Chapter 6: The Account That Changed Everything
The wedding ceremony never started.
The guests waited outside while my entire life fell apart inside a dressing room.
There was no music anymore.
No flowers being arranged.
No excitement.
Only questions.
Daniel stood near the window, staring at Chloe.
“Tell me she’s lying.””
Chloe didn’t answer.
That was the worst response she could have given.
Daniel’s voice became quieter.
“Chloe.””
She looked at him.
“It wasn’t like that.””
“What wasn’t?””
“The money.””
My heart sank.
“There was money.””
Chloe looked at me.
“Emma…”
“No.””
I stepped back.
“Don’t say my name like that.””
She looked devastated.
But I couldn’t tell if it was guilt or fear.
“How much?””
Nobody spoke.
Daniel looked at Natalie.
“How much?””
Natalie answered.
“Fifty thousand dollars.””
The room went silent.
I stared at Chloe.
“You took fifty thousand dollars?””
She immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“Then why is she saying that?””
“Because she’s trying to destroy me.””
Natalie smiled.
“Funny.””
She pulled out her phone.
“I thought you would say that.””
She tapped the screen.
Then handed it to Daniel.
He looked at it.
And his expression changed.
“What is this?””
Chloe’s face became pale.
I stepped closer.
“What?””
Daniel didn’t answer.
He just handed me the phone.
The screen showed a bank transfer.
A company account.
A transfer to a private account.
And the name attached to it.
Chloe Parker.
My knees felt weak.
“No.””
Chloe rushed toward me.
“Emma, listen.””
I stepped away.
“No.””
“It wasn’t stealing.””
“Then what was it?””
She started crying.
“I was going to pay it back.””
“With what?””
She didn’t answer.
That was enough.
Daniel looked broken.
Not because of the money.
Because someone he trusted betrayed him.
“You had access to my accounts?””
Chloe wiped her tears.
“I helped with wedding planning.””
“That doesn’t answer the question.””
She looked away.
Daniel closed his eyes.
I had never seen him look so disappointed.
Not even when he saw the ruined dress.
“Why?””
Chloe whispered.
“Because I needed it.””
“For what?””
Silence.
Then Natalie answered.
“Her debts.””
Chloe looked at her angrily.
“Shut up.””
But it was too late.
I looked at my sister.
“Debts?””
She sat down.
Suddenly she looked smaller.
“I made mistakes.””
I almost felt sorry for her.
Almost.
“How long?””
“A year.””
I stared.
A year.
She had carried this secret for a year.
And still found time to judge me.
Still found time to hurt me.
“Why didn’t you tell me?””
She laughed sadly.
“Because you would look at me differently.””
I looked at her.
“You destroyed my wedding because you were afraid I’d see who you were?””
Her eyes filled with tears.
“No.””
“Then why?””
She covered her face.
“Because I hated that everyone thought you were the good one.””
The honesty hurt.
More than another lie would have.
“I hated that you could make mistakes and people forgave you.””
I shook my head.
“Chloe, I have made mistakes.””
“But people still loved you.””
Her voice cracked.
“And I always felt like I had to fight for anyone to notice me.””
I looked at her.
For one second, I saw my sister.
The girl who shared my bedroom.
The girl who held my hand during thunderstorms.
The girl who used to tell me secrets.
Then I remembered the ink.
The dress.
The laughter.
Pain didn’t excuse cruelty.
It never had.
Daniel took a step back.
“I need to know something.””
Everyone looked at him.
“Was the dress part of the plan?””
Chloe froze.
The silence answered.
My heart dropped.
“You planned to ruin my wedding.””
“No.””
She shook her head quickly.
“I just wanted to stop everything.””
“Stop what?””
She looked at Daniel.
“Stop her from marrying you.””
I felt numb.
“Why?””
Chloe looked at me.
“Because Natalie promised she could prove you were making a mistake.””
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“So that’s it?””
Chloe didn’t respond.
Daniel looked at Natalie.
“You used her.””
Natalie’s expression remained calm.
“No.””
She looked at Chloe.
“She chose.””
The words hung in the air.
Because that was the truth nobody wanted to admit.
Chloe wasn’t forced.
She made choices.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Everyone turned.
A police officer stood outside the door.
Behind him was the wedding venue manager.
“Ms. Parker?””
I stepped forward.
“Yes?””
The officer looked at the ruined dress.
Then at Chloe.
“We received a report about intentional property damage.””
Chloe immediately panicked.
“Emma.””
I looked at her.
For the first time, she looked like my little sister again.
Scared.
Lost.
But then the officer said something that made all of us freeze.
“We also need to speak with you about a second complaint.””
Daniel frowned.
“Second complaint?””
The officer looked at the folder in his hand.
“Yes.””
He looked directly at me.
“Someone attempted to cancel this wedding ceremony using your name.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
The officer opened the folder.
“The cancellation request was submitted this morning.””
He turned the paper around.
There was a signature.
My signature.
Except I had never signed it.
May you like
And beneath the fake signature was one line that made my heart stop.
*Reason for cancellation: Bride discovered the groom’s criminal history.*
