Chapter 3
After dinner, Sunny unexpectedly proposed visiting my dressing room.
"I heard Vivian's custom wedding dress has arrived. I'd love to see it—maybe it'll bring me some luck," she remarked, her tone light but intent.
Edward offered no objection, and neither did I.
Inside the dressing room, the couture wedding gown—worth several million dollars—hung in silent display at the center.
Commissioned from an overseas master designer and handcrafted over six months, it had been something I cherished deeply in my past life, never allowing anyone else to so much as touch it.
Sunny approached and trailed her fingers over the delicate lace, her eyes alight with naked longing.
"So beautiful... What a shame I'll probably never get to wear something like this myself."
She glanced back at Edward, her eyes growing teary-eyed. "Edward... could I try it on? Just for a little while?"
He hesitated. After all, this was my wedding dress, a garment steeped in meaning.
His gaze shifted toward me, almost as though he was waiting for me to refuse.
If I did, Sunny would cry—and he would then scold me for being selfish, just to comfort her.
I'd seen this play out too many times before.
Leaning against the doorframe, I kept my tone indifferent.
"Go ahead. It hasn't been worn yet. If you want to try it, try it."
Both of them looked surprised.
Edward said, his voice low, "Vivian, this is your wedding dress. You don't mind?"
"It's just a piece of clothing." I shrugged. "If Sunny likes it that much, she can have it."
Sunny's face brightened instantly. Eagerly, she carried the gown into the fitting room.
Edward moved closer, his expression unreadable.
"You're really not yourself today. You loved that dress—spent a whole month going back and forth with the designer over the embroidery details."
I said casually, my eyes on the fitting room door. "People change. Honestly, I don't even think it's that pretty anymore."
Soon, Sunny stepped out wearing the dress. It hung loose on her smaller frame, yet she twirled before the mirror, utterly captivated.
"Edward, do I look pretty?" she cooed, her voice sweet and expectant.
He watched her, his gaze distant. Perhaps in his mind, Sunny was the bride he'd always pictured.
"You look beautiful," he replied.
Lifting the hem, Sunny walked over to me, a faint challenge in her eyes.
"Thank you, Vivian. But the waist is kind of loose. Would be better if I could get it altered," she said, not even bothering to hide the dig.
I smiled, "Go ahead, it's yours now—change it however you like."
"What?" Sunny blurted out, totally stunned.
Edward frowned too. "Vivian, don't joke around.
"That's your wedding dress. You can't just hand it over to someone."
"I'm not joking," I said, my voice cool and unyielding.
I looked at the dress now worn by Sunny, feeling only revulsion.
"I don't want anything that's been worn by someone else. It's dirty," I added, my tone frosty.
I let that word hang in the air, sharp and deliberate, so there was no mistaking my meaning.
Sunny's face went paper white, tears about to spill over.
Edward snapped his gaze to me, eyes blazing.
"Vivian, what the hell do you mean by that? Are you taking a dig at her?" he demanded, his voice icy.
"Exactly what it sounds like," I retorted, cold as ice.
I turned on my heel and strode out, not giving them another glance.
"She wants it? It's hers. I'm done here. I'm going home." I tossed over my shoulder, not a hint of emotion in my voice.
Behind me, Sunny's sobs echoed through the room, with Edward softly coaxing her, his voice low and gentle.
That wedding dress—and every ounce of love I ever had for Edward—were left behind in that room, discarded like yesterday's trash.
When I got home, I started packing.
Not for the Malidaver Island—this time, I was packing to leave for good.
I didn't need much—just a few changes of clothes and my documents.
As for all those designer bags and jewelry Edward had given me, I left every single one behind.
I lined them up neatly in the closet, like I was showing off leftovers from a relationship that was already dead.
When I finished packing, I looked around at the empty room—and honestly, all I felt was the easy relief of finally letting go.
Just three days left. Three days from now, they'd be off to the Malidaver Island, and that was the day I got my second chance at life.