Chapter 2

David's POV

Just as the words left my lips, the sound of high heels clicking against the floor echoed from the far end of the hallway.

Carla was dressed in a long black gown as she walked into the hall, flanked by a lawyer and an assistant. She stopped right in front of me.

"Let me ask you one last time, David," she said. "Are you looking for someone to help you save face or an actual bride to be your wife?"

I handed her the wedding contract, the guest list, and the officiant's contact details.

"The music, the vows, the wedding dress, and the ceremony—they will all be up to you," I replied. "You're not here to replace Vivian. From the moment you agree, this wedding will be yours and yours only."

Carla stared at me for a very long time.

Suddenly, the sound of solemn background music played next door. I looked out the door and saw Vivian in her wedding dress and mourning garb, holding Aaron steady as they paid their respects to Eric.

Carla followed my line of sight and turned to look as well. Then, she suddenly chuckled.

She took off her earrings and handed them to her assistant behind her.

Then, she said, "Contact my stylist and have that wedding dress I had custom-made from Parreland sent over. If I'm getting married, I'm not wearing anybody else's hand-me-downs."

Carla then went off to the dressing room to get ready, and I returned to the main hall next door for a bit. By then, Vivian had already changed out of her wedding dress and put on a long, black dress instead.

That seven-figure wedding dress was now in Aaron's hands.

I had handpicked every single diamond on that dress from abroad. In order to make the dress look like the starry night Vivian loved so much, I'd even worked with the designer to revise the sketches 17 times and commissioned over 30 embroiderers to hand-stitch the gems onto the dress over the course of eight months.

The day the dress was delivered to us, Vivian hugged me and said that it was the most precious gift she had ever received.

Yet, now, Aaron placed it right beside the brazier used for burning the deceased's belongings, according to his family traditions.

"Before Dad passed, he kept telling me how much he wished he could see you in a wedding dress," he said, lowering his head as he touched the dress.

He continued in a choked voice, "But since you've already worn this dress, we'll just let it accompany him on his journey. That way, he'll feel more reassured and be able to rest easy in the afterlife."

I looked at Vivian. "Did you agree to this?"

She didn't hesitate. "Uncle Eric only had one dying wish. And I refuse to let him leave this world with regrets. It's just a wedding dress. I can always get another one made when I get married later."

I stared at her, suddenly recalling the night the gown was finally completed. The designer had asked me if I wanted a name or quote embroidered inside the dress hem.

I wrote down Vivian's initials and mine on a piece of paper. I also added another line next to them that said, "Only once in this lifetime."

But now, in Vivian's eyes, this dress was nothing more than a dress that could be easily replaced.

Aaron held up the dress and walked up to the brazier, looking somewhat reluctant.

"Viv, maybe we should reconsider burning this dress. It's so expensive, and it's also something that Dave made especially for you—"

Vivian took the dress from him and tossed it straight into the fire herself. The flames blazed up at once, swallowing the dress as the tiny diamonds flashed brilliantly with a dazzling, blinding light.

I stood there, watching as eight months of hard work I had poured my heart and soul into burned to ashes.

Vivian brushed the soot from her hands.

"Alright. Stop looking at me like that," she said, glancing at me. "I'll let you make another one for me after Uncle Eric's funeral procession is over in a week. You must make sure that it's as good and expensive as this one. Consider it an apology for your outrageous behavior today."

At that moment, the last shred of my reluctance burned away with the dress.

"There's no need."

She didn't hear me clearly.

"What did you say?"

I averted my gaze and turned to walk out of the hall.

"I said I'm never preparing a second wedding dress for you for the rest of my life."

I heard her sneering behind me.

"You'd better remember what you just said. I'll make you eat your words when you come back to me on your knees, begging me to try on another wedding dress."