Chapter 1: The Stain Before The Vows
“White is a bold color on you, baby.””
I still remember those words more clearly than the sound of my own wedding music.
It was nine in the morning on the day I was supposed to become Mrs. Terrell Vance.
The house was filled with flowers, perfume, and nervous energy. Outside the bedroom window, sunlight poured over the garden where guests would arrive in a few hours. Everything looked perfect.
Everything except the woman standing behind me.
My wedding gown hung from the wardrobe door, the lace catching the morning light. I was kneeling on the soft rug, carefully lifting the long white hem so it would not touch the floor.
I had spent eight months saving for that dress.
Eight months imagining the moment I would walk down the aisle and see Terrell waiting for me.
I never imagined that before I reached the altar, someone would try to destroy the one thing I had dreamed about since I was a little girl.
Delphine Vance stepped into the room holding a crystal glass filled with red wine.
My future mother-in-law had always moved like she owned every room she entered.
Even this one.
Especially this one.
She wore a perfectly pressed cream suit, diamond earrings, and the same expression she had worn every time she reminded me that I was “lucky” her son had chosen me.
I kept my eyes on the gown.
“Careful with that hem,” Delphine said softly.
“White is a bold color on you.””
I slowly looked up.
“What does that mean?””
She smiled.
“Oh, nothing. I just mean some colors require confidence.””
I knew that smile.
It was the smile she used when she wanted to hurt someone but still appear innocent.
I stood up and brushed the wrinkles from the dress.
“Today is not the day for this, Delphine.””
Her eyebrows lifted.
“My goodness. You are already defensive before you even become family.””
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Because for the past year, Delphine had made it clear that she did not consider me family.
Not really.
She had questioned my career.
My background.
My decision to keep my grandmother’s last name after my parents passed away.
And most importantly, she had questioned whether I was “good enough” for her son.
But Terrell always told me not to worry.
He always said his mother would eventually accept me.
I wanted to believe him.
I really did.
Delphine stepped closer.
The wine glass moved slightly in her hand.
Then everything happened in slow motion.
Her wrist tilted.
A thin stream of red spilled over the white fabric.
It traveled down the gown like a dark scar.
The room went silent.
I froze.
My fingers tightened around the stained fabric.
For a second, I could not even breathe.
“Delphine.””
My voice sounded different.
Lower.
Stronger.
She looked at the stain.
Then she looked at me.
“Oh.””
She placed a hand over her mouth.
“It was an accident.””
I stared at her.
The wine continued spreading.
“An accident?””
She placed the glass on the side table.
“Of course.””
Then she looked directly at the ruined hem.
“Although… maybe white was never your color anyway.””
Something inside me broke.
Not my heart.
Not exactly.
Something colder.
Something that finally accepted the truth.
“You tipped that glass on purpose.””
Delphine folded her hands.
“Then prove it, sweetheart.””
Her voice was calm.
Too calm.
She wanted me to scream.
She wanted me to become the angry bride everyone could blame.
But I refused.
I picked up the ruined gown and stared at the red stain.
“Why?””
She walked toward the mirror and adjusted her earrings.
“Why what?””
“Why would you do this on my wedding day?””
She looked at my reflection.
Not my face.
My reflection.
“You should ask yourself why everything has to happen so quickly.””
I frowned.
“What does that mean?””
Before she answered, footsteps stopped outside the room.
The doorway darkened.
I turned.
Terrell stood there.
His bow tie was still untied.
His shirt collar was open.
He looked like he had rushed there the moment he heard something was wrong.
But he did not look at his mother.
He looked at the dress.
His expression changed.
“Jasmine.””
I swallowed.
“Your mother spilled wine on my gown.””
Delphine immediately stepped forward.
“Terrell, it was an accident.””
He slowly walked into the room.
“Mama.””
His voice was quiet.
“Set the glass down.””
Delphine’s smile appeared.
That familiar smile.
The one she used when she believed she was still in control.
“Son, you know me better than that.””
Terrell reached into his jacket pocket.
He pulled out a folded stack of papers.
My eyes moved from the papers to his face.
“What are those?””
He did not answer me immediately.
He looked at his mother.
“You have been calling about these papers all week.””
The smile disappeared.
Slowly.
Piece by piece.
Delphine’s face changed.
“Son…”
Terrell held the papers against his side.
“You told me I needed to wait.””
The room became colder.
“Wait for what?”” I asked.
Delphine looked at him.
“Terrell, you don’t understand what you’re doing.””
He finally looked at her.
“No, Mama. I understand exactly.””
She shook her head.
“You are making a mistake.””
Terrell glanced at my stained gown.
Then back at his mother.
“You didn’t ruin a dress.””
His voice stayed calm.
“You tried to stop a signing.””
My heartbeat changed.
A signing?
Delphine’s face went pale.
And that was when I realized the wine had never been about my wedding gown.
It was about a clock.
A deadline.
And whatever was supposed to happen at noon was something Delphine was desperate to prevent.
Terrell looked at me.
“The appointment is still happening.””
I stared at him.
“What appointment?””
He opened his mouth.
But before he could answer, Delphine whispered one sentence that changed everything.
May you like
“Jasmine doesn’t know what she’s signing her name to.””
And suddenly, I wondered if I had been the only person in the room who didn’t know the real reason behind my wedding day.
