The Fortune Camera Kept Heartbreak Away

The photographs developed one by one.

Morning came, but no matter how many times I looked at the image, the scar remained unmistakable between the woman's thumb and forefinger.

Only Lily Reynolds had a mark like that.

Barely able to breathe, I carried the camera to her bedroom.

Her door stood open. Lily sat at her vanity, her face turned partly away from me.

I pressed the shutter.

A new photograph appeared, showing Lily and Mason kissing passionately on the bed meant for my wedding night.

"No..."

Something snapped inside me. I stared at the picture and forgot how to breathe.

"Lily, why are you still awake?"

The familiar voice came from the staircase. It belonged to my twin brother, Owen Reynolds.

I drew a shaky breath and slipped into the shadows around the corner.

"Owen, I'm nervous," Lily said softly from inside the room.

"Are we really doing the right thing? What if Amelia gets angry?"

"She won't," Owen said without hesitation.

"She has given you everything you've wanted since you were children."

Tears spilled down my face as I bit hard into my lower lip.

He was right.

Ever since my parents had brought Lily home from a foster agency, nearly everything that belonged to me had been handed over to her.

When we were young, Lily was afraid of the dark, so I had to surrender the largest, brightest bedroom.

When we were older, Lily claimed her depression would worsen if she fell behind, so my parents pressured me to give up a coveted graduate fellowship and let her take the opportunity.

Birthday cakes, dolls, holiday money...

I thought I had already given her enough.

Now they wanted me to give her my fiance too?

"It's her birthday wish. Of course we're going to make it happen."

Owen's voice softened even more.

"Mom and Dad are backing you. Amelia won't dare cause a scene.

"When Mason's wedding convoy arrives in three days, I'll bring her a bridesmaid dress.

"If she behaves, we'll let her attend your ceremony.

"If she refuses, we'll lock her upstairs. She won't get anywhere near you or Mason."

"You're the best!"

Lily threw herself into his arms.

Standing alone in the dark, I suddenly understood what a joke my life had become.

Lily had made a wish, so everyone had decided to fulfill it.

But what about me?

Mason had sworn I was the only woman he would ever love. He had promised me the wedding of my dreams.

What did he think I was?

I stumbled back to my room. Mason called a few minutes later.

"Amelia, did you get the gift I sent tonight?"

He sounded unusually cautious.

That only made the whole thing crueler.

No wonder he had arranged for a diamond necklace to be delivered without warning.

Was it compensation, or just another way to keep his favorite fool quiet?

I had already seen Lily's social media post.

The necklace was merely a complimentary piece bundled with the collection of jewelry she had purchased that afternoon.

"Mason, why would you send me a gift right before our wedding?"

I forced a light laugh.

"You haven't done something you feel guilty about, have you?"

"Of course not." He chuckled.

"Stop imagining things."

I wiped away my tears in silence.

"Okay.

"But Mason, I only intend to have one wedding in my life.

"If I'm not happy with the ceremony three days from now, I won't marry you."

His breathing faltered for a fraction of a second.

Then his voice filled with absolute confidence.

"That won't happen."

He did not mean the ceremony would satisfy me.

He meant I would never have the courage to leave him.

"Be reasonable, Amelia." His voice hardened.

"A wedding is only a ceremony. Don't make it more important than it is.

"All you need to know is that you're the woman I love."

The photograph of him kissing Lily flashed through my mind again.

At last, my frantic heart went cold.

I did not cry.

I did not confront him.

I simply ended the call.

Then I called that person.

If they could replace the bride...

Then I could replace the groom.