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The Other Woman's Wedding Dress
The Other Woman's Wedding Dress
Penulis: Ethereal Realm

Chapter 1

Penulis: Ethereal Realm
The night before the wedding, I received the dress my fiancé had sent—lavish, yet unmistakably the wrong size.

I ran my fingers over the fabric, then glanced at the email on my laptop—an invitation from a design academy offering me a teaching position. Keeping my voice steady, I sent him a voice message, saying we should call off the wedding.

Before long, my phone rang sharply. It was his secretary.

"Miss Rory, the wedding dress was my mistake. Please don't blame Mr. Cameron—it's all my fault."

Through the receiver, I heard Bruce Cameron's voice, soft and reassuring as he comforted her. I had never heard him speak to me in that tone before.

Then he left me with a single remark. "Don't forget, without the resources and platform I gave you, you're nothing in the design world."

The night before our wedding ceremony, Bruce sent me a wedding dress—elegant in design but glaringly ill-fitted.

I brushed my hand over its fabric and looked again at the design academy's email. My mind cleared. Calmly, I sent him a message: [Bruce, let's get a divorce.]

Not long after, my phone rang.

I answered, and his secretary, Kathy Wheels, spoke hurriedly, "Miss Rory, the wedding dress was my oversight. Please don't be angry, and don't blame Mr. Cameron. It's all my fault—please don't leave him."

I was about to hang up when I heard Bruce's voice, gentle as he soothed her.

I had never heard him speak to me that way.

After ending the call, I closed my eyes. Bitterness welled up inside me.

When I reopened them, a new notification appeared on my phone.

It was a photo posted by Bruce.

In the image, he was adjusting a bridal veil on Kathy. The caption read: [This silly girl messed up again and sent her own wedding dress to the wrong person.]

My heart sank. At last, I had to face it—Bruce no longer loved me.

On the eve of our wedding, my fiancé had chosen to stand by another woman.

And that wedding dress? It had never been mine to wear.

Another vibration broke the silence.

A new message from Bruce: [Stop being so unreasonable. Kathy worked so hard for our wedding—can't you be more understanding? If she hadn't donated her kidney to me back then, I wouldn't even be alive now. Without her, there'd be no me—and no you."

My stomach twisted. I called him immediately.

"Bruce, it was me who donated the kidney."

But before I could finish, he cut me off.

"Don't be ridiculous. Weren't you traveling back then? Do you think I don't know? You're so desperate for attention—it's pathetic."

He hung up.

I gripped the phone, stunned.

All this time, he had showered her with kindness because he believed it was Kathy who saved his life.

But it was me.

I had lied about traveling so he wouldn't worry.

Now it didn't matter.

Even if I told the truth, it wouldn't erase the years of coldness and hurt.

I sent him one final message: [Let's get a divorce.]

His reply came quickly.

Bruce: [Without the platform and resources I gave you, you're nothing. Do you think you can survive without me?]

I stared at the screen, disappointed.

Back then, when the company was struggling, I had worked nights and days, rushing designs, attending meetings, pushing us forward.

My designs had set the foundation for everything we built.

Yet to him, I was only ever someone who owed him her success.

After a long pause, I transferred him a large sum of money—all the savings I had.

My bank account balance dropped to three dollars.

But for the first time, I felt free. I owed him nothing now.

I looked once more at the ill-fitting dress.

It was elaborate and expensive.

The veil in the photo was likely part of the same set.

No wonder he had told me not to try it on earlier.

He had been afraid I might wear the dress meant for the woman he truly cared about.

I tossed it into the trash.

The dress, and the love I had once poured into him, were gone.

"Bruce, we're even now," I said as I closed the door behind me.

And with it, I closed that chapter of my life.
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  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 11

    Bruce's POV:I first met Hailey in college. Back then, I was arrogant and self-assured, buoyed by my good looks and privileged background. My suitors were countless, yet I dismissed them all with indifference. Hailey, however, was different. There was something about her that I couldn't quite put into words.She was my junior, and the first time I saw her, her clear, unguarded eyes captivated me. Her smile seemed to strip the world of its color, leaving only her in sharp focus. But as I watched her bury herself in books, striving for a graduate school recommendation, I could only suppress my feelings, keeping them locked away.Fate, however, has its own way of unraveling threads. We met again in graduate school. This time, I couldn't help but pay attention to her, crafting opportunities for casual encounters. To my delight, I discovered that she, too, had been quietly harboring feelings for me.Hailey wasn't like other women who sought grand gestures and romantic dates. Our tim

  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 10

    When Bruce finished speaking, he turned and walked away without looking back.Harvey and I stood there, holding the wedding dress in our hands, speechless."Hailey, he doesn't seem to match the story you told me about him," Harvey said, exhaling deeply. "I was so scared just now, afraid you'd go with him."I couldn't help but smile. "This isn't his territory. What could he possibly do? Kidnap me in broad daylight?""But…" I paused and looked at him. "Since he gave us the dress, what do you think, Harvey?""Hm?" He raised an eyebrow."How about letting me wear it? Just once?" I asked tentatively.Harvey froze for a moment before breaking into a radiant smile, one so bright it reminded me of an overexcited puppy.On the way back to the hotel, Bruce couldn't stop replaying the image of Hailey and Harvey holding hands. He had anticipated the possibility that Hailey might already have someone new in her life, but seeing her comforting another man right in front of him—so calm, so na

  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 9

    The brand's efficiency far exceeded my expectations.Within just a month, I received an invitation to their upcoming launch event. To my surprise, the wedding gown I had designed, with its unique symbolism, had been chosen as the centerpiece of a high-profile auction. Alongside the launch invite came another—a formal summons to the auction itself.I decided to bring Harvey along. My emotions were a strange mix of anticipation and unease. The gown, once tied to my own dream of happiness, would soon become a token of joy for someone else.The brand spared no expense in promoting the event. To my astonishment, my gown was scheduled as the grand finale.The host introduced it with theatrical flair:"This wedding gown was designed by a renowned fashion designer from the capital. It was created with the hope of being worn as she and her beloved embarked on a lifetime together. Unfortunately, life doesn't always align with our dreams. Tonight, this gown, imbued with the essence of love

  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 8

    And so, somehow, I ended up with Harvey.At twenty-five, I had thought my ability to love had withered, yet in my most vulnerable moment, I encountered someone I wanted to stay with. This relationship reminded me of the innocence and sweetness of youth, a kind of love I had once believed was irretrievable.Every day after his lectures, Harvey would wait for me outside my classroom. I'd share with him the small dramas and mundane details of my lessons, or we'd discuss my latest design ideas. He'd take my hand, and together we'd walk to our favorite little restaurant near campus for dinner.On weekends, I would stay home sketching designs. He never disturbed me, respecting my need for solitude, but his presence was always tangible. Still, there was no denying that Harvey was incredibly clingy in his own way.Our budding romance didn't escape the keen eyes of the landlord and his wife. The landlady's glances toward me became increasingly meaningful, though she always held her tongue

  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 7

    The dazzling nightscape of the city spread out like an endless glittering canvas. My new landlord and his family, all locals, had welcomed me with warmth and kindness. For a newcomer like me, finding such considerate hosts felt like a stroke of rare fortune.If I hadn't brought it up myself, no one would have guessed that the young woman before them, seemingly carefree, had already endured a failed marriage. At twenty-five, my life had traversed peaks and valleys that felt more like the plot of a sprawling novel than reality. In this unfamiliar city, I had chosen to start anew, embracing the nickname "HL" as I re-entered the world of fashion design.Once, not so long ago, I had dreamed of crafting the perfect suit for Bruce with my own hands. Yet, the memory of our wedding remained starkly different—hasty, bare-bones, and devoid of any real warmth. He had worn a bespoke designer suit, chosen without so much as consulting me. The entire process had been overseen by Kathy. That s

  • The Other Woman's Wedding Dress   Chapter 6

    The unexpected turn of events at the wedding caught Bruce completely off guard. For the first time in his life, he felt utterly out of control.Just last night, he had been laughing and drinking with friends at a bar, their conversations light and carefree."Bruce," one of them teased, "how did you manage to train Hailey to be so obedient? Teach us your secret.""Yeah, I wish I had it as good," another chimed in. "One at home, one on the side—what a life!"Bruce had dismissed their comments with a smirk."Hailey is like a puppy," he said, his tone laced with derision. "Throw her a bone, and she'll hand you her heart. Leave me? She couldn't survive without me. If I ignore her, she'll crumble."Another friend, a woman, frowned and interjected, "You've been together for so many years. You loved her once. If you keep hurting her like this, don't be surprised if you end up chasing her back from the brink."He had laughed it off then, never imagining how prophetic her words would prov

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