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On My Wedding Day, My Family Let Their Adopted Daughter Wear My Dress
Novelix
Completed
"On my wedding day, I walked into the ballroom in my gown—and my fiancé Julian, along with my entire family, acted like they had no idea who I was. Julian had his arm around my sister Chloe, looking genuinely confused. ""She's my bride. I think you've got the wrong venue."" Mom and Dad frowned too. ""Who is she? Can someone please escort her out?"" Up on the big screen, Julian's name sat right next to Chloe's. Hundreds of guests were staring at me. Some were whispering that I was crazy. Others already had their phones out. I looked at my parents, then at the man who was supposed to marry me today, and started babbling that I was the bride. That's when Chloe burst out laughing. Julian looked down at her with this doting smile. Mom was dabbing at tears from laughing so hard. Dad was literally filming me with his phone. Chloe grabbed my arm. ""Okay, okay, we're done messing with you. Oh my God, you actually bought it? Come on, come help me touch up my makeup."" The second I turned around, Chloe yanked at the clasps on the back of my dress. The gown slipped off my shoulders, leaving me in just my underwear. I bent down in a panic to grab it, but Chloe caught my hand. ""Don't be mad yet—I've got a surprise for you. Remember that custom gown you kept saying was too expensive?"" She led me to the lounge. The second the door opened, buckets of red paint came pouring down on me. ""Surprise!"" Mom, Dad, Julian, and Chloe were all holding plastic buckets, cracking up. ""Do you love it, sis? We got you a custom red wedding gown!"" I stood in the doorway clutching the soaked dress, red paint dripping from my hair onto my face. Enough. This stupid joke needed to end."
Chapters (4)
第1章
On my wedding day, I walked into the ballroom in my gown—and my fiancé Julian, along with my entire family, acted like they had no idea who I was.
Julian had his arm around my sister Chloe, looking genuinely confused. "She's my bride. I think you've got the wrong venue."
Mom and Dad frowned too. "Who is she? Can someone please escort her out?"
Up on the big screen, Julian's name sat right next to Chloe's.
Hundreds of guests were staring at me. Some were whispering that I was crazy. Others already had their phones out.
I looked at my parents, then at the man who was supposed to marry me today, and started babbling that I was the bride.
That's when Chloe burst out laughing.
Julian looked down at her with this doting smile. Mom was dabbing at tears from laughing so hard. Dad was literally filming me with his phone.
Chloe grabbed my arm. "Okay, okay, we're done messing with you. Oh my God, you actually bought it? Come on, come help me touch up my makeup."
The second I turned around, Chloe yanked at the clasps on the back of my dress.
The gown slipped off my shoulders, leaving me in just my underwear. I bent down in a panic to grab it, but Chloe caught my hand.
"Don't be mad yet—I've got a surprise for you. Remember that custom gown you kept saying was too expensive?"
She led me to the lounge. The second the door opened, buckets of red paint came pouring down on me.
"Surprise!"
Mom, Dad, Julian, and Chloe were all holding plastic buckets, cracking up.
"Do you love it, sis? We got you a custom red wedding gown!"
I stood in the doorway clutching the soaked dress, red paint dripping from my hair onto my face.
Enough.
This stupid joke needed to end.
...
The hem of the gown was heavy with paint, dragging on the floor. The chemical smell made me gag a few times.
I hadn't said a word. Slowly, the smile faded from Chloe's face.
"Nora, are you mad?"
Julian walked over and draped his jacket over my shoulders.
"Come on, Chloe just didn't want you to be nervous at the wedding. She was trying to lighten the mood."
Chloe grabbed the hem of his shirt and ducked behind him. He glanced back at her and let her hold on.
Mom brought over some wet wipes and reached for my face.
"Sweetheart, we'll help you clean up. Chloe put so much work into this. We didn't realize you'd be such a scaredy-cat about it. Don't blame her."
I jerked away from her hand and let out a cold laugh.
"You ripped my dress off at my own wedding, then dumped red paint all over me. And you think this is funny?"
Dad put his phone away. "Alright, maybe this one went a little far. But she knows you're upset now. Stop yelling at her."
"I'm not yelling."
"Nora." Mom's brow furrowed in disapproval. "She's crying. Let everyone cool off for a minute, okay?"
I'd been hearing lines like this for fifteen years.
Chloe was ten when her parents died in a car accident. Mom had been friends with her mother, so my parents adopted her and brought her home to Seattle.
Her first day with us, Mom told me to move out of my bedroom—the one with the balcony.
"She just lost her family. Let her have the room she likes, okay?"
Later, my parents canceled my summer science program and used the money to pay her private school tuition.
"She's not doing well at public school. You can apply again next year."
She liked my new dress, so Mom made me give it to her. She didn't like eating alone, so we had to wait for her to come home—even if she'd already eaten out with her friends.
Even when Julian and I went on dates, we usually had to bring her along. I was afraid that if we left her behind, she'd cry and ask me if having a boyfriend meant I didn't care about her anymore.
Gradually, I became the one who got forgotten before family outings, the one whose order got left off when they ordered takeout.
I thought today, of all days, they'd finally put me first.
The gown, the flowers, the menu—I'd picked out every single thing myself. I'd been looking forward to Dad walking me down the aisle, to Mom sitting in the front row watching me and Julian exchange our vows.
Now my dress was soaking in red paint, the wedding I'd spent months planning was wrecked, and I was the punchline. And they still wanted me to worry about Chloe's feelings.
Mom pulled her close. Dad stepped in front of her like a shield.
I looked at them, my throat tight.
"Did you all forget? I'm the bride today. I'm your daughter."
第2章
Mom let go of Chloe and took a step toward me.
"Nora..."
The wedding planner knocked and came in, a bathrobe in her arms. She took one look at the buckets on the floor and handed me the robe.
"Put this on for now. I'll get the cleaning crew up here."
"Thank you."
I went into the bathroom, peeled off the stained gown, and threw it in the tub.
Julian stood outside the door. "I know you're upset. When you come out, I'll make Chloe apologize properly."
I locked the door.
I let the warm water run forever. The sharp smell finally faded, but my skin was still streaked with red. I used body wash, then makeup remover, scrubbing my arms until they burned. The color wouldn't come off.
When I came out in the robe, Mom stood up immediately.
"Why is it still so red?"
Chloe glanced down at my hands.
"I added a little fixing dye so the color would show up better. I thought it would wash off."
I stared at her. She shrank back.
Dad unzipped the garment bag hanging on the rack. "What about the backup dress? You said you brought one."
"I left it at home."
"Then go get it," I said.
Chloe looked at Mom. "It's at least two hours round trip."
Mom patted the back of her hand. "Okay, we hear you."
The planner scrolled through her phone. "There's a bridal shop nearby I can call. They can send over a white dress. About forty minutes."
"Please do," I said.
Dad checked his watch. "People have been waiting a long time out there."
I picked up my phone from the chair. "You can tell them the wedding's canceled."
"Nora, don't be like this." Mom reached out and gripped my wrist. "We're figuring it out."
Chloe slowly smoothed down her skirt. "What if I just walk through the ceremony? Once the photos are done, everyone can go eat. We'll just tell them it was the last prank."
I turned to Julian. "You hear this?"
He frowned. "Chloe, that's not appropriate."
"I know." Her eyes welled up again. "But my dress won't fit Nora, and all those people are out there. We can't just make them keep waiting."
"They can wait, or they can leave," I said. "I don't need someone standing in for me at my own wedding."
Dad lowered his voice. "You two already signed the papers last week. Today's ceremony is just for show, for family and friends. Don't make this uglier than it has to be."
I didn't look at him. I kept my eyes on Julian.
"If you walk her down that aisle, we're done."
第3章
Julian's frown deepened.
"Nora, can you stop throwing out that line every time you're mad?"
Chloe grabbed his cuff. "Ten minutes, that's all. I promise I'll explain everything to the guests afterward."
Julian was quiet for a few seconds, then straightened the veil she'd knocked askew.
"There won't be a next time."
Mom immediately steered her over to the mirror and called someone in to fix her makeup. Dad headed out to tell the guests there was one last part to the prank.
The planner looked at me. "How would you like me to handle this?"
"I already told you. I don't agree to it."
Julian turned around. "I'll talk to her. I'll deal with everyone outside."
I picked up my purse and headed for the door. He caught up and wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"Nora, I'm sorry."
I tried to shrug him off. He only held tighter.
In the past, every time my parents took Chloe out and forgot about me, he'd be the one who showed up. When Chloe took something I'd spent weeks on, he'd sit with me until I stopped feeling awful.
I used to lean into this hug.
"Did you actually hear what I just said?" I asked.
"I did. But everyone's waiting right now."
"Then go. Don't keep her waiting."
"Don't be like that." He bent down to kiss my cheek. I turned my face away.
He paused, then adjusted the jacket on my shoulders.
"Go home, take a shower, put on something comfortable. I ironed that white dress you love. It's hanging in the closet."
I looked at him and didn't say anything.
"I'll see you at the airport," he said softly. "Just the two of us on the honeymoon, okay?"
In the lounge, Mom was gushing over how beautiful Chloe looked.
I pushed Julian away and walked out of the hotel.
Back home, I scrubbed for a long time. My skin was still tinged pink.
The white dress was hanging in the closet. I changed into it and dragged the suitcase I'd packed weeks ago out to the airport.
An email popped up on my phone.
The Antarctic marine research project I'd applied to had cleared final review. They needed my confirmation within seventy-two hours. Departure in six weeks.
I studied marine microorganisms at the university lab. I'd spent half a year on this application. When Julian found out, he told me to focus on the wedding first.
"Six months without seeing you? Nora, we're supposed to be trying for a baby."
I'd never told him I hadn't withdrawn the application.
Looks like that was the right call.
The boarding announcement came over the speakers. I put my phone away and called him.
No answer.
I texted him asking where he was. No reply. By the time final boarding closed, his phone was off.
Mom and Dad didn't pick up. Chloe's phone was off too.
I rushed back to the hotel. The ballroom was being broken down. Staff told me the four of them had left ages ago.
Nobody at my place. Nobody at my parents' place either.
I called a few relatives and friends. None of them knew anything. I spent the whole night refreshing my phone, calling hospitals, and when the sun came up I went to every place they might have gone.
It wasn't until the following evening that Julian finally called.
I picked up right away. "Where are you? What happened? I couldn't reach any of you—"
"You seriously spent the whole night looking for us?"
He was laughing.
Then Chloe's voice came through.
"I won! I told you she'd keep searching!"
第4章
I grabbed the car door. "You made a bet out of this?"
"Don't get worked up, we were just having fun." Julian was still laughing. "Oh, by the way—I canceled your reservation and booked a new one for Chloe."
"You're taking her on my honeymoon?"
"I'm messing with you." His voice softened. "I booked you first class on a separate flight. Your back's been bothering you. Long flights are rough."
"Send me the booking info."
"It's all set, just give your name at the counter. Something came up on my end, I'll send it to you in a bit."
After he hung up, I sat in the car for a few minutes, then drove to the airport anyway.
The agent checked twice, then looked up. "I'm sorry, Ms. Bennett. I'm not finding any reservation under your name. Do you have a confirmation email?"
I checked my inbox. Nothing.
I walked away and called Julian again. He listened, went silent for two seconds, then burst out laughing.
"You actually went to check?"
I could hear Chloe laughing next to him.
"Julian. Where are you right now?"
"Iceland. Chloe's always wanted to come. She's never been out of the country."
I pulled the car door open and got in.
"So you told me to go home and change, had me waiting at the airport, then turned off your phone?"
"If I'd told you ahead of time, you would've said no."
"Then why are you telling me now?"
"We're already here. You expect us to just fly straight back?"
I looked down at my white dress and didn't answer.
He sighed. "I'll make up the honeymoon to you. Don't drag this out forever."
"Us?"
Mom's voice came through from the side. "Sweetheart, we already promised we'd bring her out here. You and Julian can plan another trip."
Then Dad: "We'll talk when we get back. What's the point of fighting on an international call?"
I gripped the phone until my nails bit into my palm.
Back when Chloe was scared of thunder, Julian would drive through the rain across half the city to sit with her. When I got stranded at a coffee shop two blocks from his place after work, he told me to just call a cab.
Whenever we went out to eat, he always handed the menu to her first. If I said I didn't like the restaurant, he'd pat my knee and tell me I could pick next time.
On the other end, Chloe said quietly, "Maybe I should just go back. Nora's always like this. None of us are gonna enjoy the trip."
"No." Julian cut in instantly.
Then he said my name again.
"Nora, go home first. I promise, as soon as we're back, we'll plan a real trip."
"When you get back, we're getting divorced."
