He Designed A Dream Dress For Her, He Never Designed One For Me Chapter 01

He Designed A Dream Dress For Her, He Never Designed One For Me Chapter 01

Julian Mercer was a world-renowned bridal designer. He had created gowns for countless brides, yet he kept putting off mine.

After our wedding had been postponed three times, I finally pressed him. “Can you please design my gown first? Our wedding date is almost here again, and we can’t push it back another time.”

He didn’t even look up. “My schedule is booked solid. Just wait a little longer.”

I quietly said okay and went back to waiting for him to make room for me.

My parents changed the date on the invitations again and again, apologizing to our relatives and friends each time.

Then Julian staged a bridal fashion show in Paris. The final look featured his assistant, Mia Collins, in the most breathtaking and extravagant gown of the entire collection.

Julian emerged from backstage holding Mia’s hand, gazing at her with unmistakable tenderness as they walked slowly onto the runway.

Someone beside me gasped. “I heard Julian spent an entire year on this gown and personally hand-set 143 diamonds into it—143 being shorthand for ‘I love you.’ Even the lace was custom-made exclusively for it.”

I sat in the audience and watched Julian address the crowd.

“I created this gown for you, and I put on this entire show for you. Thank you for always being there for me and quietly supporting me.”

They fell into each other’s arms, both in tears. He seemed to have forgotten that I had worked to support him through all three years he studied overseas.

Mom called. “Elise, your grandmother has gotten worse. Is the wedding still happening the day after tomorrow, or are we postponing it again?”

I slipped out through the back exit. “I’m done waiting. The wedding will go ahead as planned, but I’ll marry the man you and Dad introduced me to.”

Julian had no time to design my gown, yet he had time to stage an entire bridal fashion show for his assistant.

I had stood beside him for six years, from complete obscurity to worldwide fame, and I still couldn’t get a single wedding gown from him.

If there was no room for me in his schedule, there would be no room for him in my future.

***

A light rain fell as I stood on a Paris street.

I pulled out my phone and booked the earliest flight home, then walked back to the hotel alone to pack.

After the show ended, Julian spent a long time searching the audience for me but couldn’t find me. He called several times, but I was so busy packing that I missed every call.

He hurried back to the hotel. The moment the door opened, he rushed forward to hug me, but I stepped out of his reach.

“I was packing and didn’t hear my phone. I’m flying home this afternoon.”

Julian froze, confusion written all over his face.

“Why are you leaving in such a hurry? Are you mad because I didn’t design your wedding gown?”

“Honestly, why does it have to be one of mine? You can just buy something off the rack.”

He said it casually, as though he were talking about something that barely mattered.

Since when was getting married something we could treat so casually?

I said nothing and went back to packing the few belongings I had.

Everything else I had packed was for him, including pain-relief patches, cold medicine, and all his favorite snacks.

I threw every last one away.

Julian sighed and frowned. “Mia has worked beside me for three years. She was with me when no one knew my name, and she stayed as I became known around the world. She’s sacrificed a lot.”

“Besides, her biggest dream has always been to have me design a wedding gown for her. How could I say no to something that small?”

As Julian’s career grew, I had spent years being patient and undemanding while quietly supporting him from the sidelines.

Yet in the end, the person he thanked was his assistant, as if everything I had done for him no longer existed.

Mia had been with him for three years. I had been there for six, since the days when he had nothing and couldn’t even afford school.

After graduation, he kept getting rejected by design programs in the States, so he began applying to schools overseas.

I was still an intern then, and we were crammed into a rundown apartment with a leaking roof.

I told him to focus on building his portfolio and preparing his applications. I would take care of the living expenses and tuition.

No matter how hard I worked or how exhausted I was, coming home to him and seeing the breathtaking designs he created made it all feel worthwhile.

“But in all these years, you’ve never designed a wedding gown for me.”

I finished packing, zipped my suitcase, and walked to the door.

“Mia has always been your model, hasn’t she? Every design choice in your gowns is based on what she likes.”

I had seen his sketchbook before. Page after page was filled with Mia.

Diamonds, crystals, lace, and white tulle—every element she loved kept appearing in his work.

Julian lowered his gaze without looking at me. “That’s because she’s better than you.”

“I don’t understand why you’re upset. She has the ideal figure, great taste, and she’s beautiful. Mia is my muse. Without her, I never could’ve created so many incredible gowns.”

I wheeled my suitcase toward the door, but he reached out and grabbed me.

“What’s gotten into you today? Why are you being so unreasonable?”

Mia arrived at that exact moment. The second Julian saw her, he let go of me.

I took the elevator downstairs, but he never came after me. He didn’t call me even once.

Mom: [Elise, Nathan said he’ll pick you up at the airport and take you straight to try on wedding gowns.]