. “Dyl, I want this one…”

Seeing her like that, Dylan was overcome with guilt. He waved his hand impatiently. “Why are you still talking? Just alter it! Money’s not a problem!”

The sales assistant looked at me, unsure of what to do.

Dylan lost his patience. He grabbed a pair of scissors from the work table and aimed them at the gown.

“Stop!” I cried out, my voice choking.

However, it was too late. The scissors had already torn through the gown.