Chapter 1: The Bride Who Wasn't Me
The moment my younger sister stepped into my wedding wearing Bride Who Wasn't Me
The moment my younger sister stepped into my wedding wearing my million-dollar bridal gown, three hundred guests stood to applaud—and my future mother my million-dollar bridal gown, three hundred guests stood to applaud—and my future mother-in-law announced that I had finally been replaced by someone worthy of her son.
Neither woman knew I was watching from the second floor.
Neither knew I had another wedding-in-law announced that I had finally been replaced by someone worthy of her son.
Neither woman knew I was watching from the second floor.
Neither knew I had another wedding dress hidden behind a locked wardrobe.
And neither understood that by stealing the most valuable gown I had ever created, they had just walked into a trap dress hidden behind a locked wardrobe.
And neither understood that by stealing the most valuable gown I had ever created, they had just walked into a trap I had spent eleven months preparing.
My name is Madison Hayes. I was thirty-one years old, the founder of an internationally recognized bridal design house, and until that morning I had spent eleven months preparing.
My name is Madison Hayes. I was thirty-one years old, the founder of an internationally recognized bridal design house, and until that morning, I had believed the hardest part of my wedding would be keeping my divorced parents from arguing during the reception.
I was wrong.
At 10:17 a.m., my phone vibrated on the dressing table.
At, I had believed the hardest part of my wedding would be keeping my divorced parents from arguing during the reception.
I was wrong.
At 10:17 a.m., my phone vibrated on the dressing table.
At 10:18, it vibrated again.
By 10:19, my wedding coordinator had called four times.
I finally picked up.
"Madison, where are you?"" Eleanor demanded. 10:18, it vibrated again.
By 10:19, my wedding coordinator had called four times.
I finally picked up.
"Madison, where are you?"" Eleanor demanded. Behind her voice, I heard an orchestra playing, guests talking, and someone shouting for the photographer.
"I'm in the bridal suite.""
"Then you need to come downstairs immediately.""
"Why?""
There was a pause so long I could hear her breathing.
"Your sister is here.""
I looked Behind her voice, I heard an orchestra playing, guests talking, and someone shouting for the photographer.
"I'm in the bridal suite.""
"Then you need to come downstairs immediately.""
"Why?""
There was a pause so long I could hear her breathing.
"Your sister is here.""
I looked at the ivory gown hanging in front of the mirror. It had taken eleven months to create. Thousands of hand-sewn pearls covered the bodice, while delicate crystal embroidery traced the skirt in patterns inspired by frost at the ivory gown hanging in front of the mirror.
It had taken eleven months to create. Thousands of hand-sewn pearls covered the bodice, while delicate crystal embroidery traced the skirt in patterns inspired by frost on winter windows. The cathedral train measured nearly twenty feet.
Every stitch represented a decision.
Every pearl represented a small piece of a dream I had carried since childhood.
"What do you mean, Brittany is here?"" I asked.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"She's wearing your dress on winter windows. The cathedral train measured nearly twenty feet.
Every stitch represented a decision.
Every pearl represented a small piece of a dream I had carried since childhood.
"What do you mean, Brittany is here?"" I asked.
Eleanor lowered her voice.
"She's wearing your dress.""
For several seconds, the room seemed to lose all sound.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my sister had finally become so predictable that even her greatest betrayal felt like the next item on a list I had been waiting to complete.
I opened.""
For several seconds, the room seemed to lose all sound.
Then I laughed.
Not because it was funny.
Because my sister had finally become so predictable that even her greatest betrayal felt like the next item on a list I had been waiting to complete.
I opened the live video Eleanor sent.
There was Brittany, standing beneath the crystal chandeliers of Bellamere Estate.
My dress fit her almost perfectly. She had altered the neckline, the live video Eleanor sent.
There was Brittany, standing beneath the crystal chandeliers of Bellamere Estate.
My dress fit her almost perfectly. She had altered the neckline, pulled the bodice tighter, and arranged the train across the marble floor as if she had spent months preparing to wear it.
Her blond hair fell in polished waves over pulled the bodice tighter, and arranged the train across the marble floor as if she had spent months preparing to wear it.
Her blond hair fell in polished waves over her shoulders. A diamond necklace glittered against my ivory silk.
And she was smiling.
Not nervously. Not apologetically.
Triumphantly.
She lifted her bouquet toward the guests and said something that made the people nearest her laugh.
I increased the volume.
"Honestly her shoulders. A diamond necklace glittered against my ivory silk.
And she was smiling.
Not nervously. Not apologetically.
Triumphantly.
She lifted her bouquet toward the guests and said something that made the people nearest her laugh.
I increased the volume.
"Honestly, I don't know why Madison makes everything so difficult," Brittany announced.
"Someone had to save this wedding before she ruined it with another one, I don't know why Madison makes everything so difficult," Brittany announced.
"Someone had to save this wedding before she ruined it with another one of her little performances.""
A few guests chuckled awkwardly.
My father stood near the front row, looking uncomfortable but saying nothing.
My mother dabbed at her eyes.
Victoria Ash of her little performances.""
A few guests chuckled awkwardly.
My father stood near the front row, looking uncomfortable but saying nothing.
My mother dabbed at her eyes.
Victoria Ashford, my future mother-in-law, stood beside Brittany with one hand resting possessively on her shoulder.
"There," Victoria told the assembled guests.
"Now this wedding looks the way it should have fromford, my future mother-in-law, stood beside Brittany with one hand resting possessively on her shoulder.
"There," Victoria told the assembled guests.
"Now this wedding looks the way it should have from the beginning.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Nathan Ashford, the man I was supposed to marry in forty-three minutes, was nowhere in the frame.
I called him.
He answered before the the beginning.""
My fingers tightened around the phone.
Nathan Ashford, the man I was supposed to marry in forty-three minutes, was nowhere in the frame.
I called him.
He answered before the first ring finished.
"Madison? Thank God. Where are you?""
"Upstairs.""
"I've been looking everywhere. Eleanor says—"
"Have you seen Brittany?""
Silence.
Then, carefully, "Yes.""
"Have you first ring finished.
"Madison? Thank God. Where are you?""
"Upstairs.""
"I've been looking everywhere. Eleanor says—"
"Have you seen Brittany?""
Silence.
Then, carefully, "Yes.""
"Have you asked her why she's wearing my wedding dress?""
"I did.""
"And?""
Nathan exhaled sharply.
"She told me you gave it to her.""
I stared at the screen.
"Did you believe her?""
"Of course not.""
The answer came so quickly asked her why she's wearing my wedding dress?""
"I did.""
"And?""
Nathan exhaled sharply.
"She told me you gave it to her.""
I stared at the screen.
"Did you believe her?""
"Of course not.""
The answer came so quickly that some of the coldness inside my chest loosened.
"Then why are you still standing down there?""
"I'm trying to keep your father from attacking her, your that some of the coldness inside my chest loosened.
"Then why are you still standing down there?""
"I'm trying to keep your father from attacking her, your mother is crying, and my mother is insisting that the ceremony should proceed.""
"With Brittany in my dress?""
"I told her absolutely not.""
In the background, I heard Victoria's unmistakable voice.
"Nathan! Stop making this mother is crying, and my mother is insisting that the ceremony should proceed.""
"With Brittany in my dress?""
"I told her absolutely not.""
In the background, I heard Victoria's unmistakable voice.
"Nathan! Stop making this worse!""
He covered the phone, but not before I heard him respond.
"You made it worse when you helped her.""
My future mother-in-law said something I worse!""
He covered the phone, but not before I heard him respond.
"You made it worse when you helped her.""
My future mother-in-law said something I couldn't hear.
Then Nathan returned to the call.
"Madison, listen to me. I don't care what anyone says. We can postpone the ceremony.
We can leave. We can get married in a courthouse tomorrow. couldn't hear.
Then Nathan returned to the call.
"Madison, listen to me. I don't care what anyone says. We can postpone the ceremony.
We can leave. We can get married in a courthouse tomorrow. You don't have to endure this.""
I glanced toward the wardrobe in the corner.
Behind its locked doors waited a gown almost nobody had seen.
Champagne gold silk. Hundreds of pearl flowers. Crystal petals that caught You don't have to endure this.""
I glanced toward the wardrobe in the corner.
Behind its locked doors waited a gown almost nobody had seen.
Champagne gold silk. Hundreds of pearl flowers. Crystal petals that caught the light like fragments of a sunrise. Gold embroidery flowing down the skirt in intricate patterns.
It was not the gown I had intended to wear.
It was the gown I had created after realizing that someone in my family had been watching the light like fragments of a sunrise. Gold embroidery flowing down the skirt in intricate patterns.
It was not the gown I had intended to wear.
It was the gown I had created after realizing that someone in my family had been watching my business far too closely.
"No," I said.
"No?""
"We're getting married today.""
"Madison, your sister has stolen your dress.""
"Yes.""
"Your mother is my business far too closely.
"No," I said.
"No?""
"We're getting married today.""
"Madison, your sister has stolen your dress.""
"Yes.""
"Your mother is letting her.""
"Yes.""
"My mother is encouraging her.""
"Apparently.""
"How are you so calm?""
I looked at my reflection.
"Because I finally understand that the wedding isn't the important letting her.""
"Yes.""
"My mother is encouraging her.""
"Apparently.""
"How are you so calm?""
I looked at my reflection.
"Because I finally understand that the wedding isn't the important part.""
"What is?""
"What happens after everyone realizes who my sister really is.""
I ended the call before he could ask another question.
Then I turned toward the two attendants part.""
"What is?""
"What happens after everyone realizes who my sister really is.""
I ended the call before he could ask another question.
Then I turned toward the two attendants standing behind me.
"Please bring me the gold gown.""
They exchanged glances.
One of them, Sophie, had worked beside me for six years. She knew what the gown meant.
"Mad standing behind me.
"Please bring me the gold gown.""
They exchanged glances.
One of them, Sophie, had worked beside me for six years. She knew what the gown meant.
"Madison," she whispered, "are you sure?""
I nodded.
"Completely.""
As they opened the wardrobe, I heard shouting in the corridor.
My cousin Daniel appeared in theison," she whispered, "are you sure?""
I nodded.
"Completely.""
As they opened the wardrobe, I heard shouting in the corridor.
My cousin Daniel appeared in the doorway without knocking.
"Madison, you need to see what they're doing downstairs.""
He held out his phone.
The video showed Brittany turning toward an elderly guest who had asked where the doorway without knocking.
"Madison, you need to see what they're doing downstairs.""
He held out his phone.
The video showed Brittany turning toward an elderly guest who had asked where the actual bride was.
"Madison isn't feeling well," Brittany explained sweetly.
"She gets overwhelmed when things don't go exactly her way.""
Then she leaned toward the woman and added, loud enough for the microphone actual bride was.
"Madison isn't feeling well," Brittany explained sweetly.
"She gets overwhelmed when things don't go exactly her way.""
Then she leaned toward the woman and added, loud enough for the microphone to catch, "Some people are talented, but they don't know how to share.""
Victoria laughed.
It was a delicate, practiced laugh—the kind she used when she wanted people to know she approved of cruelty to catch, "Some people are talented, but they don't know how to share.""
Victoria laughed.
It was a delicate, practiced laugh—the kind she used when she wanted people to know she approved of cruelty without appearing responsible for it.
Daniel looked sick.
"Your father knows she took it," he said.
"He told her to go upstairs and change.""
"And without appearing responsible for it.
Daniel looked sick.
"Your father knows she took it," he said.
"He told her to go upstairs and change.""
"And what did she say?""
"She threatened to leave.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course she had.
Brittany had spent her entire life using departure as a weapon. If she didn't get what she wanted, she threatened to leave what did she say?""
"She threatened to leave.""
I closed my eyes.
Of course she had.
Brittany had spent her entire life using departure as a weapon. If she didn't get what she wanted, she threatened to leave a restaurant, a birthday party, a family vacation, or a conversation.
Our parents always surrendered before she reached the door.
But I was no longer a restaurant, a birthday party, a family vacation, or a conversation.
Our parents always surrendered before she reached the door.
But I was no longer a frightened girl waiting for permission to keep something that belonged to me.
"Did anyone check the garment room?"" I asked.
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"The garment room. Did anyone check how she got the dress?""
"No. Everyone's too busy arguing.""
"Good.""
He stared at me as if I had suddenly begun speaking another language.
"Good a frightened girl waiting for permission to keep something that belonged to me.
"Did anyone check the garment room?"" I asked.
Daniel frowned.
"What?""
"The garment room. Did anyone check how she got the dress?""
"No. Everyone's too busy arguing.""
"Good.""
He stared at me as if I had suddenly begun speaking another language.
"Good?""
I smiled faintly.
"Let them argue.""
Sophie returned with the gold gown draped over her arms.
For one breathless moment, nobody spoke.
Even Daniel's expression changed.
"Madison,"?""
I smiled faintly.
"Let them argue.""
Sophie returned with the gold gown draped over her arms.
For one breathless moment, nobody spoke.
Even Daniel's expression changed.
"Madison," he whispered.
"What on earth is that?""
"My wedding dress.""
"But I thought—"
"The ivory gown was my wedding dress," I corrected.
"This one is my masterpiece.""
They helped me into it.
The he whispered.
"What on earth is that?""
"My wedding dress.""
"But I thought—"
"The ivory gown was my wedding dress," I corrected.
"This one is my masterpiece.""
They helped me into it.
The champagne silk settled against my skin like warm water. Pearl flowers framed the neckline, and crystal petals shimmered across the bodice. Gold embroidery curved down the skirt in delicate, almost invisible lines that appeared champagne silk settled against my skin like warm water.
Pearl flowers framed the neckline, and crystal petals shimmered across the bodice. Gold embroidery curved down the skirt in delicate, almost invisible lines that appeared only when the light struck them.
I had designed the gown to look different from every angle.
From the front, it seemed soft and romantic.
From the side, the embroidery revealed a rising sun.
From behind, only when the light struck them.
I had designed the gown to look different from every angle.
From the front, it seemed soft and romantic.
From the side, the embroidery revealed a rising sun.
From behind, the train opened into a magnificent fan of gold silk and pearl blossoms.
When Sophie fastened the final clasp, she began to cry.
"You look like a queen," she whispered.
the train opened into a magnificent fan of gold silk and pearl blossoms.
When Sophie fastened the final clasp, she began to cry.
"You look like a queen," she whispered.
I looked into the mirror.
"No," I said quietly.
"I look like myself.""
Then I picked up my bouquet.
Daniel stepped aside.
"Should I tell Nathan you're coming?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I want him toI looked into the mirror.
"No," I said quietly.
"I look like myself.""
Then I picked up my bouquet.
Daniel stepped aside.
"Should I tell Nathan you're coming?""
"No.""
"Why not?""
"Because I want him to see me when the doors open.""
I walked toward the bridal suite entrance.
At the far end of the corridor, a housekeeper stood beside a service elevator. She glanced at my gown, then quickly see me when the doors open.""
I walked toward the bridal suite entrance.
At the far end of the corridor, a housekeeper stood beside a service elevator. She glanced at my gown, then quickly lowered her eyes.
Something about the gesture caught my attention.
"Excuse me," I said.
"Did you see who brought the ivory dress downstairs?""
The woman's fingers tightened around the handle of her cart.
"I shouldn't say anything, ma'am.""
"Why?""
lowered her eyes.
Something about the gesture caught my attention.
"Excuse me," I said.
"Did you see who brought the ivory dress downstairs?""
The woman's fingers tightened around the handle of her cart.
"I shouldn't say anything, ma'am.""
"Why?""
She looked toward the staircase.
"Because Mrs. Ashford told us all to keep quiet.""
My pulse slowed.
Victoria had not merely defended Brittany's theft.
She had instructed the staff to conceal it.
I stepped closer.
"WhatShe looked toward the staircase.
"Because Mrs. Ashford told us all to keep quiet.""
My pulse slowed.
Victoria had not merely defended Brittany's theft.
She had instructed the staff to conceal it.
I stepped closer.
"What exactly did she tell you?""
The housekeeper swallowed.
Then she reached into the pocket of her uniform and handed me a folded piece of paper.
"I found this beside the garment room this morning.""
I opened it.
The handwriting exactly did she tell you?""
The housekeeper swallowed.
Then she reached into the pocket of her uniform and handed me a folded piece of paper.
"I found this beside the garment room this morning.""
I opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakably my sister's.
*Once Madison sees me wearing it, she'll have no choice but to give it up. Mom and Victoria promised they'll handle Nathan was unmistakably my sister's.
Once Madison sees me wearing it, she'll have no choice but to give it up. Mom and Victoria promised they'll handle Nathan.
Beneath those words was a second sentence.
The rest happens after the ceremony.
I read it twice.
Then I lifted my eyes toward the staircase.
My sister hadn't simply stolen.*
Beneath those words was a second sentence.
The rest happens after the ceremony.
I read it twice.
Then I lifted my eyes toward the staircase.
My sister hadn't simply stolen my dress.
She had planned something far more dangerous.
And whatever she intended to do next, she had already convinced two women to help her.
my dress.
May you like
She had planned something far more dangerous.
And whatever she intended to do next, she had already convinced two women to help her.
