I Craved Crawfish, but He Fed It All to My Sister Chapter 02

I Craved Crawfish, but He Fed It All to My Sister Chapter 02

The next day was my birthday.

My mother called and told me to come home.

I showed up and realized they were celebrating Maren’s new job.

There was no place set for me at the table, and my name wasn’t on the cake.

My mother let out a small sigh. “I’ve been so busy lately, it completely slipped my mind.”

“We’ll make up your birthday another day. Don’t ruin Maren’s moment today.”

My whole life, they’d made me give things up for Maren.

Toys. Bedrooms. Educational opportunities. And now, my husband.

I didn’t eat. I turned around and left.

That evening, I went back to the house and pushed open the door to the upstairs workroom. Then I stopped in my tracks.

Maren stood in front of the full-length mirror wearing a white gown.

The wedding gown I’d made to fit my pregnant body—months of work, every seam stitched by hand.

We had nothing when we got married. Just a piece of paper. No wedding. Derek promised that once the company stabilized, he’d give me a real ceremony.

I got pregnant before our third anniversary. I didn’t trust any store-bought dress to fit my growing belly, so I bought the fabric myself and stitched the whole thing by hand—extra room in the waist, and our initials embroidered inside the hem.

Now that panel had been cut out entirely.

The loose maternity gown had been altered into a fitted evening dress. The embroidered initials were gone too. A tailor was on her knees, making the final adjustments for Maren.

Derek came in behind me. The moment he saw my face, he waved the tailor out.

“Maren needed something to wear tonight.”

“Your dress was too loose, so I had it altered.”

I walked over and touched the broken threads inside the hem.

“Take it off.”

Maren’s face went pale.

The person who stepped in front of her was Derek again.

“The gala starts in a few minutes. You’re really going to put her through this now?”

“This is my wedding dress. Did it have to be mine?”

“Why are you so hung up on these little things? You can’t even wear it right now.”

“After the baby’s born, I’ll order you something better.”

“I want this one.”

Derek’s patience ran out fast.

“Sloane, you’re pregnant. It wouldn’t even look good on you.”

“Maren needs to look put together. Are you seriously going to snatch it back and embarrass everyone?”

My hand slowly fell from the fabric.

The Derek in front of me suddenly felt like a stranger.

Years ago, in that leaking basement, he’d crouched down and wiped water stains off a bridal magazine for me, saying that one day he’d make me the most beautiful bride.

Now, he’d cut away the space for me and our baby and handed it to another woman to wear for show.

I pulled out my phone and canceled the venue reservation for our third-anniversary vow renewal.

The refund confirmation landed on Derek’s phone within seconds.

He grabbed my wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“I canceled the venue.”

“I’ll make the dress situation up to you.”

I shook off his hand, took the wedding dress sketches off the wall, and tore them in half.

“Derek, there won’t be a new dress.”

He stood in the scattered shreds of paper for a long moment without speaking.

I pulled the door open. His voice came from behind me.

“Sloane, how long are you going to keep this up?”

I didn’t look back.

“Until the day I’m done being your wife.”