Chapter 2

The next morning, Lillian arrived.

She stood in the doorway in a pale pink dress, wearing an apologetic smile. "Claire, I hope this isn't too much trouble. Alexander said the lighting here is better for the photo shoot. I was going to use a hotel."

Alexander held her coat for her, his voice softer than usual. "Don't worry about it. This is a Whitman property too."

I looked at him.

The home Grandfather had left for me to live in had just been reduced to another family asset.

Nicholas handed Lillian a warm glass of milk. "You haven't eaten this morning. Drink some. There are plenty of clothes here. Take your time choosing."

Leon walked in carrying several garment bags and jerked his chin at me. "Don't just stand there. Help her figure out which one works best for the cover."

They walked into my dressing room as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

No one asked if I was willing.

Lillian stopped in front of the wedding dress, her eyes lighting up instantly. "This one is gorgeous."

All three men fell silent for a moment.

Leon frowned first. "Why is this still here?"

I walked over and stood in front of the dress. "Grandfather left this for me."

Lillian pulled her hand back immediately, her eyes reddening in an instant. "I'm sorry, I didn't know. I just thought it would be perfect for the bridal-themed shoot."

Nicholas sighed softly. "Claire, she was only complimenting a dress. You don't have to guard it like she's a thief."

Alexander looked at me. "Take it out."

"What?"

"The wedding dress. The photography team arrives this afternoon. Let Lillian try it on. If it doesn't work, we'll use something else."

He spoke as if he were arranging a sample garment for the company.

I refused immediately. "No."

The smile vanished from Leon's face. "Claire, it's just a dress. A few photos aren't going to ruin it."

"It's not just a dress."

It was the one keepsake Grandfather had left me.

For four years, I'd believed that someday I would wear it, standing beside someone who was willing to love me openly.

Alexander ignored my refusal and reached for the garment bag.

I grabbed his sleeve. "Don't touch it."

He looked down at my hand, his tone cold. "Let go."

Lillian said softly from the side, "Just forget it. If Claire doesn't want to, then let it go. I don't want to cause a fight because of me."

The more considerate she seemed, the more unreasonable I looked in their eyes.

Nicholas walked over and placed his fingers on my wrist, prying my grip open little by little. "Don't make this difficult for everyone. It's just a fitting. They'll return it exactly as it was after the shoot."

His grip wasn't forceful, but it pressed precisely on the spot I'd sprained a few days ago.

The pain made me let go.

Alexander took down the wedding dress.

The moment the garment bag was unzipped, the lace my grandmother had left me spilled into the morning light, its whiteness almost blinding.

Lillian covered her mouth. "Oh my God, it's absolutely stunning."

Leon looked at her, his gaze soft. "You'll look beautiful in it."

I stood where I was and asked quietly, "What about me?"

All three of them fell silent at once.

Alexander looked away.

Nicholas said gently, "When you get married, we can have a new one made that suits you better."

Leon was the most blunt. "Don't compare yourself to Lillian. She has to face the cameras. You don't."

Four years ago, when the wedding dress arrived, Leon had been more excited than I was.

He'd secretly draped the veil over my head, his ears burning red. "Claire, wear this when you marry me someday, okay?"

Alexander had coughed from the side, saying Leon was too young to understand the weight of a promise.

Nicholas had smiled and told me to take my time choosing.

So I did take my time.

Until none of them needed my answer anymore.

When Lillian came out wearing the wedding dress, Alexander's gaze lingered for several seconds.

Nicholas said with genuine admiration, "It looks perfect on you."

Leon immediately pulled out his phone to take a picture. "I'm sending this to the stylist. She'll definitely agree to go with this one."

The long train swept across the floor.

Rainwater on the soles of Lillian's shoes left faint gray marks on the white satin.

I bent down to lift the hem, but Alexander stopped me. "Don't touch it. Let the professionals handle it so you don't damage the lace."

I slowly straightened up.

So I didn't even get to touch my own wedding dress.

That afternoon, the photography team arrived.

Lillian stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows in my wedding dress. The photographer kept telling her she looked like a bride from a movie. The magazine editor asked if the dress was a gift from someone special.

Lillian paused for a moment, then answered softly, "It was prepared by someone very important to me."

Alexander didn't correct her.

Nicholas was busy adjusting her train.

Leon smiled and told the photographer to get a few more angles.

I stood at the edge of the frame. Nicholas glanced back at me. "Claire, go wait in the hallway. You're interfering with the composition."

I walked outside.

Through the half-open door, I watched Grandfather's wedding dress become a trophy Lillian could flaunt for the world to see.

That evening, when they left, the assistant packed the wedding dress into the car.

I chased after them to the door. "Leave the dress."

Alexander turned back. "We still need to reshoot tomorrow."

Nicholas said soothingly, "We'll return it as soon as the shoot is done."

Leon had already rolled down his window. "Don't be a killjoy."

The car turned the corner and disappeared.

At the same time, a message from Graham arrived on my phone.

"Ms. Bennett, see you tomorrow evening. Leon tells me you're quiet and easy to get along with. That's exactly my type."

I stared at the words and suddenly laughed.

Somewhere along the way, my personality, my silence, and even my marriage had all become things they could put a price tag on.