My Fiancé Married My Long Lost Sister on Our Wedding Day Chapter 01

My Fiancé Married My Long Lost Sister on Our Wedding Day Chapter 01

After swallowing my fourth painkiller, I waited all morning in the hotel, wearing the wedding dress Ethan Grey had picked out for me.

The wedding car never came. But I did catch a live video trending online—a wedding happening across town.

On the screen, Ethan was sliding a pink diamond ring onto the bride’s finger—the very ring I’d begged him for, for months. The bride was Sophie Hartman—my biological sister, who’d gone missing ten years ago.

Ethan looked straight into the camera, his tone flat. “Lena Hartman, I know you’re watching. Ten years ago, you lost Sophie and made her suffer. I tricked you into this marriage so you could taste the same despair today.”

The camera panned. My parents and brother—who’d promised to help decorate the new house—were there too. My brother’s voice was ice. “You’ve had our love for ten years. Now give it all back to her. Consider it your atonement.”

I stared at the screen—a picture-perfect family, all of them together—not knowing what to do.

I calmly turned off the livestream. I tossed the good-luck charm I’d gotten blessed for Ethan into the trash, along with my wedding ring and veil.

They didn’t know. Last month, I’d been diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. Today, I was only standing because of a steroid injection and sheer will. All I’d wanted was to be Ethan’s bride one last time, to let my parents and brother see me happy—truly happy—before I died.

Now even that was gone.

Three days left. I’d find somewhere quiet and wait to die.

***

A hotel staff member knocked, gently reminding me that the room would only be held until 2 PM. I pushed myself up against the wall, my vision swimming.

Before I could speak, the bridal shop clerk walked in. I’d just tucked my ID and medical records into my bag.

“Miss Hartman, Mr. Grey only paid the deposit on the dress.” She looked uneasy. “He just told us you’d cover the balance. Thirty-eight thousand dollars.”

My phone rang. Ethan’s voice was warm as always.

“Lena, did you watch the livestream?”

“Yes.”

“Good. At least now you understand why I had to change the bride at the last minute.”

His voice was gentle—the same way he’d soothed me when I scraped my knees as a child, or listened to me vent about work. He paused, then added, “The dress really suits you. I already paid part of it, so you didn’t wait for nothing.”

He thought that after exchanging rings with my sister, he could still come back and spend the night with me. That would be perfect.

My stomach churned. I couldn’t tell which hurt more—my heart or my gut. I clamped a hand over my mouth, but I could taste blood rising.

“You want me to pay the balance?”

“Sophie’s been through so much. Weddings are expensive. You’re her sister—what’s wrong with helping out?”

In the background, Sophie’s voice, soft and sweet: “Ethan, don’t be mad at her. She’s been waiting all morning—she must be really upset.”

“See? That’s what I mean.” After comforting her, he turned back to me. “Come over for dinner this afternoon. Mom and Dad are throwing a welcome party for Sophie. Apologize to her in person, and we’ll put all this behind us.”

“And then?”

“Then we go back to normal.” His tone was matter-of-fact. “The wedding was just a ceremony. You’re the one I married. It’s not like I’m leaving you.”

When the call ended, the clerk stared at my dress, clearly embarrassed. I had forty-one thousand dollars left in my bank account.

That was supposed to be for my hospital stay.