All Chapters of The Road I Chose: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

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

"I'm not going," I said.As if he had not heard me, Tristan continued, "Gabby will be there too. Talk things through. Don't let the elders worry."I tightened my grip on the doorknob. "Tristan, I said I'm not going."He looked at me for a long moment, then said, "Tori, don't make this difficult for me."My palm went numb.That line hurt more than any accusation ever could.Suddenly, I thought of the year his business failed, which was also the year I sold the old house my grandmother had left me.The day I signed the papers, the city had been wrapped in heavy fog. It was thick like soaked cotton, pressing down until it was hard to breathe.And no, it was not just a simple fear of fog.When I was little, I got lost on a foggy day and was later found by the river on the outskirts of the city. Ever since then, whenever fog rolled in, my chest would tighten, and my hands and feet would turn cold.Tristan knew that. He had once held me close, over and over again, whispering, "Don'

Gabriella shook her head through tears. "Tristan, don't blame Victoria. I was careless."Tristan helped her up, his sleeve brushing against the broken glass on the floor. But he did not spare the shattered fog lamp a single glance."She dropped it," I said.His voice turned cold. "Her hand is injured, and you're still trying to push the blame?"I looked at him. "You don't believe me?"He fell silent for a moment before taking Gabriella's side. "Gabby isn't that kind of person, Victoria."With that, the last trace of warmth in me went cold.Leaning against him, Gabriella said softly, "Tristan, don't blame Victoria. She's probably under too much pressure. Anyone would feel upset after having the wedding delayed again and again."Tristan turned to me. "If you feel wronged, take it out on me. Don't hurt others.""Who did I hurt?" I asked.He did not answer. Instead, he picked up a piece of the shattered lampshade. When he saw the engraved words on the base, his fingers paused for

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

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