Chapter 1
The day I tried on my wedding dress, I was running late because of traffic.
By the time I arrived, the dress I'd spent months picking out was already on Charlotte Lane, my fiancé Edward Foster's assistant.
She clung to Edward's arm, pouting. "The hem is way too long. I'm gonna trip in it."
The designer quickly jumped in, "Want me to adjust it for you, Mrs. Foster?"
Edward nodded. "Yeah, tweak it for her."
I pushed the door open, cool as a cucumber.
"Oh, the bride is indeed the prettiest," I smiled, my eyes landing on Charlotte. "Congrats on your wedding."
Everyone seemed stunned at my sudden entrance.
"I just... really love this gown," Charlotte mumbled, clutching the dress.
She shrank back behind Edward, looking embarrassed.
Edward had brought along two of his childhood buddies.
One of them quickly jumped in, "Don't get the wrong idea, Fishelle. Edward's bride is you, and this dress belongs to you."
Edward finally caught on and explained, "Charlotte was just trying it on for a moment."
She was just trying it on, huh?
I'd waited more than half a year for this dress. But before I even got to see it, Charlotte had casually slipped it on.
I met Edward's eyes, smirking, "Why bother with a trial? Just let her wear it at the wedding."
Edward's face instantly darkened. "Fishelle, don't give me that look.
"Charlotte didn't grow up with her parents. She never had a privileged life, never even got to wear a dress like this before. She just wanted to know what it would be like to put one on."
Charlotte looked at me nervously, wiping away her tears.
"If you don't want me to wear it, Fishelle, I'll take it off right now," she said softly.
With that, she started to take off the dress right there in front of everyone.
Edward quickly turned and caught her hand just as she was about to unzip the dress.
"It's okay, Charlie. You look beautiful in it. Fishelle just likes to act superior. Don't let her get to you," he said softly.
I just scoffed, watching the whole mess play out.
If this had happened before, I would've made a scene, insisting on getting both my and Edward's families to weigh in and settle this.
But now, I couldn't care less.
Whatever genuine feelings I had for Edward had already faded away.
*****
Because of our family businesses, my family and Edward's family became partners. That was how Edward and I started getting involved with each other.
He treated me really well, always looking out for me, protecting me, and sticking close.
When we got to college, we'd bump into each other at the library all the time. So I'd always save the seat next to me for him.
During a blackout at the library, Edward slowly moved closer, leaned in right next to my ear, and asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend.
My heart was all over the place, torn and confused.
On one hand, he was the guy I'd been into since middle school.
On the other hand, I couldn't help feeling awkward about how our parents had always joked around and played matchmaker behind our backs.
But love just popped up out of nowhere.
The moment I nodded, he leaned in and kissed me.
Right then, the library lights flickered back on, and we jumped apart, faces burning red.
From that day on, I was officially Edward's girlfriend.
I was no longer just the girl always in his shadow. I could finally stand by his side.
He'd take me to watch sunsets and twilight skies, listen to my secrets with the ocean breeze in the air, show up for every milestone in my life, and never miss a single Valentine's Day with me.
But gradually, he got more and more perfunctory with me.
I figured maybe our love was going through a cold spell, so I put in extra effort. I asked him out more, doing everything I could to be a good girlfriend.
I kept telling myself, if I poured my heart into this, maybe my name would bloom in his world again.
But it wasn't until I saw how careful and protective he was with Charlotte that I finally understood.
He wasn't incapable of love; he just never gave it to me.
Edward and Charlotte's families went way back.
When they were kids, Edward took Charlotte out to play, but he got careless and lost her. It wasn't until high school that she finally came back into their lives.
All these years, he never stopped searching for her, and she'd always held that special place in his heart.
I was just the backup.
The one he loved was never me; it was always her.
*****
Charlotte set the wedding dress she'd just changed out of beside me. I snapped out of my thoughts and shoved it back into her arms.
Whether she fumbled on purpose or not, the bag slipped from her hands, and the train of the dress spread messily across the floor.
"Fishelle, I've already explained everything. Stop being unreasonable," Edward said coldly.
I glanced at the dress one last time, shook my head gently, and replied, "I'm not causing trouble."
Without hesitation, I turned to leave.
But Charlotte suddenly grabbed my hand.
Her face was on the verge of tears as she pleaded, "Fishelle, I swear I didn't mean it. I'm really sorry. Please don't be mad at Eddy."
I shut my eyes hard, forcing back the anger.
She called me Fishelle, but for Edward, it was always "Eddy."
Every little thing she said was just another way to rub in how special she was to him.