Chapter 3 Gown Taken

The incessant messages from the wedding group chat woke me up the next morning. It used to be 'Emilia Oliviera Wedding Planning', but now it was 'The Lawsons' Delay Explanation'.

The group leader was no longer me, but Wendy.

She posted a long notification. "I'm so sorry for the disturbance, people. Emilia's in a bad mood right now. I'll handle guest and hotel liaison as well as attire safeguard."

Everyone replied with a simple "Noted."

The wedding planning manager asked, "Do we still go on with the gown exhibit this afternoon, Ms. Shaw?"

Wendy answered quickly, "Yes. Mrs. Lawson doesn't want the flow to get messed up. She's going to talk about my family's case after the tea party."

'Doesn't want the flow to get messed up.' I immediately straightened. This was where it started in my previous life, where I was slowly kicked out of the picture.

It first began with the delay, which allowed Wendy to handle the liaison. Eventually, she was the one who wore that gown and took that family dinner photo.

My phone buzzed. It was Yves. "She's very meticulous. Don't read too much into it."

"Sure," I answered.

It took a few minutes before the next reply came. "You don't have to attend the tea party. Mom doesn't want it to be awkward for you."

The tea party. I let the words roll on my tongue for a bit. If the bride candidate scored less than 90, the Lawsons could switch in a new one. That was why the tea party was arranged right after the score was announced.

I changed into a new set of clothes and went to the bridal shop. The shopkeeper froze up when they saw me. "What brings you here, Ms. Oliviera?"

I scanned the display. One of the glass cabinets was empty. The backup gown was supposed to be there. Satin, mermaid dress with small flowers embroidered on the hem. I had altered the design myself.

Yves said there must be a gown that was mine and only mine during the wedding. I pointed at the empty space. "Where's my gown?"

The shopkeeper went through the shop's records. "Ms. Shaw took it earlier in the morning. She said the Lawsons are having a tea party later, and she needed to borrow it to show off a little."

I smiled. "Did she wear it?"

The shopkeeper didn't look at me. "She tried it out."

How convenient. They gave her a spot on the panel and the spot as the group chat's leader. Now, she was even authorized to pick my gown up without me knowing.

I didn't needle the shopkeeper since she was just doing her job. Instead, I asked her to give me a copy of the pickup record. Wendy's name was written on the paper, and the reason for picking the gown up was that she needed it for the tea party.

I folded the paper and tucked it in my bag. Then, I left the bridal shop without a fuss. The driver was waiting at the entrance. I told him I wanted to go to the club near the Lawson estate.

There was a semi-public parlor on the second floor, and the door was ajar.

Melanie's voice traveled through the air. "Stand straight. A Lawson daughter-in-law must be gracious."

I was standing right outside. Wendy was in that satin gown, standing before a full-body mirror. The flower embroidery hugged her calves. Yves was standing beside her, holding a brooch.

He pinned the brooch against Wendy's chest instead of stopping this farce. My mother left me that brooch. Before last night's event, Wendy borrowed it from me to add some color to her gown.

After the event, she said she left the brooch in Yves' car and would return it tomorrow. Now, it was pinned against her chest. I could hear her promises turning into mockery right then and there.

Wendy saw my reflection in the mirror, and her face went white. Yves turned back, his hand still inches away from her chest.

The air itself froze. I didn't go in. I took my phone out, snapped a photo of the pickup record, and turned the camera to the parlor. Another snap cracked through the air.

Yves frowned. "What are you doing?"

I tucked my phone away. "Nothing. Someone has to explain why she's wearing my gown when I'm supposed to be the bride candidate for the tea party. The explanation's tomorrow, remember?"