Chapter 1: The Ruined Dress
The night before my engagement party, I found my stepsister standing over my dress with a pair of scissors in her hand.
For a second, I couldn't even breathe.
The ivory dress I'd spent three months saving for lay across my bed, sliced from the waist to the hem. One sleeve hung by a thread. Pieces of delicate lace were scattered across the carpet.
"Madison... what did you do?""
She dropped the scissors.
They hit the hardwood with a sharp metallic crack.
Then she shrugged.
"It was ugly anyway.""
I stared at her, waiting for her to laugh.
Madison loved cruel jokes. She'd hidden my college acceptance letter once. She'd "accidentally" spilled red wine on my graduation outfit. She'd even announced my previous breakup at Thanksgiving dinner before I'd told my father.
But this wasn't a joke.
My hands shook as I lifted the ruined fabric.
"My engagement party is tomorrow.""
"I know," Madison said.
That was when my stomach dropped.
She hadn't ruined the dress in some impulsive fit.
She had chosen tonight.
I ran downstairs with the dress bundled against my chest.
"Dad!""
My father, Robert, immediately stood from the kitchen table.
Linda, my stepmother, remained seated with both hands around her coffee mug.
"What happened?"" Dad asked.
I dropped the dress onto the counter.
"Look what Madison did.""
His face changed.
"Madison!""
She came down the stairs slowly, almost lazily, and leaned against the doorway.
Dad held up the shredded skirt.
"Tell me exactly what happened.""
Madison crossed her arms.
"I said I was sorry.""
"No, you didn't," I snapped.
Linda slammed her coffee cup onto the counter.
"Enough, Emily. It's just a dress.""
I turned toward her.
"Just a dress?""
"Yes. Fabric. That's all.""
"Tomorrow is my engagement party.""
"We're all aware of that.""
Her voice was so cold that my anger momentarily disappeared beneath something worse.
Suspicion.
Daniel's parents were flying in. His sister and grandparents were coming. Some of his father's longtime business partners would be there.
It was supposed to be the first time our families truly came together.
And Linda knew how nervous I'd been.
Dad pointed toward Madison.
"You destroyed something that didn't belong to you.""
"It was an accident," Linda interrupted.
I looked at Madison.
Madison looked at her mother.
And smiled.
Tiny.
Quick.
But I saw it.
"You planned this," I whispered.
Linda's eyes narrowed.
"You always think everything is about you.""
"She was standing over my bed holding scissors.""
"Maybe you should ask why your sister was upset instead of screaming like a spoiled child.""
"My sister?""
I almost laughed.
Madison had spent years making it clear she didn't consider me family unless she wanted something.
Dad stepped between us.
"Linda, stop.""
Her head snapped toward him.
"Excuse me?""
"You heard me. Emily's dress was deliberately destroyed. I'm not pretending otherwise.""
Madison's confidence flickered.
I pulled out my phone.
"Fine. I'll call Daniel.""
Madison suddenly lunged.
"Give me that!""
She grabbed for my phone, but I jerked backward.
Dad caught her wrist.
"Madison!""
"Let go of me!""
Dad didn't.
His expression had changed from anger to confusion.
"Why don't you want Daniel to know?""
Silence.
Madison stopped struggling.
Linda stood.
"Robert, you're hurting her.""
"I'm barely holding her wrist.""
"Let her go.""
"Then answer my question.""
Madison stared at me.
For the first time that night, she looked nervous.
I unlocked my phone.
"I'm calling Daniel.""
"No!""
Madison lunged again.
Dad blocked her.
"What's going on?"" he demanded.
Linda stepped forward.
"Nothing is going on.""
"Then why is she panicking?""
My phone buzzed before I could dial.
A message from Daniel's mother, Catherine.
Emily, I wasn't sure whether to send you this tonight, but I think you need to see it before tomorrow.
My chest tightened.
"What is it?"" Dad asked.
"There’s a photo.""
I tapped it.
And every sound in the kitchen seemed to disappear.
Madison was standing inside Daniel's apartment.
I recognized the gray marble fireplace behind her. I recognized the painting Daniel and I had bought together in Boston.
But those weren't what made my knees weak.
Madison had her left hand lifted toward the camera.
On her finger was my engagement ring.
The ring Daniel had given me six months earlier.
The ring I'd thought I'd lost for three days before mysteriously finding it back inside my jewelry box.
The photo had a timestamp.
Three weeks ago.
I slowly raised my eyes.
Madison had gone completely pale.
"Why," I whispered, "were you inside Daniel's apartment wearing my ring?""
Linda moved first.
She reached for my phone.
Dad stepped between us.
"Nobody touches that phone.""
Madison swallowed.
"It's not what you think.""
"Then tell me what it is.""
"I can explain.""
"Start explaining.""
Madison's lips parted.
Linda suddenly shouted, "Don't!""
Everyone froze.
Dad turned toward his wife.
"Don't what?""
Linda realized too late what she'd done.
I looked from her to Madison.
"You knew.""
"No.""
"You knew about the photo.""
"I said no.""
"Then why did you just tell her not to explain?""
Dad stared at Linda.
"Answer her.""
Linda's face tightened.
But before she could speak, another message appeared beneath Catherine's photo.
This one made my blood run cold.
May you like
There are more pictures, Emily.
And Daniel isn't the only person you need to ask about them.
