She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 07

She Wore My Wedding Dress Before I Ever Did Chapter 07

The next morning, Miles went to Rachel’s office.

After checking the company system, the receptionist said politely, “Ms. Morgan requested an out-of-town assignment.”

“An out-of-town assignment?”

“She’s been assigned to a major project in Atlanta for at least six months. She pursued the opportunity herself and left this morning.”

Miles stood in the lobby with a loud ringing in his ears.

Then he remembered.

Rachel had mentioned it over dinner once.

“If I land the Atlanta project, I’ll have a real shot at a promotion. But with the wedding coming up, I’m still

not sure what to do.”

At the time, Miles had been replying to Vanessa’s messages.

Without giving it much thought, he had said, “You decide.”

Rachel had looked at him but said nothing more.

So she really had decided for herself.

After leaving her office, he went to the bridal salon.

The sales associate’s expression became difficult to read the moment she saw him.

“Mr. Caldwell, Ms. Morgan already paid the remaining balance and picked up the gown.”

“I know.” His voice sounded strained. “Could I see the notes in her client file from her previous

appointments?”

The associate brought out a thick binder.

It was packed with Rachel’s detailed notes.

She had specified the strap width, waistline placement, veil length, and reception-dress color.

There were also reminders for the wedding day.

[Miles dislikes elaborate ceremonies. Keep the service as simple as possible.]

[Miles’s mother gets cold easily. Do not set the reception room temperature too low.]

[Miles’s father has high blood sugar. Serve low-sugar desserts.]

[If Vanessa attends, add a cushion to the back of her chair and seat her away from an air vent.]

Miles’s eyes reddened the mortient he reached the final line.

Rachel had made sure that even Vanessa would be treated with consideration.

He was the one who had trampled all over that consideration.

The associate could not help saying, “Ms. Morgan came in alone every time. She always said you were busy.”

Miles could not say a word.

When he returned home, he packed everything Vanessa had left there into a cardboard box.

He packed her back brace, pain-relief cream, spare slippers, and heating pads.

Vanessa’s expression darkened when she came to collect them.

“Miles, what is this supposed to mean?”

“Don’t leave your things here anymore.”

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“You never said that before.”

“Then I was wrong before.”

Vanessa’s voice trembled.

“You’re blaming me now? If I hadn’t pushed you out of the way back then, would my back be like this?”

Miles closed his eyes briefly.

“I know I owe you. But Rachel doesn’t owe you anything.”

Vanessa went still.

Miles continued, “I can’t keep using her wedding to repay my debt to you.”

After the door closed behind Vanessa, he sent Rachel a long message.

He explained the accident at the company gala.

He explained the guilt he had carried ever since.

He explained that taking care of Vanessa had simply become a habit.

The message showed Read.

Rachel did not reply.

At that same moment, Rachel stood at the front of a conference room in Atlanta, presenting her proposal in

a clear, steady voice.

The final slide read:

[The hardest-won wisdom of adulthood is knowing when to cut your losses.]

When the clients applauded, she suddenly smiled.

That line had not come from a presentation template.

It was something she had just learned from her own life.