Chapter 2: The Secret Behind the Borrowed Dress
The next five minutes felt unreal.
The wedding music outside continued.
People laughed in the hallway.
Someone walked past the dressing room carrying flowers, completely unaware that my entire world had just cracked open.
Inside, nobody moved.
Chloe stood near the window, staring at the floor.
The same woman who had walked in with a smug smile was suddenly silent.
I sat in front of the mirror, still wearing the damaged dress.
Thirty thousand dollars.
The number kept repeating in my head.
Not because of the money.
Because Chloe had looked at me and decided I was worthless based on what she thought I owned.
Rachel knelt beside me.
“Emma, I’m so sorry.””
I shook my head.
“I should have known.””
Her eyebrows tightened.
“Known what?””
“That something like this would happen.””
Rachel looked confused.
I touched the stained fabric.
“I kept telling myself Chloe was just being Chloe. That she was competitive. That she didn’t mean anything by it.””
A bitter laugh escaped my mouth.
“But she meant every word.””
The door opened again.
A woman in an elegant gray suit stepped inside.
She carried a small leather folder and had the kind of calm expression that made everyone else nervous.
“Emma Parker?””
I stood slowly.
“Yes.””
“I’m Isabella Laurent, representative of Valentina Maison.””
She looked at the dress.
Her expression hardened.
“I was informed about the damage.””
Chloe immediately stepped forward.
“I want to explain.””
Isabella looked at her.
“Do you?””
Chloe opened her mouth, then closed it.
Isabella placed the folder on the table.
“I reviewed the security footage from the dressing room.””
My sister’s face turned white.
“I told you, it was an accident.””
Isabella didn’t react.
“The footage shows you entering the room with the ink bottle.””
Chloe looked away.
“It doesn’t show everything.””
“It shows you removing the cap.””
Silence.
“It shows you walking toward the dress.””
Another pause.
“And it shows you laughing afterward.””
Chloe’s lips parted.
She had no answer.
I watched her carefully.
Not because I wanted revenge.
Because I wanted to understand.
How could someone who shared my childhood memories, my family photos, my blood, do something like this?
“Why?”” I asked.
Chloe looked at me.
For a moment, I saw something behind her anger.
Pain.
Then it disappeared.
“Because everyone always chooses you.””
I stared.
“What?””
She laughed bitterly.
“You don’t even know, do you?””
“Know what?””
“That Mom and Dad were proud of you.””
My face changed.
“What are you talking about?””
Chloe walked closer.
“They always talked about how kind you were. How responsible you were. How you never caused problems.””
Her eyes filled with frustration.
“Do you know what it feels like being the sister everyone thinks is difficult?””
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
“So you ruined my wedding dress because you were jealous?””
“No.””
She pointed at me.
“I ruined it because you always get everything without trying.””
I felt a strange sadness replace my anger.
“Chloe, you think I got everything?””
“Yes.””
I shook my head.
“You have no idea what I sacrificed.””
She looked away.
The truth was, my life wasn’t perfect.
I worked two jobs before Daniel and I got engaged.
I saved money for years.
I helped our parents when their business struggled.
I turned down opportunities because my family needed me.
But Chloe only saw the final picture.
She never saw the years behind it.
Isabella cleared her throat.
“There is another issue.””
Everyone looked at her.
She opened the folder.
“The gown was borrowed under a contract.””
My heart sank.
“What does that mean?””
“It means whoever damaged it is financially responsible.””
Chloe immediately pointed at me.
“Wait. She’s the bride. Why would I pay?””
Rachel stepped forward.
“Because the footage clearly shows who caused the damage.””
Chloe’s breathing became faster.
“You’re all acting like I committed some crime.””
Isabella’s expression remained cold.
“You destroyed a protected designer sample before a public event.””
She paused.
“And you attempted to hide it by pretending it was worthless.””
Chloe looked at me.
“Emma, don’t do this.””
I frowned.
“Do what?””
“Destroy my life.””
The words shocked me.
“You destroyed my wedding dress.””
“But you’re going to ruin everything over fabric?””
I stared at her.
“That fabric was never the point.””
For the first time, Chloe looked uncertain.
Because she finally understood.
This wasn’t about the dress.
It was about every insult.
Every comparison.
Every moment she made me feel smaller.
A knock came from the door.
Nobody moved.
Then Daniel’s voice came from the hallway.
“Emma?””
My heart stopped.
I had forgotten he was waiting.
I looked at my ruined gown.
At Chloe.
At the camera.
At the people who now knew what happened.
Rachel opened the door slightly.
Daniel stood there in his suit, his face full of worry.
“What happened?””
Before I could answer, Chloe suddenly stepped forward.
“Daniel, I can explain.””
I saw something change in his expression.
Not anger.
Disappointment.
Because he already knew.
He looked past her.
At the black stains covering my dress.
Then he quietly asked one question.
“Chloe… why did you do this?””
My sister didn’t answer.
Instead, she reached into her purse.
And pulled out something that made my blood run cold.
A small envelope.
With my name written on it.
May you like
“Emma,” Chloe whispered.
“You should know the truth before you marry him.””
