Chapter 1

The bridal shop called, saying my fiancé had settled the full payment for the dress.

But the consultant brought out a maternity gown.

The bride on the order wasn't me, and the wedding date wasn't ours.

Yet, the signature on the payment? My fiancé's name, Alex Caldwell.

I followed the address the consultant gave me and found a photography studio.

Pushing aside the curtain, I saw a young woman, cradling her back, changing her shoes.

She looked at me, frowned, and asked, "Who are you?"

I handed her the bridal shop receipt, asking softly, "The groom's number for final payment confirmation? Can you give it to me?"

She smiled sweetly and rattled off my husband's phone number.

The woman cradled her back, her face still covered in bridal makeup, her lips a shimmering pink.

"Are you new here?"

She swept her eyes over me, her gaze lingering on the ring on my left hand.

That ring? Alex gave it to me on our fifth wedding anniversary, putting it on my finger himself. He swore I was the only woman he'd ever give it to.

The consultant stood by the door, too awkward to speak.

The woman suddenly laughed.

"Oh, excuse me. My fiancé is very thoughtful; he handles all the wedding dress arrangements."

I crumpled the receipt, then slowly smoothed it out.

"What's your fiancé's name?"

She raised an eyebrow, as if I'd said something offensive.

"Alex Caldwell."

The photographer beside them coughed.

"Cheryl, take it easy. Stress isn't good for the baby."

Cheryl.

Cheryl Greene.

She held a pair of satin white shoes, her feet slightly swollen, her belly visibly protruding.

She wasn't newly pregnant.

I stared at her stomach, a metallic taste burning in my throat.

Just three months ago, Alex held me, promising that once his company project stabilized, we'd have the wedding ceremony we never had. He said he'd make up for the one he owed me.

Turns out, he gave that ceremony to someone else.

Cheryl lifted a hand to protect her belly, her tone turning cold.

"Who exactly are you? If you don't tell me, I'll call my fiancé over."

"Call him."

I pushed the receipt back towards her.

"Call him now."

An impatient flicker crossed her eyes, and she dialed a number right in front of me.

The phone rang twice.

A familiar voice came through the receiver.

"Cheryl, my love, what's wrong? Doesn't the dress fit?"

That 'Cheryl, my love' shattered the last sliver of hope I clung to.

Cheryl looked at me triumphantly.

"Some woman came with a receipt asking for your number. She's being weird."

There was a pause on the other end.

"What does she look like?"

Cheryl's smile deepened.

"Thin, wearing a wedding ring, looks pretty rude."

Alex's breathing hitched.

"Tell her not to leave. I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Cheryl put her phone back in her bag, leaning back in her chair like a victor.

"My fiancé will be here any minute. If you're trying to con money out of us, you might as well give up now."

The photographer echoed her.

"People these days, they see a pregnant woman dressed nicely and think they can pull a scam."

"A pregnant woman dressed nicely" – that phrase made me look at her wedding dress.

The hem was embroidered with delicate pearls, and the waistline was very loose.

I'd seen the regular version in the same store once.

The price tag read eighty-eight thousand.

Back then, Alex frowned, saying there was no rush for a wedding, as the company needed to circulate funds.

I smiled and said it was fine.

But now, he's used our joint savings to buy a maternity wedding dress for another woman.

Cheryl suddenly touched her belly.

"Don't worry, baby, Daddy's coming soon."

Urgent footsteps sounded at the door.

When Alex pushed through, his tie was crooked, and sweat beaded on his forehead.

His face went white the moment his gaze met mine.

Cheryl immediately stood up, sounding wronged.

"Alex, she scared me."

Alex didn't look at her.

Nor did he walk towards me.

He stood frozen in the middle, as if pinned by two pairs of eyes.

I held up the receipt, my voice hoarse.

"Alex Caldwell, explain yourself."

Cheryl froze.

"You two know each other?"

Alex reached out to grab me.

"Southbrook, let's talk outside."

Cheryl's face changed.

She clutched Alex's sleeve, her voice trembling.

"Who is Southbrook?"

Alex hadn't answered when another person walked into the photography studio.

My mother-in-law, Brenda Caldwell, held a food container, her smile freezing on her face.

"Cheryl, honey, Mom made you some soup..."

The food container hit the doorframe with a dull thud.