Chapter 2: The Dress That Was Never Mine
By 6:45 a.m., I had moved into the new bridal suite.
My real wedding dress was locked inside a garment case. The rings were in Michael's possession. Sarah had changed the preparation schedule, and the hotel manager had instructed staff not to reveal my new room number.
Vanessa knew none of it.
At least, that was what I hoped.
At 8:15, Michael arrived carrying two coffees and a paper bag.
He looked furious.
"Emily, tell me you didn't hear all of that alone.""
I took the coffee.
"I did.""
"Why didn't you wake me?""
"Because I needed to understand what she was planning before I did something stupid.""
Michael placed the paper bag on the table.
Inside was a breakfast sandwich and a small envelope.
"What is this?"" I asked.
"Your rings.""
He opened the envelope.
My engagement ring and wedding band sat inside a velvet box.
"She left them on the bedside table in her room. I told her the hotel manager needed to check the safe.""
I looked at him.
"Did she suspect anything?""
Michael shook his head.
"No. She actually thanked me for helping her.""
He paused.
"Emily, there's something else.""
I lowered my coffee.
"What?""
"Vanessa called Daniel at midnight.""
My stomach tightened.
"How do you know?""
"Daniel mentioned it when I spoke to him this morning. He said she wanted to discuss a surprise for you.""
"What surprise?""
"He didn't know.""
I looked toward the window.
Vanessa had been making moves for months, and I had mistaken every warning sign for friendship.
Michael sat across from me.
"Listen. We can cancel this wedding.""
"No.""
"Em, I'm serious.""
"So am I.""
I took out my phone and played the recording.
Michael listened without interrupting.
When Vanessa said Daniel would finally realize he should have married her, he slammed his hand against the table.
"That woman is unbelievable.""
"Don't do anything," I told him.
"She's going to regret this.""
"She will. But not because we scream at her.""
I opened my messages and contacted Sarah.
The new plan was simple.
The wedding would happen at the original time, but the preparation room would be changed. A decoy dress would be placed where Vanessa expected to find mine. Security would monitor the bridal suite, and the ceremony rings would remain with Michael.
Most importantly, Daniel would know everything before walking down the aisle.
At 10:02 a.m., someone knocked.
I opened the door.
Vanessa stood there holding a bottle of expensive red wine.
She wore a pale pink silk dress, curled hair, and the diamond earrings I had given her for her birthday.
Her smile was enormous.
"Emily! There you are!""
She hugged me before I could react.
"I've been looking everywhere. You disappeared!""
"I needed some quiet.""
Vanessa stepped inside, looking around.
"Why aren't you in your original suite?""
"The hotel had a plumbing issue.""
She raised an eyebrow.
"Really? That's strange. I was just there.""
I kept my expression neutral.
"Maybe they fixed it.""
She placed the wine bottle on the table.
"Anyway, I brought your favorite. We need to celebrate before the madness begins.""
I looked at the bottle.
"That's thoughtful.""
Vanessa smiled.
"Of course. I'm your maid of honor.""
For a moment, neither of us spoke.
Then she glanced toward the garment rack.
"Where's your dress?""
"Safe.""
"Can I see it?""
"No.""
Her smile weakened.
"Why not?""
"Because I want the first look to be special.""
She laughed, but her eyes remained fixed on the empty rack.
"You're becoming so mysterious, Emily.""
"Maybe I'm just nervous.""
Vanessa stepped closer and touched my arm.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything.""
I smiled.
"I know you will.""
At noon, the bridesmaids gathered in the preparation room.
Sarah had arranged the decoy gown near the window. It was a cheap white costume dress she had purchased that morning.
From a distance, it looked almost identical to my actual gown.
Vanessa arrived twenty minutes later.
She carried a wineglass.
"Girls! I brought something to calm our nerves!""
Jessica followed her inside.
Her face changed when she saw me.
For a brief moment, she looked as though she might say something.
Then Vanessa handed her a glass.
"Here, sweetheart.""
I watched carefully.
Vanessa approached the dress.
"Oh, Emily, this is gorgeous!""
"Thank you.""
She stood beside it, pretending to admire the lace.
Then she turned toward Jessica.
"Can you get me a napkin?""
Jessica looked at the wineglass.
"Vanessa, maybe put that down first.""
Vanessa laughed.
"Relax. I'm perfectly capable of holding a glass.""
She took one step backward.
Then another.
Her heel caught the edge of the rug.
The wine flew.
Red liquid splashed across the white fabric.
A bridesmaid screamed.
Vanessa gasped and dropped the empty glass.
"Oh my God!""
She covered her mouth.
"Emily! Your dress!""
I didn't move.
She reached for my hands.
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!""
I gently pulled away.
"Are you sure?""
Vanessa blinked.
"What?""
I walked toward the dress and examined the stain.
Then I turned to her.
"That's strange. You spilled it exactly where you said you would.""
The room became silent.
Vanessa's face lost its color.
"Excuse me?""
I pulled out my phone.
"Four minutes and eleven seconds, Vanessa. That's how long I recorded you last night.""
Jessica dropped her glass onto the table.
Vanessa stared at me.
"You recorded me?""
"Every word.""
She immediately began crying.
"Emily, you misunderstood! I was joking!""
"About destroying my wedding dress?""
"About everything!""
I pressed play.
Her own voice filled the room.
Once Emily runs out crying, Daniel will finally realize he should've married me.
Vanessa stopped crying.
Nobody moved.
Then she noticed Daniel standing in the doorway.
He had heard everything.
"Daniel!"" she cried, rushing toward him.
"You have to understand. She's twisting everything!""
Daniel stepped away from her.
"Don't come near me.""
Vanessa froze.
Then he looked at me.
"Emily, there's something I need to tell you.""
My stomach tightened.
"What?""
He pulled out his phone.
"Last night, Vanessa sent me a video. She claimed it proved you were cheating on me.""
I stared at him.
"What video?""
Daniel turned the screen toward me.
The footage showed a man standing beside me in a hotel corridor.
His hand was resting on my shoulder.
I recognized the jacket.
I recognized the face.
May you like
And I recognized the man who had been buried three years earlier.
My brother, Ethan.
