His Ex Wore My Ring, So I Married His Rival Instead Chapter 01

On my wedding day, my fiancé Brandon Miller’s childhood sweetheart, Vanessa Reed, showed up.

His sister, Katie Miller, left me standing there and rushed over to her. “There’s my future sister-in-law! What took you so long?”

Everyone froze and looked at me. Brandon was Katie’s only brother.

Katie didn’t seem to think anything was wrong. She even smiled at me. “Vanessa and my brother grew up together. I’m just used to calling her that. You’re about to marry him. You’re not seriously going to make a big deal out of this, are you?”

I frowned but let it slide.

As we were getting into the wedding limo, Katie took Vanessa’s hand and shoved me aside. “Come on, the bride is the star of the show today! The ceremony’s about to start. Get in!”

Only after pushing Vanessa into the lead car did she playfully tap her own forehead. “Silly me. I recognized the wrong person again.”

Our friends and relatives were waiting, so I let it slide again.

Then, during the ceremony, Katie presented Vanessa with the wedding ring and said through tears, “You’re going to be my sister-in-law. I wish you and my brother a lifetime of happiness together.”

I turned to Brandon. He didn’t stop her.

Instead, his eyes grew red as he watched the ring slide onto Vanessa’s ring finger.

I was so furious, I laughed. I immediately texted Alexander Prescott, the man I was originally supposed to marry.

I texted Alexander Prescott, the man I was originally supposed to marry: [Come stop the wedding right now, and I’ll marry you.]

***

The moment the ring slid onto Vanessa’s finger, the guests burst out laughing at the absurdity of the scene.

“So she’s the real bride?”

“Honestly, I think Vanessa and Brandon make a great couple.”

“Exactly. Whenever I visited Brandon’s family over the holidays, Vanessa was always there. It’s strange seeing someone else up there.”

“And no one from the bride’s family showed up today, but Vanessa’s whole family is here. They might as well make Vanessa the bride.”

I scoffed at that.

My parents hadn’t come because they’d never approved of Brandon. They thought his family wasn’t good enough for the daughter of the richest man in the city.

More importantly, they’d found out he’d dated his ex for eight years. They were afraid he wouldn’t treat me well.

But I’d insisted on marrying him. I’d told them he was the only man I wanted. They were still angry with me, so why would they come?

Still, my parents weren’t as harsh as they seemed. Despite their objections, they’d set aside $3 million in cash as a wedding gift.

I’d planned to tell Brandon everything after the ceremony.

Now there was no point.

When Vanessa saw me staring at the ring, she pulled her hand back in mock panic. “Katie, you’ve got the wrong person again. I’m not your future sister-in-law.”

This time, Katie didn’t let go. Instead, she quickly slipped the ring onto Vanessa’s finger. “It’s already on. Taking it off would be bad luck.”

She beamed. “Besides, it was custom-made in your size. It fits you better.”

I suddenly remembered what had happened a month earlier.

Katie had insisted on having our wedding rings made. In the living room, she’d clung to Brandon’s arm and refused to let go.

“Brandon, you’re getting married! What’s wrong with letting your sister help? Don’t worry. I’ll have the rings made exactly the way you both want them.”

At the time, I’d thought my future sister-in-law, who’d never particularly liked me, was finally accepting me.

Thrilled, I’d sent her $5,000 on the spot. “It’s fine. Let Katie handle it. If that isn’t enough, just ask me for more.”

But when the ring arrived, it was too big for my finger. Even a slight movement could make it slip off.

Brandon had tried to reassure me. “Katie’s unreliable. I told you not to let her handle it. We’ve already bought it, and there’s no time to replace it. We’ll just have to make do.”

Now I understood. She hadn’t been careless.

She’d planned all along to have that ring made for Vanessa.

When I said nothing, Katie scoffed. “Oh, I must’ve mixed up your ring size with Vanessa’s. It’s not like you can’t still marry my brother. Why are you sulking?”

Vanessa immediately stepped toward me. “Olivia, Brandon and I were together for a long time. Katie still thinks of me as family. That’s why she got confused. If it bothers you, I’ll take the ring off and give it to you.”

I was already furious. Instinctively, I turned aside to avoid her touch.

A second later, she fell backward onto the floor.

“Vanessa, are you okay?” Brandon rushed over without hesitation and helped her up.

She immediately pulled free of his grasp and looked up at me, her eyes filling with tears. “Olivia, you’ve completely misunderstood me. I came here because I wanted to wish you both well! If you think I’m here to ruin your wedding or stop it, I’ll leave right now!”

Brandon’s expression darkened. He looked up sharply and glared at me.

“Olivia Bennett, you’ve had a problem with Vanessa since before we even got into the car, and now you’re shoving her? How can you be so petty?”

I looked down at him and suddenly laughed.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped toward him and raised my hand.

My palm struck his face with a sharp crack.

Stunned, he covered his cheek and stared at me in disbelief. “You actually hit me!”

I dusted off my hands. “You’re right. If anyone deserved a slap, it was you.”

“Brandon, we’re done.”

“I’m not marrying you.”