He Gave My Wedding Dress To Another Woman Chapter 01

He Gave My Wedding Dress To Another Woman Chapter 01

Everyone at the graduation party wanted what we had. Professor Hughes had handpicked Ethan Gallagher and me for research positions in Aldenbrook, and the envy around the table was thick enough to taste.

“Word is, you two are heading to city hall to tie the knot this weekend.” One of our classmates raised a glass. “The career, the love life, all at once. Must be nice.”

“And Aldenbrook’s churches? Gorgeous. You two have to get married there.”

I reached for Ethan’s arm, ready to get him to raise his glass with me. But before I could, his voice cut through the noise, flat and distant.

“We’re not going.”

The words hit before their meaning did.

“Haley hasn’t finished the final experiment for her thesis. She’s been running herself into the ground, and I can’t just leave her hanging.”

He glanced around the table like this should’ve been obvious. “Chloe’s staying here with me.”

Then he turned to me, ran a hand over my hair, and dropped his voice like he was talking to a child. “I’m heading to the lab to help Haley. Pace yourself with the drinks — you know how you get.”

He left before I could answer.

The silence that followed was suffocating. Someone finally broke it with a strained laugh. “Well, always the team player, that Ethan.”

I forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes, then stepped outside to clear my head.

He wasn’t going. Fine. But who the hell had given him the right to decide for me?

***

“Tell Professor Hughes you changed your mind. Don’t drag Haley into it.”

“She has enough on her plate.”

Shortly after I left the party, my phone buzzed with a call from Ethan. I answered, but I couldn’t get a single word out.

Then I heard her. Haley Mercer, her voice syrupy-sweet on the other end. “Ethan, I keep messing this up. What am I supposed to do?”

He must not have realized the call connected, because his reply came through muffled but unmistakable. “Hey, relax. We’ll take it slow. Here — give me your hand. I’ll walk you through it.”

I didn’t fight. Didn’t cry. I swallowed the ache lodged at the base of my throat, ended the call without making a sound, and went to find Professor Hughes for the application forms.

“Just you?” He looked past me toward the door. “Where’s Ethan?”

“He’s not coming.”

“Not — what?” Professor Hughes’s eyebrows shot up. “Ethan? The guy who never lets you carry your own coffee? He’s letting you go abroad by yourself?”

He shook his head. “Weren’t you two about to make it official?”

My eyes burned. Yeah. We were.

I could still picture it — that afternoon under the oak tree, Ethan with his head in my lap, promising I was the only thing that mattered. Promising me forever with so much certainty I never thought to doubt him.

“Maybe he’s just having second thoughts,” I managed.

The office door swung open before the words had even settled. Haley.

“Professor Hughes.”

“Here’s my latest lab report.” She handed it over with a practiced, polite smile.

As soon as Professor Hughes took it, she pivoted to me. The sweetness in her voice came with a blade.

“Chloe, you’re so lucky to have someone like Ethan. Honestly, my experiment would’ve fallen apart without him.”

She tilted her head, smile widening. “Oh, and he said he’ll be spending the next few months working with me in the lab. You’re okay with that, right?”

The glow on her face was blinding. I knew that look — that exact look of a girl basking in Ethan’s attention. I used to wear it myself.

Something bitter twisted behind my ribs.

I kept my expression smooth and gave a small shake of my head. “Not at all. Ethan is free to do whatever he wants.”

“Oh, really?” Haley’s eyes sharpened. “Because he’s amazing, you know. So many girls are after him. So if he falls for someone else someday — that’s just him doing whatever he wants too, right?”

The mask of sweetness was gone now. Whatever sat underneath didn’t even bother hiding.

“Yes.” I held her gaze and didn’t blink.

Professor Hughes cut in, sharp. “Haley. That’s enough. Step outside. I’ll come find you.”

“I was only asking.” She smirked, then turned on her heel and walked out.

Professor Hughes pulled two application forms from his desk and slid them across to me. “Take these home. Tell Ethan opportunities like this don’t come twice — he should think carefully.”

He paused, and his tone dropped. “And Chloe — keep an eye on that girl. Don’t let Ethan get too comfortable around her.”

I knew he was right. Every word. But knowing didn’t help when someone was already halfway out the door.

The rain hit just as I stepped outside — one second, nothing, the next a downpour so heavy it blurred the parking lot.

Ethan appeared through the curtain of water, umbrella in hand, moving fast.

Something in my chest lifted. Instinct pulled me toward him before my brain caught up.

But someone got there first — a figure ducking under his umbrella, pressing close to his side.

Haley.