She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 05

She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 05

Miles did not sleep all night.

He sat in the living room, flipping through the canceled contracts as if he had suddenly forgotten how to

read.

“Why didn’t you discuss this with me?”

I slid my personal documents into a folder.

“I tried to discuss it with you plenty of times.”

There had been the dress fitting, the menu tasting, the final timeline, the invitation designs, and the guest

list.

Every time, he had given me one of four answers.

“You decide.”

“I’ll look at it later.”

“I trust you.”

“Something came up with Vanessa.”

“Now I’ve made the decision for you, and somehow you’re still unhappy.”

Miles’s voice was hoarse.

“I know I’ve neglected you lately, but a wedding isn’t something you treat like a game. You can’t cancel everything just because Vanessa wore the gown once.”

I zipped my suitcase shut.

“You still think this is about one wedding gown?”

He stood and reached for my hand.

I stepped away.

“Miles, I was sick, and you were helping her try on my wedding gown.”

“I asked you to come to the menu tasting, and you brought her and your friends to eat at the hotel I had booked for our reception.”

“My wedding timeline had her going onstage with you personally helping her up there, and I wasn’t even supposed to know about it.”

“I planned the entire wedding alone, and you called me capable.”

“When I asked whether our wedding could come first just once, you told me her follow-up appointment couldn’t wait.”

My voice remained calm.

So calm that it felt as though I were reciting someone else’s story.

“I didn’t suddenly stop wanting the wedding.”

“I suddenly realized this wedding had never had a groom.”

The color slowly drained from Miles’s face.

“Rachel, I’ll change.”

I looked at him.

This was the last chance I was willing to give him.

All he had to do was turn off his phone and choose me without hesitation.

All he had to do was sit down and finally talk everything through.

Ten minutes later, Vanessa called.

Miles stared at the screen but did not answer.

The phone stopped ringing, then started again.

When it rang for the third time, he finally picked up.

Vanessa’s sobs came through the speaker.

“Miles, someone’s knocking at my door. I’m terrified. Can you come over?”

Miles glanced at me.

“Vanessa, I’m dealing with something right now.”

She began crying harder.

“I know you and Rachel are fighting, and I shouldn’t have called. I’m just really scared, and my back hurts too. If you can’t come, forget it.”

Her voice was soft.

Yet every word pulled him closer to the door.

Miles tightened his grip on the phone.

I sat on the couch and watched him in silence.

Several seconds later, he said, “I’ll come check on you. I’ll be right back.”

A strange calm settled over me.

When you truly give up on someone, even questioning them feels like a waste of breath.

I nodded.

Go.”

Relief immediately crossed his face. Then he walked toward me, guilt following close behind.

“Rachel, wait for me. We’ll talk when I get back.”

“Don’t come back.”

His steps faltered.

He must have heard me, but he seemed unable to believe it.

After the door closed, silence filled the apartment.

I opened my phone and sent him the full breakdown of the wedding expenses.

Then I transferred the amount needed to settle our accounts and added a note.

[Wedding expenses settled in full.]

Afterward, I picked up my suitcase and left.

The wind outside the building was cold.

Miles called again and again.

I did not answer.

As my rideshare pulled away, I opened the family-and-friends group chat and sent one final message.

[The wedding is canceled. A full breakdown of all expenses incurred and refunds received is attached. Thank you for your concern and support. I will not be discussing this further.]

The message went through.

I left the group chat.

I had finally walked away from the one-woman show we had called a wedding.