Chapter 1

Three days before the wedding, my fiancé, Benjamin White, accompanied me for my final wedding gown fitting.

As he adjusted the corset ties, he suddenly spoke up.

"You know, your figure isn't exactly runway-ready. Strapless gowns don't really flatter you."

My smile froze. I asked him casually.

"So who does it look good on?"

He avoided my gaze, answering awkwardly.

"Well... models, I guess."

"Which model?" I stared at him.

His hands trembled slightly on the ties, then he laughed it off, trying to sound casual.

"Who else? The consultant helping you, Chloe."

Something felt off when I asked Benjamin to help me with the corset ties.

He was usually hopeless with neckties, yet now he expertly tied a perfect French bow.

Then, almost absently, he said:

"You know, Elaine, your figure isn't really model material. Strapless isn't your best look."

My heart dropped like a stone. I asked him,

"So who does it look good on?"

His warm breath hit my neck. I felt him tense up, suddenly nervous.

"Well... models, I guess."

"Which model?"

I stared straight into his eyes through the mirror.

His breath hitched for a second. His hands shook on the silk ribbon, but then he forced another casual laugh.

"What other model? The new girl at the boutique, Chloe. Saw her when I glanced in during your fitting last time. Seems pretty young."

"Really?"

I forced a smile, a heavy lump forming in my chest.

I remembered Chloe. Very pale skin, hard to tell her age.

Looking down at the perfect bow Benjamin had tied, a sharp pain stabbed through my heart.

"When did you learn to tie a bow like that?"

"What bow?"

Benjamin looked down instinctively, then tried to play it cool.

"Oh, just looked it up online. Tutorials."

"Is that so?"

I smiled faintly.

"But I remember you used to say you hated it when girls acted cutesy. Now you're actively searching for bow-tying tutorials?"

The air froze for a moment.

Benjamin reached around and hugged me from behind.

"It's because I'm marrying you! You have so many dresses. Figured I should learn to help you out."

His voice was gentle, considerate, as always. But I never wore dresses that needed bows.

My heart kept sinking. I grabbed his hand and pushed him away. My fingers brushed against a small bump under his sleeve.

Pushing the sleeve up, I saw a pink sticker.

"What's this?"

I looked up at him.

Benjamin froze, then snatched his hand back like it was precious.

Only then did he seem to register my question. He forced another casual laugh.

"Oh, just a kid at work messing around. Stickers. Not important."

"Right?"

I murmured it, but inside, a tsunami was raging.

He was a terrible liar.

He said he learned the bow for me, forgetting I owned nothing requiring one.

He said the sticker was nothing, yet I saw the subtle relief when I dropped the subject.

Tears suddenly pricked my eyes. I made an excuse about changing and pushed him out. Then, I secretly unlocked his phone.

The passcode was still my birthday. The lock screen was our engagement photo, taken just last week.

His pinned chats were me and family.

His social media showed nothing unusual.

Maybe it really was all in my head.

I took a deep breath, ready to put the phone down and stop overthinking.

Then, an Alipay notification popped up.

"Coming over tonight? I'll wear the strapless gown for you."