Chapter 3
Layla's POV
Austin stared at me, clearly not expecting me to suddenly give in. "Wait, what?"
"She wants to be part of this so badly, right?" The corner of my mouth lifted. "Let her help me pick a veil."
Beat.
"If she's got the guts to show up."
I turned and walked out.
Three p.m.
When I pushed open the heavy double doors of the Vera Wang flagship store, it was dead quiet. Creepy quiet.
The manager and several sales associates stood in the corner, faces white as sheets. Like they'd seen a ghost.
And there, in front of the three-way mirrors in the VIP fitting area, stood a woman.
Serena.
Wearing MY wedding dress.
The hand-beaded lace gown I'd spent six months custom-ordering. Made in a Paris atelier, every pearl hand-selected by me. Tailored exactly to my measurements. On her thin frame it hung loose, but she was twirling in front of the mirror, face lost in pure bliss.
Austin stood right behind her, looking at her like she was the only person in the world.
"God, Serena, you look amazing."
"But... this is Layla's." Serena bit her lip.
"If you like it, I'll have them make you one in your—"
Austin stopped mid-sentence when he saw my reflection in the mirror.
Dead silence.
"Looks like I'm interrupting something." I smiled coldly, walking toward them.
"Layla! Let me explain." Austin immediately let go of Serena and rushed over, trying to grab my arm. "Serena's just never worn a wedding dress before, she was curious—"
"Take it off." I didn't look at him. Spoke directly to Serena in the mirror.
Serena flinched, choking out, "I'm sorry... Layla, I really didn't mean to! I just... I figured I'd never get married, never get to wear one... I just wanted to know what it felt like..."
She fumbled with the buttons on the back, tears streaming down her face.
Riiiiip—
The delicate lace tore with a vicious sound.
"Ah!" Serena shrieked and dropped to the floor.
"Serena!" Austin rushed to help her up, then whipped around to me. "Are you INSANE?! It's just a DRESS! Look what you did to her!"
"Just a dress?" I stared at him.
"Yes! I'll pay you back, whatever it costs!" Austin was done pretending now. "Layla, you're acting like a psycho! Can you show some compassion for once?"
"Compassion?" I laughed. "Who showed ME compassion these past five years?"
"What do you WANT?" Austin stood up, face dark. "She apologized! What more do you want?"
"What do I want? I want you OUT of my sight!" I pointed at the door. "Take your little victim with you!"
"Enough! Are you happy now? You scared her half to death—is that what you wanted?"
Austin's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, and his entire face changed.
"I need to take this." He turned to Serena, voice going soft. "Go change. I'll be right back."
He rushed out of the fitting room.
Only Serena's sniffling filled the air.
A few minutes later, she came out of the dressing room holding the torn wedding dress. Eyes all watery, she held it out to me.
"Layla... I'm so sorry. I really didn't mean to."
I looked at the ruined dress, then laughed.
"You know what, Serena?" I took the dress and tossed it in the trash. "I should actually thank you."
She froze. "What?"
"You showed me who Austin really is." I stepped closer. "But now? We can drop the act, can't we?"
The tears on Serena's face vanished instantly. A cold smile spread across her lips. "Finally done pretending? I was wondering how long you'd keep it up."
"Pretending what? That I don't know you're faking the whole mental illness thing? That I don't know you two have been together this whole time?"
"So what?" Serena shrugged. "He loves ME. You're just a stand-in. A cheap replacement."
"A replacement?" I actually laughed. "Well, this replacement's done playing."
I turned to leave. Serena called after me, mocking. "You think you can just walk away? Layla, you're NOTHING without Austin! NOTHING!"
"Yeah?" I stopped but didn't turn around. "We'll see about that."
Just as I reached the door—
CRASH.
"HELP! SOMEONE HELP!" Serena's scream tore through the room.
I spun around.
She was on the floor, blood pouring from her arm. A shattered vase lay beside her.
"Layla PUSHED me! She pushed me into the vase!" Serena was hysterical now. "She tried to KILL me!"
The sales associates screamed.
Austin burst back in, saw Serena lying in blood, and his face went white.
"Serena! What happened?" He dropped to his knees, pulled her into his arms, then glared at me with pure hatred. "What did you DO?"
"Austin... Layla, she..." Serena went limp against him. "I just wanted to apologize... and she just... shoved me... I hit the vase..."
"You're CRAZY!" Austin shot to his feet, hand raised to strike me. "I'm calling the cops!"
"Touch her and I'll break your hand."
A voice cut through the room. Cold. Low.
Everyone went still.
A man stood in the doorway. Tall, imposing. Black custom suit, features sharp as a blade, steel-blue eyes without a trace of warmth.
Julian Cross.
Wall Street's uncrowned king. The man whose name alone could make the entire financial world shake.
Austin's raised hand froze mid-air. His face shifted from rage to terror. "Mr. Cross... what are you doing here?"
Julian ignored him completely. Walked straight to my side, voice a low rumble.
"Picking up my fiancée."
