She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 03

She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 03

On the third day, Miles had promised to come with me to the menu tasting at the reception venue.

This time, I did not remind him.

At five that afternoon, his message arrived right on schedule.

Miles: [Vanessa’s back suddenly started hurting. I’m taking her home first. Can you go to the tasting by yourself?]

I stared at the words and sent back a single reply.

Me: [Okay.]

Then I went to the hotel alone.

The banquet manager looked slightly uncomfortable when she saw me arrive by myself.

“Mr. Caldwell isn’t coming?”

“He’s busy.”

She did not ask any more questions and handed me the menu.

The tasting menu included twelve options, all chosen with both families’ preferences in mind.

Miles’s mother could not stand cilantro.

His father had high blood sugar, so the dessert options needed to be low in sugar.

Because Miles had a sensitive stomach, I had made sure a warm, mild soup was included among the starters.

I had even noted Vanessa’s dietary restrictions.

The manager flipped through the documents and smiled.

“Ms. Morgan, you’ve thought of everything. You even included notes about Ms. Reed’s back and her dietary restrictions.”

I looked at the line and suddenly found the whole thing absurd.

I had taken care of someone who was not even part of the wedding.

Yet the groom could not even show up for our menu tasting.

Halfway through the meal, I heard familiar voices outside the private dining room.

I looked up and saw Miles helping Vanessa into the room.

Several mutual friends were with them.

One of them spotted me and immediately waved.

“Rachel, you’re here too? Perfect. We can all eat together.”

Miles stopped short.

“What are you doing here?”

I set down my fork.

“The menu tasting.”

Embarrassment flashed across his face.

The banquet manager said, “Mr. Caldwell also reserved a private dining room downstairs. I assumed it was part of the tasting you were doing together.”

Vanessa lowered her head.

“I’m sorry, Rachel. I suddenly had a craving for this place, so Miles brought me here. I didn’t know you two had plans today.”

One of our friends tried to smooth things over.

“We’re all friends. Don’t make this awkward. Vanessa isn’t feeling well. Rachel, you don’t mind, do you?”

I smiled.

“Of course not.”

I had minded for years, and no one had cared.

Of course I did not mind anymore.

Miles sat down beside Vanessa.

When the server brought out the maple bread pudding, Vanessa barely had time to frown before Miles asked, “Too sweet?”

She nodded.

Miles immediately asked the server to replace it with something less sweet.

I coughed three times.

He never looked up once.

One of our friends asked about the wedding schedule.

Miles said, “Rachel already has everything planned. I don’t really understand any of that.”

Someone said enviously, “You’re lucky. You’re marrying such a capable woman.”

Miles smiled.

“She really is capable.”

I lowered my head and took a sip of water.

Sometimes, “capable” did not sound like a compliment.

It sounded like a sentence being handed down.

As the meal was ending, the banquet manager came in carrying a copy of the wedding timeline.

“Ms. Morgan, would you like to approve the final schedule while you’re here?”

I took it from her.

The first few items looked normal: guest arrival and seating, the processional, the officiant-led ceremony and vows, the ring exchange, and the parent dances.

My gaze stopped at item seven.

[Special Tribute: Vanessa Reed will be invited onstage and presented with a bouquet. The groom, Miles Caldwell, will personally assist her on and off the stage.]

There was another note beneath it.

[Because of Ms. Reed’s back injury, position her beside the groom. Do not include this item in the bride’s copy. Add it to the staff timeline on the day of the wedding.]

I stared at the line [Do not include this item in the bride’s copy] for a long time.

The color immediately drained from Miles’s face.

He reached for the schedule.

“Rachel, this isn’t what you think.”

I pulled it out of his reach.

“Then what is it?”

Vanessa hurried to explain.

“No. Mrs. Caldwell wanted to present me with flowers at the wedding to thank me for saving Miles back then. I was afraid you’d read too much into it, so I asked the planners not to tell you yet.”

I laughed out loud.

It was my wedding, yet she would be presented with flowers, he would help her onto the stage, and his mother would publicly thank her.

Somehow, I—the bride—was the last person to know.

Our friends fell silent.

Miles lowered his voice.

“It’s only one small part of the reception. It won’t affect the wedding.”

I looked at him.

“What exactly would affect the wedding, then?”

His Adam’s apple bobbed.

I placed the schedule back on the table.

“Cancel the reception.”

The banquet manager froze.

“Ms. Morgan, are you sure? If you cancel now, the deposit is nonrefundable, and there will also be a cancellation fee.”

I nodded.

“Then charge me.”

Miles shot to his feet.

“Rachel, don’t do anything rash.”

I picked up my purse, my voice perfectly calm.

“Miles, I’m not acting rashly.”

“I finally understand who this wedding was really for.”