You Left Me to Freeze, So I Left You

Chapter 3

I found a budget hotel to crash in. The room was tiny, with nothing but a single bed and one rickety nightstand, but it would do for now.

I shoved my suitcase under the bed and flopped down onto the stiff, lumpy mattress. At the same time, my phone screen lit up.

It was Liam calling.

I swiped to answer.

"We're going for the wedding dress fitting tomorrow. Don't be late." His tone was a little softer than usual, like he was throwing me an olive branch to end the argument. "I know you got wronged yesterday. After the fitting tomorrow, I'll buy you a new bag, yeah?"

"No need," I said.

His voice dropped, sharp and frosty all of a sudden. "How long are you going to keep throwing this tantrum for? I have already retracted that message about canceling the wedding in the group chat. All our relatives and friends are asking questions. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of everyone."

I stared up at the dim, buzzing ceiling light above me. "I'm not throwing a tantrum."

"If you're not, then show up on time tomorrow. Wendy's coming too. She said she'll weigh in on what looks good for you."

The line went dead.

*****

The next afternoon, I showed up at the high-end custom bridal shop.

I pushed open the glass door, and the shop assistant walked over with a bright smile.

"Ms. Logan, your wedding dress is all ready. Mr. Drake is waiting for you inside."

I headed further into the shop. As I did, the curtain to the fitting room slid open, and Wendy was standing in front of the huge floor-to-ceiling mirror, wearing the wedding dress that was supposed to be mine.

The dress had been custom-made to my exact measurements. Wendy was shorter than me, and way thinner too. The voluminous skirt pooled on the floor around her feet, and the waist hung loose with too much empty space.

She lifted the skirt a little and twirled in a circle. "Liam, do I look pretty?"

"Very pretty." Liam was slouched on the sofa, flipping through a design catalog in his hand.

When he saw me walk in, he didn't even bother shifting his posture.

"Perfect, you're here," he told me. "Tell the designer to take the waist in by two inches. Wendy's too thin, the dress doesn't fit her right."

I froze where I stood. "That's my wedding dress."

"Didn't you say you didn't want to have the wedding anymore in the group chat?" Liam snapped the catalog shut and frowned. "This custom set cost tens of thousands of dollars. It'd be a waste to just let it sit there. Wendy has a banquet next week, it's perfect for her to wear."

I stared at that wedding dress. I had drawn the design for it with my own two hands. I'd waited six whole months for the workshop to finish all the intricate French embroidery on it.

I fixed my gaze on Wendy. "Take it off."

She flinched and scurried behind Liam to hide, still looking at me with a pitiful expression. "Cindy, don't be mad. I'm just borrowing it for a little bit, I didn't mean to steal it from you..."

Liam straightened his posture and planted himself squarely in front of Wendy. "Can you stop being so unreasonable? It's just a dress, for Christ's sake. You know she's a good friend of mine, practically my sister. What's the big deal about her borrowing it? You never used to be this petty." He stared down at me, his tone sharp with disdain. "I already said I'll make it up to you. Do you really have to throw a fit in front of all these people?"

I didn't bother arguing that I wasn't throwing a fit. I just walked over to the cutting table beside us and picked up the heavy, solid pair of tailor's shears resting on its surface.

Liam's face dropped. He immediately moved to shield Wendy behind him more. "Cindy Logan, what the hell do you think you're doing? Put those scissors down right now!"

I stepped right past the two of them, walked over to the full-length mirror, and grabbed a fistful of the silk train trailing across the floor.

RIIIP.

The sharp, clear sound of ripping fabric sliced through the shop's quiet atmosphere. A huge, ragged gash split open the expensive silk material.

Wendy let out a shrill scream.

Liam saw red and wrenched the scissors straight out of my grip. "Are you out of your damn mind?!"

I tossed the scrap of fabric I'd been holding onto the floor. "It's mine, I bought it. I can do whatever I want with it." I walked up to the front desk and settled the remaining balance on the wedding dress in full.

Then I pushed open the door and stepped out into the biting cold wind outside.