Library
Search
Home / Romance / The Road I Chose / Chapter 1 Seven Years Reduced to Formalities

Share

The Road I Chose
The Road I Chose
Author: Lolly

Chapter 1 Seven Years Reduced to Formalities

Author: Lolly
When Tristan Shepherd adjusted Gabriella Lewis' veil, I took off my ring.

Gabriella looked at me through the mirror, her voice soft in just the right way. "Victoria, don't misunderstand. I'm only borrowing it for a photoshoot."

"Gabby…" Tristan frowned.

She immediately lowered her head. "Sorry. Did I say something wrong?"

I looked at the wedding dress. Along the hem was a circle of hand-embroidered fog lamps. It was my own alteration.

I had once told Tristan I was afraid of foggy days. Back then, he held my hand and said quietly, "I'll leave a light on for you."

I placed the ring on the counter. "This dress isn't for borrowing."

Gabriella's eyes reddened instantly. "Victoria, I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to take a photo to send to my mom. She hasn't been doing well lately."

Tristan turned to me. "Victoria, it's just a dress."

I gave a small smile. "Then, give her something else."

"Do you really have to argue over this here?" His voice rose slightly. "Gabby just got divorced. Don't upset her."

I looked at him.

In the past seven years, he had rarely raised his voice at me. He had always been like this—calm, composed, turning every bit of favoritism into something unavoidable.

"Tristan," I said, "this is my wedding dress."

He fell silent for two seconds. Then, he said, "I paid for it."

The bridal shop went quiet. The staff lowered their heads, pretending to straighten the skirts.

Gabriella clutched the veil and spoke softly. "Tristan, forget it. I won't take the photos. Victoria probably really cares about these formalities."

Formalities. Seven years of engagement. Three postponed weddings.

Everything I cared about had eventually become formalities.

I picked up the ring from the counter and slipped it into my bag. Tristan let out a breath of relief, thinking I had backed down. "After Gabby finishes her shoot, I'll go with you to pick another one."

"Pick another what?" I asked.

"A wedding dress." He rubbed his forehead. "Stop making a scene, Tori."

Tori.

Every time he used that name, he wanted me to give in.

I turned to the staff. "Please pack up my wedding dress. No rentals, no borrowing, no photos."

The staff member froze. "Ms. Campbell, but Mr. Shepherd—"

"The contract is under my name," I said.

Tristan's expression darkened. "Victoria."

I ignored him.

Gabriella suddenly grabbed his sleeve. "Tristan, maybe I should change out of it. Victoria has waited all these years. She must need this dress more than I do."

The words "all these years" landed lightly, but something in my chest still ached.

Tristan's gaze shifted, his tone softening a little. "Tori, let's leave it at this for today. I'll explain everything when we get back."
Continue to read this book for free
Scan code to download App
Previous Chapter Next Chapter

Latest chapter

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 11 When the Fog Clears

    I lowered my gaze to the new studio contract on the table. The address was in the south of the city, by the river, a place where fog gathered more often than not."I've paid my share too."…On opening day, Tristan came. He did not come inside. He only stood across the street, holding a paper bag."Do you want to go over?" Wyatt asked.I shook my head.Not long after, the front desk brought up a package. Inside was the repaired fog lamp, and the line "Come home when the fog clears" on the base had been re-engraved. But below it, a smaller line had been added.'Even if you don't return, may you still have a light.'I looked at it for a long time. Then, I placed the lamp at the very bottom of the storage cabinet.As the door closed, Tristan lowered his head across the street.He came a few more times after that. Each time, he stood across the street. Sometimes, he brought a cup of hot coffee; sometimes, he just stayed for a while.But he never knocked again, nor did he send

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 10 What Should Have Been Done

    Gabriella reached out and tugged at his sleeve.It was a habit of hers. Every time before, he would steady her, but this time, he did nothing."Did you break the fog lamp on purpose?"Gabriella stopped crying for a split second.Tristan's voice was low. "And the wedding photos… You sent them to her on purpose too?"Gabriella shook her head in panic. "Tristan, I was just afraid of losing you."Tristan closed his eyes briefly.I did not stay to watch the drama unfold.…That evening, Wyatt sent me the board's decision.Shepherd Ltd. had suspended all cooperation with Gabriella's exhibition. And Tristan was given three days to resolve the loan repayment, or he would have to relinquish part of his management authority.The doorbell rang.Tristan stood outside, holding the repaired fog lamp in his arms. "Tori, I know everything now."I looked at him but did not let him in.He stood at the door, his voice hoarse. "I checked the accounts from back then. The day you sold the hous

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 9 Seven Years in a Box

    It was as if he had finally realized that the box did not contain old belongings. It held the seven years I had been slowly taking back. Piece by piece.…In the meeting room, Wyatt placed a new set of documents in front of me. "Shepherd Ltd.'s board has already asked Tristan to explain the source of the loan. If you're willing to make the fund flow from back then public, he'll be in a very difficult position."I opened the file. Inside was a transaction record for an old house. My grandmother's name sat in the seller column.I stared at it for a long time.Wyatt asked, "Do you want to make it public?"I closed the file. "Yes."Just then, my phone buzzed with a text from Lorraine. 'Victoria, are you really going to ruin Tristan?'…Lorraine asked to meet at the sanatorium.She sat on a bench in the garden, a shawl draped over her shoulders. The first thing she said when she saw me was, "You've lost weight."I didn't respond.She sighed. "Victoria, I know Tristan hurt you th

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 8 What's Broken Stays Broken

    That single line pushed Tristan straight back to square one."Turn off the screen," he said sternly to a staff member, but Wyatt stepped in front of them. "The exhibition materials are already suspected of infringement. If you delete evidence without authorization, we will report it to the police."Tristan's expression darkened.It was the first time I had seen him on the edge of losing control. And yet, he still did not apologize to me. He only said, "Let's talk in private."I shook my head. "No need."Just then, Shepherd Ltd.'s finance director rushed in. Ignoring the media, he leaned in and whispered something into Tristan's ear.Tristan's face turned even grimmer.I caught a few words—loan recovery, bank risk control, the board wanted an explanation…He looked up at me. For the first time, there was panic in his eyes.…It was not until three days later that Tristan lowered his head for the first time.He waited downstairs at my company. No flowers. No soup. Just an old

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 7 Evidence in Plain Sight

    Tristan looked at him, his gaze turning cold. "Who are you?"Wyatt smiled faintly. "Her lawyer."…Gabriella's exhibition was not canceled. She only changed a single word—from "Though the Fog" to "Home Through the Fog."Tristan texted me. 'The theme has been adjusted. It doesn't constitute infringement.'I looked at the line and let out a small laugh.He had probably forgotten. I had not only written a title. I had registered the full concept, along with the visual drafts.Wyatt said, "They're betting you'll go soft.""Then, they'll lose that bet."…On the day of the exhibition opening, I went in person.At the entrance stood a massive fog lamp installation, almost an exact copy of my wedding design.Gabriella, dressed in white, stood beneath it, giving interviews to the media. "This collection is about waiting and belonging," she said. "When I was most lost, someone left a light for me."A reporter asked, "Is that Mr. Shepherd?"She lowered her head shyly, cheeks flushe

  • The Road I Chose   Chapter 6 No Home to Return To

    Looking back now, it felt foolish.Wyatt pushed the documents toward me. "I'll send a lawyer's letter first. As for the original concepts in your wedding plan, if Ms. Lewis continues to use them, we can issue another letter at the same time."I paused. "How did you know?""Her photography exhibition is quite large." He replied evenly. "The theme is called 'Though the Fog'."I opened my phone. Gabriella's social media had just been updated. She stood in front of a fog lamp, with the caption: 'Thank you for always leaving the light for me.'Below it, Tristan had liked the post.I looked at it for two seconds, then sent a screenshot to Wyatt. "Handle it together."…After leaving the law firm, Tristan called.I answered."Where did you go?" he asked, his voice low and restrained."I had something to take care of.""Gabriella's hand injury is serious. I just took her to the hospital."I hummed in acknowledgment.Seemingly taken aback by my response, he paused for a moment bef

More Chapters

You may also like

Explore and read good novels for free
Free access to a vast number of good novels on GoodNovel app. Download the books you like and read anywhere & anytime.
Read books for free on the app
SCAN CODE TO READ ON APP
DMCA.com Protection Status