Chapter 1

　　Mandy's POV

　　"Why don't you just buy one?" My husband asked. "You're exhausting yourself."

　　"Because this is once in a lifetime. This wedding is so special to me." I replied without lifting my head.

　　He'd shrugged, indulgent. "You always overdo things."

　　I smiled.

　　But now I was done sewing the final pearl into the hem just before dawn.

　　"Hmm." I heaved a sigh of relief.

　　My fingers were swollen and red despite the thimble, my shoulders stiff from hours that I bent forward, but I hadn't wanted to stop.

　　I had to hang the gown properly. I wouldn't love to wear a crumbled dress.

　　After six years of romantic relationship with Atlas Avery, to legally getting married not too long ago, we were set to celebrate our wedding ceremony openly.

　　Why I poured so much attention in the wedding gown.

　　And Atlas didn't let me do it all alone, he used to sit on the floor of my old studio apartment while I worked on the dress, watching me.

　　Glad it was over. The next thing was to wait for the wedding day.

　　My stomach bubbled with butterflies each time I thought of it.

　　Time flew quickly. Before I knew, it was two days to the wedding, so I reached out to check my gown, beaming with smiles.

　　To my shock, the gown was gone.

　　My heart thumped. I checked around. No gown.

　　I reached for my phone and called. He answered on the third ring. "Mandy."

　　"Where's my wedding dress, honey?" I asked.

　　There was a pause.

　　It was obvious he knew something.

　　"I took it."

　　My fingers tightened around the phone. "You what? Why? Don't tell me this is one of your last-minute surprises."

　　"No," he said. "It's not."

　　"Then it's what?"

　　"We need to talk." His deep voice loomed.

　　I laughed under my breath, because I couldn't think of anything else I could do. "Talk about what? Atlas, this isn't funny." My heart couldn't contain the suspense.

　　"The wedding," he said.

　　"Susie doesn't have much time left." The words quickly followed. "Her condition worsened last night."

　　My jaw tightened. "And?"

　　"She has a last wish."

　　A bad feeling crept up my spine. "What kind of wish is that?"

　　"She wants me to marry her."

　　The room seemed to spin, the walls closing in on me.

　　"You took my dress," I said slowly, "because my stepsister wants to marry you?"

　　"She's dying, Mandy," he snapped, pitch high. "You know what that means."

　　"Yes," I said quietly. "It means you're using her illness as an excuse to end things." I said palming my chest.

　　"You're being unreasonable." He picked up angrily.

　　My breath edged. Memories flooded in.

　　The hospital. Blood bags filled with mine, hanging beside Atlas's bed. With his terminal illness, my rare blood type could save him.

　　"You survived because of me," I snapped.

　　"That's not an excuse," he said. "I never asked you to… "

　　"You didn't ask for it but you never asked me to stop either?"

　　Silence.

　　He inhaled sharply. "This isn't about that."

　　Anger picked up. "Aside from that, Susie has been taking all the love and attention from dad…. Now, she's taking you?" Tears moistened in my eyes. "And you let her?"

　　"Isn't she your blood, why can't you just let her have this last wish?" He sparked.

　　"Which blood? A girl who moved in with her mom while my mom was still with dad….."

　　"What?" Atlas' voice shot high, hanging in the air. I shrieked.

　　"So you never knew Susie is an illegitimate child?"

　　"How will I…….when you never told me?" Shock warmed his tone.

　　But honestly, I thought he knew. Atlas was close to my dad and Susie. I thought they already told him.

　　"I'm sorry I didn't." I blurt out.

　　"My grandfather's company was swallowed whole by my father after they moved in. Too much expense." I claimed, pissed.

　　"He collapsed in his office one afternoon and never came home. My mother followed him a year later."

　　"Because of her and her mom, my family crumbled. How dare you marry such a person who caused me pain?" The anger picked up, his ignorance wasn't an excuse. A clear betrayal like this couldn't be overlooked.

　　"Pay me! Whatever I mention." I said from the place of hurt.

　　"What…..what do you mean?"

　　"Pay for this emotional distress you caused." I lashed out.

　　Silence pressed down on the line.

　　"I didn't know," Atlas mumbled, hesitating to comply.

　　"Yes, with or without knowing, you want to switch wives. It hurts. Compensate me. Let it hurt you too?" I said firmly.

　　"Nothing goes for nothing!"

　　His voice rushed up, low toned. "What do you want?"

　　"One, give me all your shares in Averon Studio," I said right away. "Two, we should get a divorce. You can't marry her while we're already legally married."

　　"No! No! No divorce. This wedding wouldn't last. After her death, we can hold our wedding." He pleaded. I frowned.

　　"What's he afraid of?" My lips curled with sarcasm. Then I picked up a frown. "Seems you aren't ready to marry her."

　　"If you really want to…. Do those two things. And you're signing it tonight! For both." I leveled up the threat.

　　Another silence.

　　"That's unreasonable," he said automatically.

　　"So, stealing my wedding gown for Susie wasn't?" I replied. "Shifting my place as a bride……?"

　　He couldn't speak.

　　After a few seconds, I heard. "Okay."