Chapter 1

The day before my brother's wedding.

I was picking out a dress when Julian suddenly lashed out at me.

"I told you she likes the rose-pink one. Why do you always have to steal her spotlight?"

I initially thought he was just worried I'd be too dressed up for the wedding, which wouldn't be appropriate.

But Julian continued:

"Briar only gets one wedding in her life, and it's already heartbreaking that she can't marry the one she loves. Can't you just let her have this?"

I stayed silent for a moment.

I didn't ask Julian why he knew more about my future sister-in-law's beloved than I did.

Instead, I FaceTimed my brother, Alex.

Alex was with Briar, trying on her wedding gown.

He wore a black groom's suit, his eyes full of joy.

"Clara, Briar wants you and Julian to come over for dinner later."

Julian's profile briefly appeared in the frame.

He didn't ask for my opinion, just unilaterally agreed.

But usually, he never liked coming to my family's house.

The camera flipped.

Briar, having changed into her gown, ran out of the dressing room, excitedly tiptoeing to throw her arms around Alex.

"Alex, do I look pretty?"

Almost simultaneous with Alex's reply, a very low voice came from behind him.

I heard it.

"I've always known she's most beautiful when she's trying to seduce someone."

I looked over.

Julian's calm face still held a hint of resignation.

It was as if I'd imagined it.

He leaned down, whispering intimately into my ear, trying to appease me.

"Come on, I said the wrong thing. Are you still mad?"

"How do you want to punish me, Clara? I'll accept anything, okay?"

Thinking of Julian's endless tricks and manipulation,

and still on a video call with Alex, I felt a little uneasy.

I turned my face away.

My eyes met Briar's, which seemed to hold a flicker of jealousy.

But it was only for a second.

Then she smiled.

"Clara and her boyfriend seem so in love. Are you two getting married soon?"

Alex was still fussing over Briar's wedding dress, admiring it from every angle.

He didn't even look up.

"Julian has been scheming to marry my sister since graduation, but Clara just wants to have fun for a few more years."

My hand, holding the phone, paused.

Before, I'd never questioned it.

Why did Julian insist I tell everyone I wasn't ready to marry, when it was he who didn't want to get married so early?

His reason back then was that he didn't want my parents to misunderstand or dislike him.

But now, that excuse felt a bit too flimsy.

Alex was led away by a staff member to change clothes.

I picked up the rose-pink dress I'd chosen earlier.

But before I could say anything,

my future sister-in-law's eyes were already red, her gaze bypassing me.

She looked towards Julian behind me.

"Clara, can you let me have this dress?

"Someone once promised me the perfect dress, but it was snatched away by another."

The hand on my shoulder tightened, almost imperceptibly.

This time, it wasn't just my imagination.

"Give it to her."