My Sister Destroyed My Wedding Dress for $200—Then She Learned It Was Worth $30,000

“Who is Daniel Mercer?””

My voice sounded unfamiliar.

Mom immediately reached for the letter.

“Emily, give me that.””

I pulled it away.

“No.””

“Please. You don't understand.””

“Then explain it!””

Chloe grabbed her handbag again.

Nathan blocked the doorway.

“Not so fast.””

She glared at him.

“Move.””

“Not until Emily gets an explanation.””

“You're making a huge mistake, Nathan.””

He didn't move.

“Then tell me what the mistake is.””

Chloe looked toward our mother.

Mom was crying so hard that her mascara had begun running down her cheeks.

I turned back to the letter.

Daniel Mercer was your father's business partner. He was present during the final dispute over the Bennett estate. Your mother knows why he disappeared from our lives.

I looked at Mom.

“Why did you tell me Dad died while traveling?””

She pressed her hand against her mouth.

“Because I didn't want you to hate him.””

“What?””

“Your father made mistakes, Emily.””

“What mistakes?””

Mom shook her head.

“Please. Not today.””

I felt something break inside me.

“Today is exactly the day. You let Chloe destroy my wedding dress. You hid my inheritance. And now I'm finding out that the man sitting beside my sister may know something about my father's death.””

Sarah quietly closed the dressing-room door.

Outside, the musicians continued playing.

The guests were probably taking their seats.

Somewhere in the estate, Nathan's father was checking his watch.

But I couldn't think about the ceremony anymore.

Not while my entire childhood was suddenly turning into a collection of unanswered questions.

Nathan took the letter from my shaking hands and read the next paragraph.

His expression hardened.

“Emily.””

“What?””

He pointed to a sentence.

Your father discovered that someone had been transferring money from the estate accounts without his knowledge.

Mom closed her eyes.

Chloe whispered, “This is ridiculous.””

Nathan continued reading.

He intended to confront Daniel and protect the property for his daughters. The night before he died, he called me and said he had discovered something that could destroy the family.

I felt sick.

“Did Dad know Daniel was stealing?””

Mom shook her head.

“That's not what happened.””

“Then what happened?””

She sat down heavily on the small sofa.

“Your father had been investigating financial irregularities. Daniel was involved, but he wasn't the only person.””

“Who else?””

Mom didn't answer.

Chloe stepped forward.

“Mom, don't.””

I turned sharply.

“Why are you defending him?””

“Because you're about to destroy everything!””

I stared at my sister.

“Everything for whom?””

She looked away.

Nathan's phone vibrated.

He checked the screen and frowned.

“Emily, someone is calling me.””

“Who?””

He showed me the name.

Daniel Mercer.

Chloe's face changed instantly.

“Don't answer that.””

Nathan pressed the green button.

“Daniel.””

A man's smooth voice came through the speaker.

“Nathan. I hope I'm not interrupting the wedding.””

Nathan put the call on speaker.

“I'm afraid you are.””

There was a brief silence.

Then Daniel chuckled.

“I heard there was a little problem with the bride's dress.””

Chloe looked at the floor.

My blood turned cold.

“You know about the dress?”” I asked.

“Emily Bennett,” Daniel replied.

“It's been a long time.””

“I've never met you.””

“Oh, you have. You were twelve when I last saw you.””

Mom stood abruptly.

“Hang up, Nathan.””

Daniel laughed.

“Margaret, still trying to control the conversation?””

My mother went completely still.

“Don't call me.””

“Why not? We used to be close.””

“Stop it!””

Daniel ignored her.

“Emily, I understand your grandmother left you some rather confusing papers. I wouldn't take them too seriously.””

I gripped the phone.

“Why are you sitting with my sister?””

“Chloe and I have been discussing a business opportunity.””

“What business opportunity?””

“The estate.””

I looked at the letter.

“That's my property.””

“Not necessarily.””

Nathan stepped forward.

“You need to stop contacting Emily.””

Daniel sighed.

“Listen, son. This is a family matter. You don't want to get involved.””

Nathan's jaw tightened.

“She's my future wife. I think I'm already involved.””

Daniel laughed again.

“Then perhaps you should ask her mother why your wedding was supposed to be canceled.””

The call ended.

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then Mom sank back onto the sofa.

I stared at her.

“What did he mean?””

She wiped her face.

“Your father didn't die in an accident.””

The room seemed to tilt.

Nathan caught my arm.

“What are you saying?”” I whispered.

Mom looked at the destroyed wedding dress.

Then at Chloe.

“Your father discovered that Daniel was trying to sell part of the estate. He confronted him. That night, they argued.””

“And?””

Mom's voice cracked.

“The next morning, Daniel called me. He said your father had been in an accident and that I needed to keep quiet if I wanted to protect my daughters.””

I stepped backward.

“You knew?””

“I was afraid!””

“You let me believe Dad died of a heart attack!””

“I was trying to protect you!””

“From what?””

Mom began sobbing.

Chloe suddenly interrupted.

“Mom, stop talking. You're making it worse.””

I turned toward her.

“Why are you so desperate to keep this secret?””

She didn't answer.

Olivia carefully placed another document on the vanity.

“Emily, there's something else your grandmother asked me to deliver.””

It was a photocopy of a property transfer agreement.

At the top was the name of the Bennett estate.

At the bottom were two signatures.

One belonged to Daniel Mercer.

The other belonged to Margaret Bennett.

My mother's signature.

But the date was impossible.

It had been signed three days after my father died.

I looked at her.

“You transferred the property?””

Mom shook her head frantically.

“I didn't understand what I was signing.””

Chloe stepped between us.

“That's enough. Emily, you need to stop digging into things you don't understand.””

I looked at the ruined wedding dress, then at the woman who had spent years telling me that sisters were supposed to protect each other.

“You destroyed my wedding because you wanted my inheritance.””

Chloe's eyes flashed.

“No. I destroyed your wedding because I wanted you to finally lose something.””

Her words hung in the air.

Nathan took my hand.

“Emily, we don't have to get married today if you don't want to.””

I looked at him.

Then I looked at the letter my grandmother had written.

For the first time that morning, I stopped crying.

“I still want to marry you.””

Nathan squeezed my hand.

“Then let's get you another dress.””

Sarah quietly stepped forward.

“Actually, Emily, the boutique brought a second gown as a backup.””

I stared at her.

“A second gown?””

Olivia nodded.

“Your grandmother insisted.””

Chloe laughed bitterly.

“Of course she did. Grandma always thought Emily was special.””

Olivia opened the leather case she'd brought.

Inside was another white gown, even more beautiful than the first. Its long sleeves were embroidered with tiny pearls, and a delicate silver pattern ran along the waist.

But Olivia didn't hand it to me immediately.

She looked at my mother.

“There's one condition Eleanor attached to this dress.””

Mom's face went white.

“What condition?””

Olivia removed a second envelope from the case.

“Before Emily wears it, she must know who actually owns the Bennett estate.””

She turned toward me.

“Your grandmother didn't leave the house to you alone, Emily.””

I frowned.

“What do you mean?””

Olivia opened the envelope.