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ya'
idal suite reflected
The dress was everything I imagined since I was sixteen-ivory satin hugging my waist, layers of tulle falling like soft clouds to t
le tugging at my lips. Ten years
ter my stepmother Elaine had screamed at me for breathing too loudly, how he'd parked under the streetlight and held me until the shaking stopped. I remembered the way he
brings "good luck" with her beauty and modeling gigs. Tristan, my father, stayed silent in the background,
proof beca
tered for ju
ld have
e house like she owned it, favoring Helene in every way, new clothes, modeling lessons, praise that dripped like honey. I became the shadow: the one who cleaned up after Helene's tantrum
dma still managed to hold my hand during visits and whisper, "You're strong, my girl. Stronger than they know." I had spent countless ni
irloom necklace
every day. Inside was a tiny photo of ba
own the aisle instead of him. I wish Grandma could stand up, even for
d-mom proud, Grandma clapping her thin hands. The
ng invisible. No more being the leftov
pulled me fro
ugh the door-low, and formal, the wa
of the gown one last time, took a s
ing older than I remembered. His eyes flicked
ut coming from him
nyway. "Tha
e silk of his sleeve cool against my skin. Together
scene-fashion executives, billionaires, socialites, brand representatives whose names appeared
like a pr
Voss finally lo
y to have someone lik
helbel's Canon in D, soft strings filling the room. My
is t
-strewn aisle. Guests stood.
I reached
ant smiled
uartet softe
yes searchi
sn't
faltered o
ed. Then minutes.
his throat. "Perhaps
t at first, then spr
s the g
ust... le
-left at th
e her and she's the one fo
he empty spot where Dylan should have been. My stepmom sat in the front ro
der. Someone gave a
ike a dream now felt like a cage. My chest
really
is. Not Dylan. No
inutes ke
till was
ted racing fa
ldn't stand there another second while
to fi
t the shocked faces, past the flashing phones, past my father's outstr
to fin
to kno
n the toilet
should be
the reception below. I moved quickly, heels clicking
en I h
s against the wall. A wo
opped. It was
door open wit
Dylan, naked, entangled with a woman whose long auburn hair spilled across the pillows, his hips driving into her
d. It was Helene. My step sister. My own flesh and blood, writhing ben
ezed painfull
t notice m
to the sight of my fiancé buried ins
ped her throat was
was e
open. A slow, wicked
ng to stop moving against Dylan
lder still thrusting, his e
, almost casuall
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