Chapter 1 13-17 The day of my wedding , my brother ruined my dress . He stormed into the bridal suite and emptied a glass of red wine right down the front of it . " Chloe , are you sick ? " he spat , his voice shaking with rage . " You know how Ava feels about Caleb . What is al this ? This whole spectacle , just to rub it in her face ? " My fiancé , Caleb , stood behind him , leaning against the doorframe , his face a mask of cold indifference . " I'll give you two choices , " Caleb said , his voice low and steady . " One , you walk down that aisle in the stained dress and we get this over with . " He paused , letting the cruelty of it sink in . " Two , you go to Ava right now and apologize . You fix what you broke , you make her feel better . If you car manage that , I'll tell everyone the wedding is postponed . " I didn't choose either . I chose a third path . I walked out in that ruined gown , stood before our family and friends , and I called of the wedding . My brother , my fiancé , my sister ... I was done . I wanted none of them . But later , long after I had left , I heard the stories . The heirs to Northwood's two most powerful families hac lost their minds . They were scouring the globe , trying to hire the world's most brilliant designers , all for one impossible task : to repair a wedding dress stained with wine and memory . 1 When Ethan burst into the suite , I had just finished putting on the dress . It had been my mother's final design the one she poured the last of her strength into , a masterpiece I had treasured for a decade . I hadn't even had a chance to see myself in the mirror before the man who shared my face kicked the door open . " Chloe , what is wrong with you ? " he yelled . " I warned you ! How many times did I tell you not to go through with this circus ? " He stomped toward me , his face contorted . " Do you have any idea how much you're hurting her ? Ava's been crying her eyes out all morning because of you . Is this what you wanted ? " His words were a physical blow . The flicker of joy I'd felt seeing him , just for a second , died . Of course . It was always about Ava . The weight of the dress , the intricate beading and layers of silk , suddenly felt like a cage . It was my wedding day . A day for peace , for promises . Not for this . I took a shallow breath , forcing myself to stay calm . I wouldn't trade insults with him , not today . " Ethan , can 1/9 13:17 13:17 Chapter 1 we please not fight ? " I said , my voice quiet . " Not today . It's my wedding day . I just want to be happy . " His face darkened . " Happy ? " He took another step , invading my space . " Can you stop being so selfish for one second ? It's just a wedding . Is it more important than Ava's feelings ? " He was practically pleading , but there was an edge of accusation in his tone that made my skin crawl . " She is so fragile , Chloe . She's heartbroken , but she still wanted to wish you and Caleb the best . All she asked- the only thing she asked - was for you to tone it down . A small family dinner would have been perfect . Why do you always have to be so stubborn ? " His entitlement , his complete blindness to my own feelings , made my hands tremble . The carefully constru cted calm shattered . " The person getting married is me , " I shot back , my voice rising . " What is so wrong with me wanting a real wedding ? Who cares if Ava is sad ? Why am I the one who always has to pay for her emot ons ? " ' Don't you talk about her like that ! " he roared . " Ava is your sister ! It's your job to look out for her , to be the bigger person ! " A hot , dizzying rage washed over me . " She is your sister , not mine ! My mother only had one daughter ! " ' Shut up ! " The cold liquid hit my face first , then cascaded down my hair , a river of dark red over the pure white silk of ny dress . For a second , we both froze . The world went silent ! Ethan looked down at the empty wine glass in his hand as if he'd never seen it before . The rational part of im seemed to flicker back to life , his hand starting to shake . ' Chlo ... Chloe , I didn't- " de fumbled for a napkin on the vanity , scrambling to wipe my face , but I flinched away . was numb . Like a ghost in my own body , I looked down at the ugly , dark stain blooming across the bodice of my mother's last gift to me . Wine was still dripping from the ends of my hair . Ethan , probably realizing how pathetic this looked , tried again , pressing the napkin to my forehead . ' Honestly , Ethan , why bother ? " A new voice , laced with contempt , cut through the tension . Caleb was still in the doorway , a cigarette dangl- ng from his lips , a cruel smirk on his face . I saw then that he wasn't even wearing his tuxedo . He had on a casual jacket over a white t - shirt . On the chest was a faded , hand - painted sun - Ava's birthday gift to him last year . 2 He tilted his head , a soft , mocking laugh escaping his lips as he took in my ruined appearance . 2/9 13.17 1717 " You really thought you could pull this off , didn't you , Chloe ? " he said , smoke curling from his nostrils . " You thought charming my parents meant you could control my life ? Dream on . You can play all the games you want , but you'll never be half the woman Ava is . " The pure hatred in his eyes was almost comical . Our families had been planning this since we were kids . Not once , not a single time , had he ever said he didn't want it . Even after he started orbiting Ava , treating her with a tenderness he never showed me , he never once mentioned breaking the engagement . The wedding had been his parents ' idea . They were tired of waiting . When Ava heard the news , she'd thrown a fit , refusing to eat . Ethan and Caleb had been beside themselves with worry , both of them ignoring my calls to comfort her . The last time I'd managed to get Caleb on the phone , I'd asked him straight out : " Caleb , do you even want to marry me ? " There was a long silence . Then , in the background , I heard Ava's tearful voice , small and wounded . " Caleb Who is that ? Is it ... is it Chloe ? " He'd finally snapped . " God , this is so annoying . It's been decided , okay ? What's the point in asking ? Just stop calling me ! " His father had assured me everything was fine . He would handle the arrangements , and he would talk to Caleb . Looking at him now , I realized what " talking to Caleb " meant . His father must have laid into him , and this wa his petty revenge . A dry laugh escaped my lips . I took the napkin from Ethan's limp hand and calmly wiped the wine from my face . " Chloe ! Chloe , is Caleb here yet ? The coordinator needs you both for the processional ... Oh my God . " M maid of honor , Maya , skidded to a halt in the doorway . Her eyes widened in disbelief , darting from my stain ed dress to the two men standing there like vultures . She understood instantly . " You bastards ! Are you hurti ng her again ? " She lunged for Caleb , nails out , but I caught her arm just in time . Maya's dad was a senior VP at Caleb's family company . It wasn't worth it . Nothing about this was worth it . Caleb , however , seemed to misread the gesture . He saw me standing between him and Maya , and for a flee ting moment , a flicker of confusion crossed his face . Then his expression hardened again , and his voice dropped . " I'll give you two choices , " he repeated . " One , you wear the damn dress and we get this over with . " " Two , you go apologize to Ava . You fix this . If you do , I'll postpone . I'll even find someone to make you a new 3/9 13.17 1717 dress . Your call " He said it was a choice , but his face was a taunt . He was daring me to fight , to scream , to make a scene . Tears of rage streamed down Maya's face . She looked like she wanted to kill him . But me ? I felt nothing . The anger had burned out , leaving behind an unnerving calm . looked him straight in the eye . No , thank you , Mr. Thorne . My mother - the world - renowned designer Elena Vance - made this dress for me efore she died . I don't think you can find anyone better than her . " hud . Behind me , Ethan stumbled back into the vanity . I glanced over my shoulder and met his wide , shocked yes . His lips trembled , but no words came out . He had forgotten . turned back to Caleb . " So , your two choices ? I don't want either of them . " walked down the aisle alone , carrying my own bouquet . At the altar , only Caleb's parents were waiting . My › wn parents were gone , lost years ago . Other than the brother who had just assaulted me , I had no blood elatives left in the world . gnoring the gasps and confused whispers from the crowd , I calmly took the microphone from the officiant . I'm so sorry you all have to see me like this , " I began , my voice clear and steady . " Please , forgive my appea ance . " Caleb , finally realizing what was happening , rushed onto the stage and grabbed my arm . " Chloe , what are you loing ? " Exactly what you wanted , " I said , pulling my arm free . " As you can all see , my fiancé , Mr. Thorne , hasn't ever othered to change . " let my eyes sweep across the stunned faces in the audience . " He believes I schemed my way into this vedding . Well , as of right now , consider my scheming over . I am officially announcing that my engagement o Caleb Thorne is broken . From this moment on , we go our separate ways . " dropped the microphone . The clatter echoed through the silent venue . I turned and walked off the stage , eaving Caleb standing there , a statue in a storm of chaos . At the back of the hall stood Ethan , his face pale , his eyes wide with a frantic , desperate energy . He reached out to stop me , but his hand froze in midair as his gaze fell on the deep , crimson stain on my dress . didn't pause for him . I didn't pause for anyone . I tossed my bouquet aside and walked right past him, out the door where Maya was waiting , her car already running . 4/9