He Made My Wedding Dress Half a Size Too Small, Then Begged Chapter 02

He Made My Wedding Dress Half a Size Too Small, Then Begged Chapter 02

If he’d already checked out of this relationship, then there was no point obsessing over that half-size difference anymore.

After I left, I replied to the overseas branch. [Changed my mind. I’ll take the New Zealand project. Expect me within a week.]

Back at our apartment, I stared at the “Just Married” banners pasted on the front door.

Every piece of furniture had been covered in festive stickers by Liam. Foil fringe curtains hung from the ceiling.

Back then, he was still excited about the wedding, thrilled that he was finally going to marry me.

Victoria had looked on with envy. “Emma, you and Liam are finally going to make it. I get to be your one and only maid of honor!”

I’d been so happy at the time that I didn’t notice the sadness lurking in her eyes.

I thought her drinking and melancholy were about missing me, about worrying we’d drift apart after I got married.

I promised her over and over that we’d never lose touch.

But I was so busy taking care of a drunken Victoria that I completely missed the regret written across Liam’s face.

My thoughts drifted until the doorbell rang.

A deliveryman hauled in a massive framed photo.

I stared at it, completely confused. “This must be a mistake.”

It wasn’t our wedding portrait. It was Victoria—wearing the wedding gown.

The delivery guy checked the order and accurately recited Liam’s phone number.

“Nope, this is correct. Mr. Sterling personally picked this photo.”

He was about to double down when he saw my face and froze, his eyes darting between me and the photo in obvious confusion.

Besides the wedding portrait, there were also photos of Liam and Victoria together, with his handwriting at the bottom: [The perfect masterpiece, paired with the perfect person.]

The date on the photo was February eighteenth.

Victoria’s birthday.

That was three full months before the wedding dress was even unveiled in May.

Liam had said Victoria needed a gown for a show and borrowed it.

But I never realized she’d worn it long before I ever did.

Looking at the inscription at the bottom, it was crystal clear to me now.

Victoria was the one this dress was always meant for.

The staff called to apologize for the misdelivery.

Before they could even repack the photo, Liam and Victoria walked in together.

At the sight of the inscription, a flicker of discomfort crossed his face.

“Victoria modeled the gown, so I figured her picture would work better as store display. I swapped out our portrait for now. It’s not like we’re not printing ours—it’s just delayed.”

One week before the wedding, and our portrait had been replaced by someone else.

I looked at him calmly and said, one word at a time, “Liam. The wedding is off.”

His face darkened with irritation. “All because Victoria wore your dress for a few photos?”

I kept my voice even. “A dress you custom-made for someone else—does that count as mine?”

His brow furrowed deeper. “You’re really going to obsess over half a size?”

I closed my eyes, exhausted. “Is it me obsessing, Liam? Or is it that this dress was never made for me in the first place?”

A sharp crash shattered the silence.

Victoria had stabbed the frame with scissors. Glass splintered across the floor.

Her eyes were wet with tears. “I’m sorry, Emma. I just borrowed the dress for a bit. I didn’t know you’d be this upset.”

“Since you hate it, I’ll get rid of it—I’ll destroy the picture right now!”

She raised the scissors again to slash through the photo.

Liam snatched them from her hand. “Don’t move—your hand is bleeding!”

He grabbed gauze to stop the cut on her finger, then turned to me with fury blazing in his eyes.

“Emma! Victoria’s body is her career—an injury like this could ruin her shoots! Are you happy now? Is this what you wanted?”

He threw those words at me, swept Victoria up in his arms, and left without another glance.

A shard of glass had lodged itself in my foot.

Blood dripped down, sharp and stinging, but all I felt was complete numbness.

Whatever love I had left for him, it was gone.