Chapter 1

On the day I was supposed to try on wedding dresses with my boyfriend of seven years, I rushed to the bridal shop filled with excitement.

But I accidentally overheard a conversation between my boyfriend and his friend.

"You got married to Melody at the courthouse yesterday, and today you're bringing Summer to try on wedding dresses. Aren't you afraid Summer will find out and make a scene?"

He looked helpless and said in a hoarse voice, "My brother died in a car accident. Melody is pregnant with his child. If I don't step up and marry her, how will they survive as a widow and orphan?"

"I'll spend my whole life making it up to Summer. Keep your mouth shut. She can never find out about this."

I turned around and made an appointment for an abortion at the hospital.

If he couldn't give me and the baby a complete family, then we might as well not have one at all.

——————

Their conversation was like piercing ice in winter, instantly extinguishing all the joy I felt after receiving my pregnancy test results.

This morning, I went to the hospital early to get the test report. I had planned to come to the bridal shop to tell him the good news in person, but I never expected him to hit me with such a bombshell first.

If he had already gotten a marriage certificate with someone else, why was he still planning to have a wedding with me?

Before I could find an answer to this question, the bridal designer in the store approached me, "Miss Shaw, the wedding dress Mr. Langdon specially customized for you has arrived. You can try it on now."

Hearing this, I was momentarily stunned.

Dashiell cared about this wedding more than anyone. The wedding ring and dress were all personally designed and supervised by him based on my preferences.

On the inside of the ring, there were even words engraved: "Two hearts as one, love without doubt."

I felt bad that he had to deal with wedding preparations on top of his work, so I suggested hiring a designer to take care of everything. But he shook his head and refused, saying, "Designing it myself better represents my feelings. I want you to think of me whenever you see these things in the future."

When people around us learned about this, they all praised him, saying he would surely become an excellent husband in the future, and that I was lucky to have met him.Little did I know, his love for me would become so ironic.

I composed myself and walked towards the dressing room where the wedding gown was, only to see a familiar figure.

Melody heard the attendant giving me directions and turned to me with a smile, "Summer, you're finally here. Come quick, your wedding dress is so beautiful."

She spoke with an exceptionally natural demeanor, every bit the caring big sister.

When Dashiell's brother was still alive, we had gone out to eat together a few times, and I had interacted with Melody quite a bit.

Back then, thinking she'd be my future sister-in-law, I would share all the good things with her, just to maintain a good relationship between future in-laws.

If I hadn't overheard Dashiell's conversation with his friend earlier, I never would have imagined she'd become an insurmountable obstacle between Dashiell and me.

Recalling what they had just said, I instinctively glanced at her still-flat belly, a wave of bitterness washing over me.

No matter what happens, she has a safe harbor to rely on.

While my child and I have no one.

My expression darkened as I looked at the exquisite wedding gown, "It is indeed beautiful. Would you like to try it on?"

As soon as the words left my mouth, an incredulous voice rang out."Summer, what are you saying? This is your wedding dress, how can you let someone else try it on?"

Dashiell approached with a hint of anger, his eyes full of disapproval as he looked at me.

My expression remained unchanged, incredibly calm, "What's the big deal? I heard that when Melody and your brother got married, she never even wore a wedding dress. Let her try it on now to make up for that past regret."

Their wedding had been hasty, just getting the marriage certificate without holding a ceremony.

Now, Dashiell had given her the title of wife.

So I'll help her fulfill the regret of not having had a wedding ceremony.