Chapter 5

Hailey's POV

Ten days before the wedding.

I went to the bridal shop alone to try on my dress.

Eric said he had a corporate meeting and couldn't make it. I didn't care. As long as he showed up on the wedding day, nothing else mattered.

I put on the custom gown I had ordered a year ago and stood in front of the full-length mirror.

The dress was breathtaking, adorned with nine hundred and ninety-nine tiny diamonds that shimmered under the boutique lights.

"Miss Miller, you look absolutely stunning," the stylist gasped.

I looked at my reflection, but my mind drifted.

Julian, if only you were the one standing next to me today.

Suddenly, the boutique door was pushed open.

Eric walked in, his arm wrapped around Claire's waist.

When Claire saw the dress on me, her eyes lit up with greed.

"Oh my god, Eric! That dress is gorgeous!" Claire whined, tugging at Eric's arm. "I want to wear this exact dress for my engagement party with Tyler next month."

Eric's eyes flickered with a brief moment of awe when he saw me.

But he quickly masked it, his voice turning cold. "If you like it, try it on."

"But... that's Hailey's wedding dress..." Claire bit her lip, acting hesitant.

"It's just a piece of fabric." Eric looked at me, his tone commanding. "Take it off and let Claire try it."

Even the stylists were stunned.

I could read the sheer disbelief on their faces. Who in their right mind would ask a bride-to-be to strip off her custom wedding gown for another woman?

I just stared at Eric, saying nothing.

My silence made him look slightly guilty, but he doubled down anyway. "Claire is just trying it. I'll order you an even better one."

"No need," I said calmly.

I turned around, walked into the fitting room, and took off the masterpiece without hesitation.

When I stepped out, I was wearing the cheapest, most basic off-the-rack wedding dress in the shop.

No diamonds, no lace, and the hemline was slightly too short.

Eric's face turned completely pale when he saw me in the cheap gown.

"Hailey, what is this supposed to mean? Are you trying to embarrass me on our wedding day by wearing trash?"

I looked at him, my expression blank. "Didn't you say it's just a piece of fabric, Mr. Carter? Since it's just a dress, what difference does it make what I wear?"

"You!" Eric snapped.

He lunged forward, ripped the veil off my head, and slammed it onto the floor.

"If you love this cheap trash so much, then you can walk down the aisle in it on our wedding day!"

With that, he grabbed Claire and walked out.

I stood there, looking at the soiled veil on the floor, and sighed softly.

It didn't matter.

As long as the wedding happened, I could wear a garbage bag for all I cared.

The night before the wedding.

Eric's friends threw him a bachelor party at a high-end club in Manhattan.

As the bride, I was dragged along too.

The VIP room was dimly lit. Eric sat in the center of the plush sofa, with Claire clinging to his side.

I sat alone in the far corner, quietly sipping my water.

"Hey Eric, are you seriously marrying Hailey?" one of his drunk friends slurred. "She's a labeled plagiarist now. Marrying her brings zero benefit to the Carter Group."

"Exactly. Look at her now. She doesn't even have an ounce of pride left. I bet if you gave the wedding ring to Claire right now, she wouldn't even dare to protest."

The room erupted into laughter.

Eric had had a lot to drink, his eyes glassy.

He looked at me sitting in the corner, quiet as a ghost. Suddenly, he pulled a velvet box from his pocket and opened it.

Inside was a flawless pink diamond ring, the wedding ring he was supposed to put on my finger tomorrow.

Amidst the cheers of his friends, Eric took the ring out and casually tossed it into Claire's lap.

"It's yours, Claire. Consider it an early engagement gift."

The room fell silent.

Everyone turned to look at me, waiting for me to scream, cry, or run.

I set my glass down, stood up, and walked over to Eric.

I glanced at the ring in Claire's hand, then looked at Eric. My voice was steady. "Since the ring is gone, what are we using tomorrow?"

Eric let out a mocking chuckle. He grabbed a soda can from the table, ripped off the metal pull-tab, and dropped it at my feet.

"Use this. What's the matter? Don't want to marry me anymore?"

I looked down at the sticky metal tab covered in alcohol.

I bent over, picked it up, and clenched it tightly in my palm.

"I do," I said, looking into Eric's eyes. "As long as you show up on time tomorrow, I will use whatever you want."

Then, I turned and walked out of the room.