I Was Never the Choice
None of them knew that the man they called devoted was preparing to turn me into a shadow: a woman who would never be made public, never acknowledged by the family, whose child would carry the label of 'illegitimate' from the moment they were born.
I forced a smile, took the wedding dress, and walked toward the fitting room.
"These crystal heels would go perfectly with the dress."
Ellis Olsen appeared behind me, holding a pair of shoes.
She smiled as she held them up against the gown, measuring them casually as if nothing had ever happened.
She was still as close to me as ever, warm and familiar, like a best friend.
In the past, Charles Jaspier used to take us out together: meals, camping tr