The Same Wedding Dress, Two Different Brides Chapter 10

The Same Wedding Dress, Two Different Brides Chapter 10

Vivian stared at him, completely stunned.

How can you say that?”

“You obviously had feelings for me. You always took my side. You told everyone I was your girlfriend. You even did an engagement shoot with me and helped me shop for my wedding dress.

You never did any of that for Elena.”

“Do you have any idea what a wedding dress means? It means you’re promising someone a life

together.”

“We already have a place together, and we were about to have the ceremony. How can you just walk away from me now?”

The color slowly drained from Elliot’s face.

For the first time, he understood just how badly he’d gotten everything wrong.

All these years, he had been the only person who believed what he was doing for Vivian was simply

repayment.

To everyone else, it looked like love.

His feelings for Vivian seemed deep and genuine.

Eventually, even Vivian herself had come to believe that was what it was.

Elliot began to explain, but his attention remained fixed on me.

“The engagement photos, the ceremony–I only agreed to any of it because I wanted your parents

to feel reassured.”

“I kept telling myself that as long as Elena was the one I loved, none of the things I did with you out of guilt really mattered.”

“I thought that if I loved Elena, she wouldn’t be hurt by any of it.”

His voice dropped until I could barely hear him.

“I never stopped to care about how any of this made you feel.”

“Elena, I’m sorry.”

I said nothing.

I reached over and pressed the call button beside my bed.

“I’d like to rest. Could you please ask them both to leave?”

A nurse came in and escorted Elliot and Vivian out.

From the hallway, I heard Elliot’s voice turn cold.

“Give me the ring.”

“And I’ll destroy the leniency request. The police can decide how to handle the crash from here.”

A shrill cry rang out in the hallway.

When Elliot spoke again, his voice was rough.

“What I owe your family should never have come at Elena’s expense.”

I stayed in the hospital for a week.

Elliot came every day, bringing a different meal each time.

I never touched any of it.

Whatever devotion he was trying to show me now had come far too late.

It meant nothing anymore.

It was just another intrusion.

After I was discharged, I waited until I knew Elliot wouldn’t be home before returning to the

apartment we’d once shared.

I packed my things into suitcases one by one and held the box containing my father’s belongings

tightly against me.

I was about to leave when Elliot rushed in, as though he’d somehow sensed what I was doing.

He was carrying a box.

“Elena.”

I looked at him.

He opened it.

Inside was a matching pair of lockets, one larger than the other.

The set was beautifully made.

“I bought these on our seventh anniversary. I thought I’d wait until things settled down before

giving them to you, but now…”

He couldn’t finish.

I stared at the two lockets.

A month earlier, Elliot had asked what I wanted for our anniversary.

I’d happened to see a matching mother–and–child locket set in a store window.

I had rested a hand over my stomach and told him, “Something like that. Then the baby and I would each have one. It could be our little wish for the baby to stay safe and healthy.”

Elliot had agreed.

But when our anniversary came, he hadn’t even spent the day with me.

His voice was hoarse.

“You said I never cared about how you felt. I can change. I’ll make up for everything I’ve put you

through.”

His voice faded.

“You can ask anything of me. Just don’t leave, okay?”

I looked away.

“You brought them too late.”

I rested a hand over my stomach.

“I don’t need mine anymore.”