Chapter 1

On my wedding day, my bridesmaid walked in wearing a wedding dress identical to mine.

The whole hall erupted in murmurs, but my fiancé just smiled and let her slip her arm through his.

"Nina just likes to stir things up. Don't read into it."

I didn't make a scene. I even straightened her train for her with my own hands.

We had been together six years, and this was our third attempt at a wedding.

The first time, Nina Lawson said she wanted to be his partner for the first dance of his life, so the wedding was pushed back.

The second time, Nina had been dumped and needed someone with her, so our honeymoon tickets were refunded.

Last week, my dad lay dying, gripping my hand, and never got the grandchild he'd waited for.

My fiancé was at a pet store, helping her pick out a Ragdoll cat.

The officiant handed me the microphone and asked me to say a few words.

I looked at the two of them on the stage, arms linked, and I smiled.

"To the groom and the bridesmaid. May you have a long and happy life together."

This time, I truly had no intention of marrying him.

Besides, two weeks ago, I had already married someone else at the courthouse.

……

The microphone slipped from the officiant's hand and hit the floor with a piercing screech.

Every guest turned to look at me, then at Julian Walker and Nina at center stage.

Nina wore a wedding dress exactly like mine, its train trailing across the red carpet.

She clung to Julian's arm, tears still in her eyes, her whole face wounded, and she refused to let go.

Julian patted the back of her hand, soothing her with practiced ease.

"Nina just wanted to add a little surprise to the wedding. Sienna, don't make this any uglier than it has to be."

My throat tightened as I looked at him.

Today should have been our third walk to the altar.

He had once held my hand and told me he would only ever make me wear a wedding dress once in my life.

Yet in six years, he had made me that same promise three times, and three times he'd gone back on it because of Nina.

I had still been planning to wait for him to explain.

Seeing Nina show up in a wedding dress, I suddenly didn't want to wait anymore.

I bent down and picked up the microphone. The cold metal dug into my palm until it hurt.

"I'm sorry. What I just said really was out of line."

Julian's brow relaxed a little. He had probably decided I'd finally learned to back down.

Nina tugged lightly at his sleeve, her voice trembling.

"Julian, does Sienna really hate me that much? I only wanted to make her happy…"

"She doesn't hate you. She's just in a bad mood today."

Julian adjusted her shoulder strap for her, right in front of me, and didn't seem to think there was anything wrong with it.

"Don't take it to heart."

Watching his hands fix her dress, I suddenly remembered six years ago.

My father had just come out of surgery, and Julian sat with me in the hospital hallway all night.

He told me that no matter what happened in the future, he would always be on my side.

Now he stood by Nina's side and couldn't even be bothered to look at me.

The emcee asked carefully whether we still wanted to go on with the ceremony.

I shook my head and set my bouquet down on the head table.

"The ceremony's canceled. I'll cover half the bill."

Julian's face finally changed.

"Sienna Hayes, what are you throwing a fit about now?"

"Today is our wedding."

I looked at him and asked:

"Who do you think should be the one wearing the wedding dress?"

For a moment he had no answer. After a pause, he lowered his voice.

"It was just a spur-of-the-moment thing for Nina. She's already apologized. Can't you at least let her keep a little dignity?"

Nina's eyes instantly went red.

"I'll go change right now. Sienna, please don't be angry."

She turned to go, but Julian caught her arm.

"Don't. The wedding's about to start. Don't give the guests something to laugh at."

My fingers curled tight.

The dignity he talked about was only ever something he demanded from me.

I picked up my purse, walked around the stage, and left the banquet hall under everyone's stares.

Outside, the wind was cold, and my veil kept blowing back behind me.

I stood at the curb to flag down a car. Julian came after me, his face tight with anger he was holding back.

"Where are you going?"

"Home, to pack my things."

"Pack what things?"

I glanced at him, then gave the driver the address of our apartment.

He thought I was just sulking, and he reached out to block the car door.

"Once the wedding's over, we'll go home and talk. As for today, I'll have Nina apologize to you."

"She doesn't need to apologize."

"Sienna, what do you want?"

What I wanted, he had known since six years ago.

A wedding that belonged only to us. A man who would say no when another woman put on a wedding dress, and who would stand beside me when my father was dying.

But saying it now would only make it sound like I was still begging him.

I got into the car and shut the door.

"I don't want anything anymore."

As the car pulled out of the parking lot, Julian was still standing where I'd left him.

He didn't come after me. He looked down at his phone.

Nina was probably waiting for him again.

Back at the apartment, I packed up my half of the clothes in the closet.

My documents, my medications, and a few old books my father had left me all went into the suitcase.

The ring Julian had given me was still sitting in the drawer.

I picked it up and looked at it for a long time, but in the end I left it where it was.

At 5 p.m., I wheeled my luggage out of the apartment.

I put the spare key in an envelope and left it on the dining table, next to a cup of ginger tea.

Half an hour later, Julian came home with Nina.

I was already in a cab to the airport when my phone buzzed several times in a row.

A message from Julian: Are you done with your tantrum?

Nina's staying at our place tonight. Get the guest room ready.

I deleted the conversation, looked up, and spoke to the driver.

"Could you go a little faster, please?"