Chapter 2

"On what grounds?!" Elsa shrieked, her face flushed with fury. "If I'm not allowed to wear it, why should that jinx who killed her own husband get to wear it?!"

I instinctively stepped back.

"Because this is the wedding dress my mother made for me."

Elsa's hand trembled as she pointed at me.

"How shameless! My brother just died, and you didn't shed a single tear. You should be in mourning! Who are you wearing a wedding dress for?"

She grabbed Larry's arm. "Besides, I'm about to marry Larry. I've already picked out this dress. Larry, say something!"

I looked at him steadily.

His expression was complicated.

"Dheena," he began slowly, "I know my brother's death has been hard on you, but life has to move on. The dress may be yours, but now that he's gone… You can't remarry. You might as well let Elsa wear it."

The moment he finished speaking, the barrage of scrolling comments appeared in my vision again.

[Wake up, heroine! The male lead's soul has been watching over you this whole time!]

[Don't be stupid! If you give up the dress today, he'll love you even more when he returns in three years!]

[Be good to your adopted sister. That's how you win the male lead's heart!]

I cut him off immediately.

"Why can't I remarry?"

Larry froze.

"You're not my husband. What right do you have to tell me what I can or can't do?"

A storm gathered in his eyes. When he spoke again, his voice had turned cold.

"I'm not controlling you. I just think Elsa suits this dress better. You're her sister-in-law. Take it off, and give it to her."

"I won't."

The next second, Elsa lunged forward and grabbed the skirt of my dress.

Fabric strained. In the struggle, several pearls were ripped clean off, scattering across the floor.

"Let go!"

A sharp pain pierced my chest. Instinctively, I shoved her away.

She fell hard onto the ground with a scream.

"My belly! My belly–!"

"Elsa!"

Larry's face went white. He rushed forward and scooped her up. When he looked back at me, his eyes were savage.

"What the hell are you doing?! Do you know she's pregnant?"

He stepped toward me, fury radiating off him.

"If anything happens to the baby, I'll make you pay with your life."

With that, he carried Elsa out in a hurry.

The scrolling comments refreshed again.

[What's wrong with this heroine? Hurting her adopted sister like that–does she think the male lead can't see this from heaven?]

[Just wait till he comes back and abandons her!]

[She should hand over the dress and apologize!]

Ignoring the noise, I knelt on the floor and picked up the fallen pearls as the shop assistants sympathetically watched on.

I muted the "comments" in my mind.

I mailed the wedding dress to my aunt, asking her to find a tailor who could repair it.

That night, Elsa posted on social media.

In the photo, she and Larry were holding hands, fingers intertwined. On her hand was a massive diamond ring.

[Hmph. The old woman lost her husband and became jealous of me. Good thing I have a husband who loves me.]

My heart tightened when I saw the ring.

I knew that design; it had once been my favorite.

Thomas had always known.

I used to stand outside jewelry shop windows, staring longingly at that very ring.

He would brush me off impatiently.

"Be good. Diamonds are tacky. We don't have that kind of money. A simple silver ring is enough."

Looking back, it was not that he could not afford it–he just did not think I was worth it.

For the next few days, I stayed home and avoided everyone.

There were only a few days left anyway. I just needed to rest and wait for my own wedding.

However, three mornings later, loud pounding shook my door.

I opened it to find Larry standing there, anger written all over his face.

"Dheena, what are you doing? Why has your phone been off?

"Mom and Dad are waiting for you at home, and you're just sleeping in all day?"

I frowned.

"Whose Mom and Dad? Mine died years ago. They've probably been reincarnated by now."

His expression faltered.

"I-I meant your in-laws."

"That's even stranger. I'm not married. I'm single. Where would I get in-laws from?"

"But you were engaged to Thomas! He's dead. As his fiancee, you should take responsibility!"