I Don't Want a Wedding That Was Never Mine のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 8

It was the last weekend before the wedding.I drove to the fanciest bridal boutique downtown.The sales associate greeted me with a bright smile, then brought out a bulky gown covered in rhinestones.Cheap stones glittered across layers of scratchy tulle."Ms. Lambert, Mr. Crowley asked that you try this one on today."Damian's gentle voice drifted over from the lounge.He walked over and tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear."The one you picked was too plain. This one really sparkles. Go on, try it on."The staff helped me into the 22-pound gown.The tulle scratched my skin, and the zipper dug into my waist so tightly I could barely breathe.But when I stepped out of the fitting room, holding up the heavy skirt, Damian was gone.The sales associate avoided my eyes and pointed toward the VIP suite at the end of the hall.I struggled toward it and found the door half open.A woman stood before the full-length mirror, admiring herself in the hand-embroidered wedding dress I'd had

People nearby turned to stare. The coffee stung my eyes, and my head spun. I could barely make out my mother's words as she jabbed a finger at me.All I could see was her grabbing her purse and storming off without a backward glance.I stood there trembling, covered in coffee.Then someone held out a dark silk handkerchief, and I caught the crisp, woody scent of oud.I looked up, startled, and found a man standing beside me.He wore a sharply tailored charcoal suit, his expression cool and aloof.It was Lucas Harmon, the head of the Harmon Group.No one in New York dared cross him. He'd taken charge of a business empire at a young age and ruled it with an iron fist.Just last week, I'd represented my company at a strategy meeting with his firm. He'd sat at the head of the table, untouchable."Ms. Lambert, here. Wipe your face."Lucas's voice was reassuring, without a trace of mockery.At a small gesture from him, his assistant went to a nearby mall to buy me clean clothes.He was still

Her falsified medical charts and diagnoses filled the screen.Photos of her bribing the doctor and records of the bank transfers followed.The guests began to whisper."What? Her illness was fake?""I always heard the Lambert family's older daughter was sickly. Turns out she was faking it. And wasn't her sister supposed to be the bride today?"Hearing the whispers, Chloe snapped. She dropped her bouquet and ran toward the control booth, screaming, "That's a lie. Turn it off right now. None of this is real!"My mother stared at the screen, her face ashen.She shook her head, grabbed Chloe's hand, and shielded her."That can't be true. Chloe goes to the hospital every month. She comes home vomiting. How could she have lied to us?"Chloe's eyes filled with tears. "That's right, Mom! Zoe faked all of this. She's angry about the wedding, so she chose today to get back at me!"She grew more worked up as she spoke, then covered her mouth and cried.My mother pulled her into a protective hug.

For my birthday, Lucas planned an unforgettable surprise at Paris's highest rooftop restaurant.Roses flown in for the occasion filled the room. Lucas had won a pink diamond necklace at auction, and he fastened it around my neck himself.In that moment, I felt my heart skip a beat.Late one night, a storm broke just as I was leaving work. Lucas showed up just in time and drove me back to my apartment.After my shower, I stepped out of the bathroom, drying my hair, and smelled something delicious.I followed the smell to the kitchen. Lucas, so ruthless in business, stood at the stove in an apron with his sleeves rolled up, focused on cooking.He heard me and turned with a smile. "Almost ready. You got caught in the rain. Have something hot to warm up, or you'll have a headache tomorrow."The warm kitchen light softened his sharp features. My heart raced when I met his eyes.I couldn't remember the last time anyone had looked after me like this. Back in New York, my parents and Damian ha