Chapter 3

The day before the wedding, the Rowe family hosted an intimate family-only ceremony, and close relatives were allowed in.

Ethan told me that Charlotte was his official wife. Hence, she had to make a speech at our wedding party.

Ethan said, "Tomorrow, the wedding dress, the aisle, the rings, and the public vows will be yours. But for today's family ceremony, Charlotte has to be there."

I didn't say a word.

The marriage certificate, the heirloom bracelet, and the speech were Charlotte's. Now, the only thing left for me was a public ceremony with no legal standing, a hollow gesture meant to make me feel better.

Charlotte slipped into the Rowe family's ancestral wedding dress. On her wrist was still the same bracelet she wore at Georgia's birthday banquet.

With her parents gone, my mom proposed that our family would stand in for hers and give her away at the ceremony.

Charlotte turned it down right away. "Mr. and Mrs. Reed, you have spent years getting ready for Olivia's big day. I can't take away even her moment of being given away."

The more she tried to stay out of it, the more my parents praised her for being understanding.

Mom picked up the veil that was meant for me and draped it over Charlotte's head.

Charlotte, her eyes brimming with tears, choked out, "Mrs. Reed."

Mom gently corrected her. "You should call me Mom from now on."

Charlotte's tears spilled over. She whispered, "Mom."

That one word made Mom's eyes well up with tears.

My dad pulled out the speech he'd written for my wedding. It was all about watching his little girl grow up and how hard it was for him to let her go.

Thomas stood behind him and whispered, "Did you change the name?"

Dad nodded. "It's done," he said and unfolded the speech. Where it used to say "Olivia," the name had been replaced with "Charlotte."

As the family ceremony started, my dad escorted Charlotte down the flower-lined aisle.

I'd walked down that aisle countless times as a child. But today, he was holding another girl's hand, leading her straight to Ethan.

My dad gently placed Charlotte's hand into Ethan's. Dad said, "Ethan, from now on, take care of Charlotte."

Ethan held her hand tightly. He recited the vow that, originally, was meant for my parents to hear the next day. "Please don't worry. I'll take care of her for the rest of her life."

My parents nodded, eyes brimming with tears. They gave their daughter to him. Only, that daughter wasn't me.

After the family ceremony, Ethan finally came over to me. "Today was a family tradition we had to follow. Charlotte's been officially recognized, so tomorrow she won't be competing with you for anything."

I looked at him. "What about the bracelet?" I asked.

He paused for a moment. "Grandma already gave it to her," he said. "I'll get you an even better one someday."

"And the speech at my wedding dinner?" I asked.

"Our parents wanted to make her feel at ease," he said.

"And the wedding ring?" I pressed.

Frowning, Ethan said, "Olivia, you'll have your wedding ring tomorrow. Are you ever going to let this go?"

I suddenly didn't want to ask anymore.

The marriage certificate, the bracelet, the tea ceremony, and even my parents giving away the bride had belonged to Charlotte now.

But they still wanted to use a public ceremony that meant nothing legally, to make it look like I still had Ethan.

But if that love truly belonged to me, why would they keep handing it out like it was theirs to give repeatedly?