They say marriage is the grave of love, but burial is always better than leaving the corpse exposed to the wilderness.
After over two months of hard sewing, I've finally finished my wedding dress by hand.
Under the lights, it is pristine and elegant, shining beautifully.
I imagine the scene of walking towards the man I love in a few days, wearing this wedding dress, and I can't help but smile even in my dreams.
From nineteen to twenty-five, six years have passed, and my love is finally ready to "rest in peace."
But when I woke up, all this beauty came to a screeching halt and turned into a bubble.
"Ms. Lily, did President Gordon come to the design studio this morning to take the wedding dress? Did he take it home?" Cherry, my assistant, called and asked confusedly.
I had just woken up, my mind still a bit foggy, and I asked in return, "Adrian took my wedding dress?"
"Yes, didn't you know?"
"Hmm, I'll ask him."
After hanging up, my thoughts cleared a bit, but I still couldn't understand why Adrian took the dress so early in the morning.
The house is packed with wedding supplies with no room for the gown, I intended to bring it back the day before the wedding.
I called him, but no one answered. As I was about to call a second time, Adrian called back.
"Hello, Adrian, you took the wedding dress?" I asked bluntly.
"Yes." Adrian admitted, in just two words, his voice full of exhaustion and hoarseness.
I furrowed my brows, concerned, and asked: "What's wrong? Are you sick?"
Adrian paused in silence, then calmly and indifferently said, "Lily Miller, let's cancel our wedding."
My ears rang, my mind buzzing with chaos, "Why?"
"Sophie Miller was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the doctor said she has at most three months."
The shock in my heart kept expanding.
For a moment, I felt as if the heavens had opened their eyes, finally taking away this scourge.
"What does that have to do with our wedding?"
"Sophie's last wish is to marry me, so she can die without regrets." Adrian said this, not waiting for me to speak, immediately added, "I know this request is a bit much, but she's dying, could you have some pity on her?"
I opened my mouth slightly in shock, feeling like I had just heard the world's most absurd joke, after a while, I couldn't help but laugh through tears and asked, "Adrian, do you know what you're saying?"
Adrian was resolute: "I'm very clear-headed. Lily, I want to marry Sophie and fulfill her last wish, I know this is unfair to you, as compensation, I'm willing to transfer 50% of the company's shares to your name, consider it carefully."
I felt numb, stiffly asked, "What if I don't agree?"
Adrian grew a bit impatient: "Lily, can't you be a bit kind? Sophie is your sister, she's about to die, she just has this one small wish, and you can't fulfill it?"
What kind of logic is this?
I couldn't help but mock, "Since she's so important to you, do you plan to join her in death when she dies?"
"You—" Adrian was left speechless by my words, after a hesitation, he changed the subject, "Anyhow, I've brought the wedding dress to the hospital, Sophie has a similar figure to you, it will come in handy."
Before he finished talking, I heard a familiar voice in the background, "Adrian, Sophie has woken up!"
"Okay, I'll come right away." Adrian's tone was obviously urgent, urging, "Lily, I hope you'll get back to me soon."
He hung up the call before I could respond.
The voice that called him was clearly that of my dad's current wife, Shirley Turner, who is also my stepmother, Sophie's biological mother.
Since when did they become such a caring family, and I knew nothing about it.
I sat on the bed holding the phone in a daze, my heart full of unwillingness.
How ironic!
Back then Shirley Turner stole my mom's husband, and now her daughter Sophie wants to steal my husband.
Like mother, like daughter indeed.
Over a decade ago, my parents divorced, and within three months, my dad brought Shirley Turner into the house with a grand entrance.
Shirley Turner brought a son and a daughter, twins, two years younger than me.
Later on, I inadvertently discovered that they were my dad's biological children, my half-siblings from a different mother.
That means, my dad had betrayed my mom long ago, with another family outside, and their illegitimate children are just two years younger than me!
When my mom found out, she was furious and wanted to take my dad to court again to demand a second division of assets.
My mom wanted to fight for my rights as much as possible, to prevent all the family assets from falling into the hands of the mistress.
But my dad was ruthless; not only did he refuse my mom's demands, but he also went further and took over most of my grandparents' business.
Grandpa was so agitated that he fell seriously ill, his life hanging by a thread.
But the family couldn't even afford the medical expenses for the elderly, so my mom sold the family heirlooms, scraping together funds for Grandpa's treatment. In the end, she still couldn't save him.
My mom was deeply regretful and blamed herself, believing she'd caused Grandpa's death, and she suffered a mental breakdown, developed severe depression, and later breast cancer, and soon after she also passed away.
She was basically killed by my dad's actions.
The successive deaths of Grandpa and Mom were a huge blow to both Grandma and me.
From a young age, I made up my mind: I must take back everything that belongs to my mom and me, with interest!
In these recent years, through my own hard work, my career has flourished, and I'm about to marry Adrian Gordon, the heir of the Gordon Family, my longtime love.
I thought, with the help of the one I love, our strong alliance would make me even more powerful. Little did I know— things would take a sudden downturn, and on the eve of the wedding, my husband was snatched away by the daughter of the mistress!
When did Adrian and Sophie become so close?
Was it when Sophie first rolled up her sleeves to donate blood to Adrian?
Or was it when Sophie first cooked for Adrian?
Or was it when Sophie, at eighteen, declared in front of everyone—that Adrian is the love of her life, and if she can't marry him, she'd rather die?
Even though, back then, Adrian and I were already an official couple, her bold declaration still sparked a fuss, with people praising her courage.
But Adrian, if you're marrying her because of these things, then what do my years of devotion to you count for?
Your blood type is special, I've been donating blood for you for five years until you fully recovered.
Your body was frail, I cooked countless meals for you, my culinary and medicinal cooking skills are unrivaled.
During your hospital stays those years, how many days and nights have I spent by your bedside, worrying tirelessly...
And now, just because Sophie has a terminal illness, you betray me, unceremoniously canceling the wedding we've prepared, running off to be with her?
Tears welled up, but I quickly forced them back.
Tears are not worth shedding for such a jerk, and it's even less necessary to cry for myself.
The insults and abuse I've suffered at the Miller Family over the years have long made me understand— tears are useless, they only make others laugh harder.
If you're not satisfied, take action, that is the true principle!
I picked up the phone and called the jerk back: "Adrian, if you transfer the entire company to me, I'll give up my place as the bride, if you agree, come back tonight and we'll sign the agreement."