Chapter 3

I lowered my head to hide the mocking look on my face. If I hadn't seen what he had posted in that group, I really would have been moved enough to try and steal him during the wedding. If I truly tried to steal the groom that day, my foster father would probably be furious. Everyone would blame me for being shameless and ill-mannered. "Miranda, what's wrong? Don't you want to be with me anymore?" Daniel tightened his grip and forced my chin up. It could have been my imagination, but I thought I caught a flash of panic in his eyes. I smiled and said, "Of course I want to. I have a huge gift for you on that day, too." That gift would be me leaving him forever. The corners of Daniel's mouth curved up as he bent down to kiss me on the lips before letting me go. The next morning, Sheryl and Daniel said they would be going out to pick wedding dresses. I tried leaving the table, holding back my pain. But Sheryl grabbed my arm. "Miranda, you're a designer, so you must have excellent taste. Help me pick out a dress." I wanted to refuse her, but my foster father said, "Then you should go together. Miranda should take a look around, too. She might need one soon." I didn't want to disappoint the man who had always cared for me, so I followed them into the car. While Sheryl tried on dresses, Daniel suddenly said to me, "Miranda, pick one that you like, too. I'll buy two sets. Then, you and Sheryl can wear the same gowns so they won't even recognize you under the veil." When he said that, I saw Sheryl clench her skirt. I didn't object and replied, "Okay, but you have to come with me." "You can't even wait a week? Are you that eager to become my bride?" Daniel teased and pulled me into the fitting room. In that cramped space, he took off my clothes and deftly put a wedding dress on me. When I turned around, I could see the astonishment in his eyes. "You're so beautiful, Miranda. I can already imagine how lively the wedding will be." I couldn't tell what he was thinking as his lips curled into a bright smile. I looked at myself in the mirror and said, "Why don't we take a photo?" There wouldn't be any more chances to do it in the future. I had to admit that I still couldn't cut ties completely after so many years together. This photo would be my last memento. I'd left my phone in the fitting room, so we took a photo with Daniel's. He seemed to be in a good mood and didn't even stop me when I took the phone away. When I entered the fitting room with his phone, the group chat was suddenly flooded with messages. His friends were constantly asking him questions. "Daniel, Sheryl said you brought that foster sister of yours to pick wedding dresses. Are you suddenly backing out?" "Who knows? Maybe Daniel's actually falling for her." Further down was a recent reply from Daniel. "Is a woman who climbed into bed so easily worthy of my love? No, I just want to ruin her completely. When she comes in on the wedding day and tries to marry me, I'll publicly refuse and humiliate her. "I'll make sure everyone knows about how shameless she is to seduce her foster brother. Wouldn't kicking her away with heartbreak be so fun?" My heart felt as if it had frozen over and shattered. After so many years of love, he still thought I was unworthy. In his eyes, I was nothing but a cheap woman. My legs buckled, and I tripped over the dress and fell. Daniel rushed in at the noise, scooping me up and asking with concern, "Miranda, are you okay? Are you hurt?" The worry on his face didn't seem fake, but the messages from the group persisted in my mind. So even love could be faked. I pushed him away, swallowing my disgust. Then, I shoved the phone into his hand. He was stunned for a moment before anxiously asking, "Miranda, did you see something?"