3#03

3

The head of the Hughes clan was certain I was the source of Simon's good fortune.

Oddly enough, the family's fondness for me seemed to grow with each passing day. They embraced me as if I were one of their own, making me feel like I truly belonged. Despite Simon's cool demeanor, I genuinely believed I was content. That is, until I stumbled upon the photographs.

One day, my mother entered my room with unexpected news.

"Simon's younger uncle, Daniel, is returning from Europe in less than a week," she informed me.

I was taken aback, caught completely off guard.

In my previous life, Daniel had never married, and I certainly hadn't anticipated our arranged union to progress so rapidly.

My recollection of Daniel was vague, but one thing stood out: he had always been kind, almost like an older sibling to me. The prospect of marrying him now seemed to promise more tranquility than tying the knot with anyone else.

For reasons I couldn't quite pinpoint, the idea of him felt... appropriate.

The following morning, I was up at dawn, busy in my studio working on the design for my bridal gown. I'd been sketching my ideal wedding dress since my college days when I studied fashion design.

However, every design I had created back then had to cater to Simon's preferences. He wouldn't allow me to incorporate any elements I liked—everything had to be to his taste.

But now?

Now, I was unrestrained.

Free to design the dress I adored, the one I'd actually want to don—while marrying someone else.

A few days later, after putting the finishing touches on my dress, I decided to get a coffee from the break room.

That's when I saw Audrey's social media post.

In the image, she was wearing my wedding gown. But it wasn't the dress I had envisioned. The gown had been sliced in half and transformed into an extremely short skirt. To make matters worse, she was dancing provocatively against Simon, their bodies pressed tightly together.

[Simon knew I needed a dress, so he specially sent this one to me. I feel so pampered right now!]

I could scarcely believe what I was seeing. My heart raced as anger surged through me. Without hesitation, I rushed towards the fifth-floor ballroom, furious and ready to confront them.

There they were—Audrey and Simon—dancing as if they were the only two people in existence. Their bodies were closely intertwined, moving with an intensity that seemed to shut out the rest of the world.

"That's my wedding dress!" I yelled, unable to contain my rage. "How could you give it to her?! And destroy it like this?!"

Audrey immediately began her performance, playing the role of the innocent, helpless girl. Her eyes welled up with fake tears, her voice trembling.

"Simon, have I done something wrong? Why is she so upset?" she whimpered, feigning vulnerability.

Simon, predictably, positioned himself in front of her, shielding her from my view as if I posed some kind of threat. "Bianca, it's just a dress!" he sneered. "Besides, you'll still wear it for me at the wedding. So what's the problem? If it means that much to you, why not just create a new one?"

My anger intensified. "Who says I'm wearing it for you?" I retorted, my tone icier than I had intended. "This is the dress I'm wearing for my own wedding."

Simon scoffed and shook his head as if I were a naive child. "Come on, Bianca, don't pretend you don't know. Your wedding is our wedding. I've already agreed to marry you. There's no need to keep up this charade."

That was the final straw. I'd had enough.

I noticed a pair of scissors on a nearby table, grabbed them, and walked directly towards Audrey's dress. Without hesitation, I cut the fabric near her leg, slicing through the hem.

"Simon," I said, my voice cold and sharp, each word carrying weight, "since you're so confident, watch closely. I won't accept anything tainted. And I won't keep a stained dress."

Simon froze, his eyes wide with shock. In all our time together, regardless of how I behaved—whether playful or bratty—he had never seen me like this. Never seen me so serious, so resolute.

His instincts took over, and he reached out towards me, but before he could act, Audrey's shrill voice cut through the tension.

"Simon, my leg! I think I've hurt it. It's really painful, but don't worry about me. Go take care of her. This is all my fault..."

Simon hesitated, torn between me and Audrey. He looked from my retreating figure to her, and then back at me. After an agonizing pause, he sneered, his voice dripping with disdain.

"Don't concern yourself with her. An insecure woman like her needs to learn a lesson. Perhaps this will help her reflect on her actions."

I couldn't respond. My body went numb, and my heart felt as if it had plummeted into an abyss. I stood there, watching as my wedding dress—the one I'd invested so much of myself in—began to unravel in my hands. The delicate fabric came apart, mirroring the disintegration of everything else in my life.

I quietly wiped my eyes, trying to maintain my composure, but the weight of all I had lost hit me with devastating force. All that effort, all that hope...ruined in an instant.