pte

IE W

MS WESLEY. YOU'RE

hands shaking, eyes blur with

eft the hosp

lat on my stomach,

ad even pulled away. I would have cried happy tears all the

ight not even a

e her

ed in front of th

in the rearview mirror as h

erything. Almost, but I just smiled,

tucked it into my ba

d it himself." Ivy's voice echoed from th

my breath catch

r wedding gown, turning slowly for Mom. And Anthony... He stood nearby, wa

mach d

ny months ago. I'd told him I wanted to wear it on ou

ething moved across his face... guilt, maybe, or it was just m

throat closing tightly as my g

." Ivy's gaze met mine

sure at first, but then he mentioned it was based on the sample you'd already chosen, and I thought..." She paused

ed to

m. He told me you'd wanted it, but I couldn't find anything else I

aps she should consider auditioning for a ro

ment, then turned quietl

n the edge of my bed and

my face. I placed my

everything else,

lid the paper under my pillow and co

wearing the dress. Sh

length mirror, a smile on her fa

ped, her face twisting with disgust. "Did you actually fi

dress because she loved it. She'd ch

d, then

ery insult and called it consideration and kee

"You must want to be me so badly, you'd g

rror, colors draining

rward. "Tell me you have an inferiorit

pened. Noth

out reaching my eyes. "Taking my things... does it fill som

nd swung and caught me hard ac

dar

across her face befor

e could recover from the slap, my palm c

ned as she st

er insults, and even when she raised her hand

for a moment... T

y came through the door, Mom right behind them, al

happened?" Mom's han

his voice hard and stripped of every warmth I've

me what happened? He's just

talking to yo

ke to Anthony coldly. I was always soft with him,

nced a

he dress... And everything. I only wanted to make things right betw

back at me. "

earching for a reason to believe her, Mom already certa

their minds. None of

firm and disgusted. "Over a man an

nuckles already hard

rs... Had she ever cons

turn would've changed nothing. To her, I'

my stomach, tears

not going to stay in th

ng with m