Days later, when the wedding gowns arrived, the store manager called us to try them on.
Jackson had an emergency at work, so I told him not to pick me up–I could get to the bridal shop myself,
Just as I was about to leave, I saw Olivia approaching with a radiant smile, carrying a bag.
Seeing me heading out, she casually asked: “Riley, going somewhere?”
Instead of answering, I asked what she wanted.
She smiled, handing me the bag: “Here, I brought you some local specialties from Crescent Bay.”
“Riley, Crescent Bay was exactly like the videos you sent me. The ocean stretches endlessly–so photogenic! By the way, why haven’t you liked any of my posts?”
She excitedly shared details about Crescent Bay, and I found myself staring at this person I’d known for years. We stood so close, yet I felt like I’d never known her at all.
Suddenly, she stopped mid–sentence, her eyes catching the diamond ring on my middle finger.
Her expression shifted subtly as she stared at it strangely: “Riley, you shouldn’t wear rings on your middle finger. Take it off! And when did you get such a beautiful diamond ring? It’s stunning.”
I glanced at the ten–carat diamond Jackson had bought me. He’d said our wedding plans were rushed, skipping the engagement, but we still needed some ceremony–so he insisted on taking me ring shopping.
I had to admit, as the salesperson moved from one–carat diamonds to ten, the bigger they got, the more beautiful they looked.
“I know,” I replied flatly.
“Then why…”
She opened her mouth, but I cut her off with a cold smile: “I’m getting married.”
“What?!”
When she heard this, her expression froze, and she blurted out: “How can you move on from Lucas so quickly?”
When she realized what she’d said, her face fell, and she watched me nervously.
I felt nothing inside–just regret at my poor judgment of character.
She clearly believed I couldn’t have forgotten Lucas so soon, yet here she was, reminiscing about their blissful time in Crescent Bay right in front of me.
She linked her arm through mine, shaking it playfully: “Come on, Riley, don’t be upset. Didn’t you always say if you ever got married, you’d ask me to be your bridesmaid?”
“I haven’t even met the groom yet!” she hinted, clearly wanting me to introduce my fiancé.
In real life, there are people who covet what others have, who relish the superiority and victory of taking things from others.
I didn’t care if Olivia genuinely loved Lucas, but wondered if she’d ever cared for the foolish boy who would drive miles just to bring her home whenever she asked.
I smiled pleasantly: “Sure.”
“Really? Let’s go then.”
Because of the delay with Olivia, Jackson arrived at the bridal shop before me.
When Olivia saw Jackson at the bridal shop, her cheerful expression vanished, the content below IN MATE Jackson was there
Her wide eyes watched as I walked forward and slipped my arm through Jackson’s the implication was obvious
Jackson glanced down at me with resigned amusement, then played along, telling Olivia: “We’re getting married on the fifth of next most welcome to attend.”
“That’s impossible!” Olivia shook her head in disbelief. She stared at Jackson’s expressionless face, words falling her. “Ton you.
She wanted to say: Weren’t you desperately in love with me before?
Really?
I gave her an innocent look: “Why is it impossible, Olivia?”
If she could suddenly get together with Lucas overnight, why couldn’t we do the same?
Just as the silence grew uncomfortable, Olivia’s phone rang. She snapped back to reality and fumbled for her phone in her purse
While she took the call, I settled onto the sofa where store assistants were arranging the newly arrived wedding gowns before me.
I stabbed a piece of fruit from the platter and popped it into my mouth, pointing at Olivia’s pale face as I said to Jackson: “See? Even she knows what she did was wrong.”
“There’s no such thing as true empathy in this world.”
“Hey, do you think she actually had feelings for you too?”
Jackson shot me a glare: “Ha. Definitely not.”
He looked at the five wedding gowns in front of us, shaking his head with a sigh before asking: “Do you like any of these?”
His question reminded me to look up at the dresses.
The moment I laid eyes on the center gown, I fell in love. It was completely covered in diamond fragments, the design exuding romance and elegance. Under the lights, the diamonds reflected light reminiscent of the brilliant glow of stars over the ocean.
Jackson noticed me staring at that particular dress and waved his hand in front of my face: “Go try it on.”
Not every girl dreams of getting married, but every girl dreams of wearing a wedding dress.
From outside came the broken fragments of Olivia’s conversation, with Jackson occasionally responding.
As I was about to emerge, I heard Olivia asking him tearfully: “Jackson, you were never like this with me before. Why are you being so cold now? Please don’t treat me this way. Can’t we still be friends even if we can’t be lovers?”
