Chapter 2

It was past 1:00 AM when Carter finally got home.

Seeing me still sitting in the living room, he kicked off his shoes and asked casually, "The boutique called me. They said you canceled the wedding dress? What’s wrong with it?"

I looked up at him, my voice completely flat. "I just realized I don’t want it anymore."

He frowned, instantly irritated.

"You were the one begging me to get married, and now the wedding is literally next week. Can you stop acting on a whim?"

"Didn't you choose that dress yourself? What kind of drama are you trying to stir up now?"

The mug of coffee in my hands had gone ice cold.

Yes, I was the one who picked it out. But it wasn't the dress I actually wanted.

During our three fitting appointments, he had brought Chloe along every single time.

I wanted a sleek, elegant satin gown. Chloe insisted that a puffy lace tulle dress was much better.

So, Carter spent the entire time subtly and not-so-subtly pressuring me into choosing the tulle.

I wanted a simple white-gold band. Chloe said she preferred a classic diamond solitaire.

So, behind my back, Carter switched the ring order.

I slowly set my coffee mug down on the table and looked him straight in the eye.

"Carter, I hate tulle. I’ve always wanted satin."

His hands paused as he unbuttoned his coat. His face immediately darkened with impatience.

"Are you seriously throwing a tantrum over a fabric?"

"Yes. Over this exact fabric."

"Natalie, if you’re really that bored and have nothing better to do, I can ask Chloe to sign you up for a domestic etiquette class. They teach you how to actually support your husband instead of picking fights."

I stared at him. "Like how Chloe supports you?"

For the past ten years, no matter what I did, Carter would always compare me to Chloe.

My cooking was never as good as Chloe’s.

My housekeeping skills were nothing compared to hers.

He even had the nerve to say these things right in front of my parents.

Once, my mom took me aside and quietly asked if I wanted to reconsider my relationship with him.

But I refused.

Because I could never forget the night I casually mentioned wanting late-night spicy wings, and he drove twenty miles through a torrential thunderstorm just to bring them to me.

I still remembered when he only had $20 left in his bank account, but he spent $19 to buy me a box of organic cherries from Whole Foods because he knew they were my favorite.

Carter sat down across from me, sighing heavily.

"Is it really that hard for you to admit that Chloe is just more capable than you?"

"Then why the hell are you with me?!" I screamed back, my eyes burning with tears.

Carter seemed to realize he had gone too far. He let out a long breath, softening his voice.

"I didn't mean it like that."

"Fine. If you don't like the dress, you don't like it. Chloe knows a few high-end bridal designers. I’ll ask her tomorrow if she can rush a new one before next week."

I tried my best to swallow the bitter, suffocating pain rising in my chest.

"Oh, perfect. So she can have another chance to design a dress she loves? Who knows, maybe she’ll just wear it herself."

Carter’s expression finally cracked.

Underneath his sudden anger, I saw a flash of sheer guilt.

"Do you really have to be this toxic tonight?"

I almost wanted to laugh.

Carter was always like this.

The moment Chloe was involved, he could spin black into white.

Wrong became right.

And his protection was something I would never, ever receive.