Chapter 1I Had That Wedding Dress Before Her

Liam Davies, Ashley Wilson, and I grew up together, a close trio.

Liam and Ashley had always been at odds, arguing the moment they saw each other.

Then Liam became my fiancé, and Ashley became my best friend.

A week before Liam and my wedding, I scrolled past a post online.

The bride's back in the photo, and that wedding dress, looked eerily familiar.

The caption read:

【I had this dress before her, and I had him first. After all these years, I finally won against her, just once.】

【Ms. Miller, I'm so sorry. The wedding dress won't be ready until tomorrow; some details still need adjustment.】

Reading the message from the studio, I clicked on that picture from the post again.

I zoomed in.

The diamond arrangement on the skirt was my design.

An hour earlier, Liam had messaged me:

【Chloe, sorry, something came up. I can't go with you to pick up the dress today.】

Ashley:

【So sorry, Chloe, I have a last-minute appointment today. Can't help you with the fitting.】

Why was everyone apologizing to me first thing in the morning?

I shook my head, trying to dismiss those far-fetched suspicions.

Under the post, a comment was pinned:

【Even if it's just her back, you can tell they're a perfect match, right?! Childhood sweethearts, girls, if you both love him, you should fight for him!】

I replied beneath it:

【Why would you need to fight for it if you both love each other? Just curious, dying for the full story.】

That evening, Liam and Ashley showed up together.

Bickering as usual.

"What kind of fiancé are you? You said you'd go with Chloe to pick up the dress. What could be more important than that?"

"What about you? You said you'd help her with the fitting, but you disappeared too!"

I watched these two people I'd grown up with, one my fiancé, the other my best friend.

That post... maybe it was just a coincidence.

"Alright, you two. You fight every time you meet. Haven't you gotten tired of it after all these years?"

I feigned a headache.

They exchanged a glance, a slight smile playing on their lips.

My heart felt a chill right to my core.

"The studio said it'll be ready tomorrow, so it's fine today."

"Still, we broke our promise. Let's go out for dinner. To make it up to you, dinner's on me."

Ashley suggested.

"On you? Don't always try to steal my thunder."

"If anyone's apologizing, it should be me first."

Liam rolled his eyes at her.

He got a playful tap on the shoulder, or rather, a lingering touch on his neck.

I saw him freeze.

A blush spread across Ashley's face.

"Ashley, what's wrong? Why is your face so red? Are you not feeling well?"

I asked, concerned.

"Oh, it's nothing, nothing. Let's go."

At the restaurant, Liam and I sat on one side, Ashley sat opposite me.

After she came back from the restroom, she naturally sat across from Liam.

His hand froze as he reached for my plate, and under the table, Liam's leg brushed against hers, a subtle, shared signal.

Ashley's expression was delighted.

She had a bit too much to drink and insisted on sleeping over at my place.

When we arrived, Liam looked at a slurring Ashley, his brows furrowed.

"Chloe, maybe I should just take her home. Look at the state she's in, she'll just disrupt your sleep."

I nodded.

"Drive carefully then."

After washing up, my comment had a reply.

【The three of us grew up together, but I spent more time with him. We were always like a bickering couple.

But she liked him too, and he, out of a life-saving debt, promised himself to her. I could only silently bless their union.

He couldn't bear to see me hurt, so he brought her custom-designed wedding dress for me to wear first, giving me an unconventional wedding, just for the two of us.

I'm already so content. Tonight is even our wedding night.】

Attached was a picture showing four legs poking out from under the duvet.

The nail polish on the feet was a style I'd picked out for her.