Chapter 3

The next morning, the hotel manager called me.

"Ms. Turner, Mr. Grant wants to keep the original banquet hall and turn it into a housewarming party. Since you paid the deposit, we need your approval," the manager said.

After canceling the wedding banquet, we could only get half of the 45,000 dollars deposit back. That money was my dad's hard-earned retirement savings.

He'd spent five years putting it aside, saying you only get to marry off your daughter once in a lifetime, and he wanted our family to be treated with respect.

"No, I'm not authorizing it. Just stick to the contract and refund me," I said.

The manager paused for a moment, then added, "Mr. Grant already brought the guests over, and the decorations are still up. He said you're just being dramatic, and told us to stick to the original menu."

I hung up and rushed to the hotel banquet hall.

The wedding welcome sign at the entrance was hidden behind elaborate floral arrangements, and where my name and Edward's used to be, there was a newly printed sheet covering it.

It read: "Welcome home, Claire."

Mrs. Grant was busy telling the staff where to put the wedding favors, while Emily tore open the wedding candy boxes I'd had made and started replacing the candies with Claire's favorite mints.

My parents were right behind me, and all of us froze right there.

Edward came out of the banquet hall and pulled me aside.

"Since the wedding banquet's off for now, it'd be a waste to let the venue sit empty. Claire just got back, and all her friends and family want to see her. The housewarming party is just for the afternoon. Tonight, we can still have our dinner as planned," he said.

"So my wedding is turning into her housewarming?" I asked, my voice strained.

"The money's already spent. What difference does it make how we use it?" Edward lowered his voice. "Your parents are here, too. Just go in and eat, don't make things uncomfortable for everyone."

My dad took off his glasses and slowly wiped the lenses, almost as if he needed a moment to steady himself.

He was dressed in the brand-new suit he'd bought especially for the wedding. The sleeves were a little too long, so last night my mom had asked the hotel for a sewing kit and stitched them up herself.

Without even sparing Edward a glance, my dad turned to me and asked, "Did you agree to this?"

"No," I replied.

Edward jumped in, "Mr. Turner, Sophie's just been a bit moody lately. Don't let it get to you. Claire and I grew up together. This meal was always supposed to be for her."

He said it so casually, like my dad's 45,000 dollars was nothing more than picking up the tab for lunch.

Claire walked out of the banquet hall, wearing a pearl-white dress, the same one I'd picked out for my wedding toast. Just yesterday, it was still hanging in the master bedroom closet.

She fidgeted with the hem of the dress, looking pretty awkward.

"Sophie, Emily said you didn't want this dress anymore, so I thought I could wear it. If it bothers you, I'll go change," Claire said, glancing at me nervously.

Emily hurried out and stepped in front of her, blocking my view.

"Come on, Sophie, it's just a dress. Claire's already wearing it. You had my brother up all night yesterday. Don't kill the vibe again today," Emily said, her tone sharp.

I looked at Edward.

He didn't ask Claire to change out of the dress. Instead, he just took my shawl and draped it over her shoulders, covering up the neckline.

"She's not wearing anything warm underneath. If she changes now, she'll catch a cold. After the party, I'll have it dry-cleaned and return it to you," he said.

Last winter, when we were taking our wedding photos, I was so cold my lips were turning blue. But Edward couldn't be bothered with the hassle of putting on a coat. He just told me to hang in there for another half hour.

After we got home, I was sick with a fever for two days, and he only bothered to bring me water once, that first night.

I walked up to Claire and ran my hand along the waist of her dress.

There used to be a tiny lily of the valley brooch sewn there, a keepsake from my mom's youth. She'd spent two nights carefully sewing it on, making sure it wouldn't ruin the dress's shape.

Now, all that was left were two tiny pinholes.

"Where's the brooch?" I asked.

Claire instinctively reached for her chest, but Edward cut her off. "That brooch was too old-fashioned, so I had Emily take it off. It's probably somewhere in the dressing room."

Emily pursed her lips, looking a bit uncomfortable.

"I thought it didn't match the dress, so I just chucked it in the trash bag without thinking. The cleaners probably tossed it out," she said.

My mom grabbed onto the doorframe of the banquet hall, her face going pale.

That brooch was the only keepsake Grandma ever left her.

I stared at Edward, waiting for him to speak. He knew exactly where that brooch came from. On our engagement day, I'd held it out to him in my palm, and he'd promised to make a glass case for it after the wedding.

He was silent for a few seconds before saying, "I'll have someone look for it. All the guests are here today. Don't let a brooch ruin Claire's welcome party."

My chest felt like it was being crushed by something heavy, and even my own voice felt far away.

I walked into the dressing room and started digging through the bags of trash piled up against the wall. Inside were torn ribbons, crumpled place cards, and the wedding vows that had been stepped on.

My mom crouched down to help me search, while my dad stood at the door, blocking the waiters from coming in.

After about ten minutes, I found the brooch in a wad of wet tissues. The clasp was broken, and one of the lily of the valley petals was missing.

I wiped the stains off with a tissue and placed it in my mom's palm.

Edward stood outside the dressing room, his brows furrowed with impatience.

"Good, you found it. The guests are all waiting. Let's head back and eat. In front of everyone, just offer Claire a cup of coffee, and we'll let yesterday's drama slide."

I slowly straightened up, my eyes falling on the two pinholes in my skirt.

"Why do I have to offer her coffee?" I asked.

"She moved into the wedding house, and you canceled the party. With the party called off, what do you think people will say about her?" He grabbed my wrist, his tone softening. "Sophie, you never used to be so hung up on things like this."

I pulled my hand back, but I didn't reveal the sleep tracker log that had been linked to us for the past six months.

"Fine, I'll go in," I said. This was Sophie speaking.

He thought I'd finally given in, and his shoulders relaxed.

I slipped off the red jacket I'd picked for the family gathering, turned it inside out, and slung it over my arm, covering up the badge on my chest that matched Edward's.

In the banquet hall, Claire was sitting in the bride's seat, the one that should have been mine.

Edward held the chair for her and placed the blue crystal cup at her side.

There was a faint trace of her lipstick on the rim.

I didn't take my seat at the banquet. Instead, I walked straight up to the hotel manager and set my bank card down on the table.

"Settle the bill as a breach of contract. Not a single dollar of the remaining balance goes to this banquet. As for the dishes already served, let the guests pay for their own meals," I said.

Edward's face darkened.

"Sophie, are you really going to make a spectacle of us in front of everyone?" he snapped.

I pulled my bank card back and held onto my mom.

"You made this joke, so you get to pay for it," I said.