Chapter 2

Claire Carter POV

When I asked to change the veil, everyone in the makeup room froze.

That veil had been personally selected by Grayson.

All the styling, all the photos, even the backdrop on the big screen had been designed around it. Changing it at the last minute wouldn't just look bad. It would create unnecessary extra work.

The makeup artist carefully tried to persuade me. "Miss Carter, Mr. Jones ordered this veil six months in advance. Today's main dress can only be paired with this one."

I looked at that layer of white gauze.

I thought of how Sylvia's fingers had just slowly slid across its edge, touching it like a trophy.

I felt sick.

"I'm not wearing it."

The makeup artist didn't dare try to convince me further and hurried to find the coordinator.

As I adjusted my earring, I noticed a pearl hairpin missing from the jewelry tray on the vanity.

That hairpin was supposed to match the veil.

The day I'd tried on the dress, Grayson had personally placed it in my hair. He'd even said pearls suited me better than diamonds.

Now the hairpin was gone.

The coordinator rushed over, her expression even worse than the makeup artist's.

"Miss Carter, the backup veil and hairpin were sent upstairs earlier to test the effect. They haven't been brought back yet."

I looked up at her.

"Who was testing them?"

The coordinator's lips moved. "Mr. Jones's side arranged it."

That told me nothing.

A young assistant beside her blurted out, "That lady earlier looked really good in them. I thought we were doing two bridal looks today."

The makeup room instantly went dead silent.

The coordinator's face changed immediately as she turned to scold her. "What are you talking about!"

The young assistant shrank back in fear.

But I laughed.

The laugh was light and faint.

"Two brides?"

The coordinator immediately tried to placate me. "No, no, it must be a misunderstanding, Miss Carter. I'll have someone bring everything back right away."

I didn't pursue it further. I just took the wedding program tablet.

I'd only meant to check how many more procedures we had to go through.

But the moment I opened the video materials, I saw a short clip from last night.

In the video, Sylvia stood at the center of the ceremony platform, wearing my backup veil and holding my bouquet.

Grayson stood below the platform, looking up at her.

Sylvia smiled and asked, "If I hadn't taken the fall for you back then, would I be the one standing here today?"

Grayson didn't deny it.

He only said, "Come down quickly. Don't let anyone see you."

Don't let anyone see.

After hearing that sentence, my fingertips grew colder bit by bit.

So from last night, Sylvia had already been standing in my place.

The platform, the bouquet, the veil.

Even my room had been used by her.

When Grayson came in, he happened to see the tablet in my hand.

His steps clearly paused.

I didn't make a scene or throw anything. I just turned the screen toward him.

In the video, Sylvia still wore the veil, smiling like a real bride.

Grayson was silent for a few seconds before speaking, his voice deliberately low. "Sylvia was emotional last night. She just wanted to experience what a wedding felt like."

I looked up at him.

"So my veil, my bouquet, my platform, my room. She can try them all?"

Grayson's brows furrowed.

"Claire, she was rejected because of me years ago. People mocked her for years. Don't use these words to provoke her today."

I looked at him, suddenly losing the energy to ask anything more.

My wedding was being stolen.

And Grayson was worried my words would upset Sylvia.

He was always like this.

Whenever Sylvia cried, he immediately made excuses for her. As for whether I was hurt, whether I felt wronged, whether I had to swallow things that had been stained. He never considered any of that.

A light knock came from the doorway.

Sylvia personally brought the backup veil back.

She had the white gauze draped over her arm, her face full of apology, her eyes reddening the moment she entered.

"Claire, I'm sorry. I just envied you too much and couldn't resist trying it on. Don't blame Grayson. It's my fault."

She sounded so humble, as if I'd really bullied her.

Before I could speak, she'd already turned to look at Grayson, tears falling.

"I should just leave. Today is your wedding. I don't want Claire to misunderstand us, and I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

Grayson spoke up as expected. "Since you're already here, stay for the ceremony."

Sylvia bit her lip and nodded.

As she passed me, she turned her face slightly and said in a voice only the two of us could hear, "Claire, at least this morning, I was the one he held first."

The words were soft, but they pierced my heart like a knife.

Outside, the wedding music had already started playing. My bridesmaids came in to urge me to change into the main dress.

I looked at the returned backup veil but didn't touch it.

I picked up the pearl hairpin that had been returned with it. The hairpin still carried a perfume scent that wasn't mine.

I opened the drawer and threw the hairpin inside.

Grayson stood at the door. Seeing I wasn't making a fuss anymore, he visibly relaxed.

He walked over and reached out to adjust my shoulder strap.

"Claire, the ceremony is about to start. Don't keep the guests waiting too long."

I looked at his hand in the mirror.

That hand had been on Sylvia's waist not long ago.

I stepped back half a step to avoid him.

Grayson's hand froze in midair.