Discarded Bride, Billionaire's Obsession

I should have known something was wrong when my fiancé didn't answer my calls all morning.

I stood in the bridal suite, staring at myself in the mirror. The white dress hugged my body perfectly—too perfectly, actually, because I'd barely eaten for three days straight. My stomach had been in knots since Monday when Adrian came home smelling like her perfume. Again.

"Miss Emma, you look beautiful," the makeup artist said, touching up my lipstick.

I wanted to believe her. God, I wanted to believe that today would be different. That Adrian would look at me the way he used to, back when we first met at that charity gala three years ago. Before his childhood friend Melissa came back from Paris. Before everything turned cold.

My phone buzzed. Finally.

Adrian:Running late. Start without me.

Start without him? At our own wedding?

My hands shook as I typed back.

Me:What do you mean start without you? Adrian, everyone's already seated.

Three dots appeared. Disappeared. Appeared again.

Adrian:Just walk down the aisle. I'll be there.

Gosh!...I couldn't think straight.Something twisted in my chest. This wasn't right. Nothing about this felt right.

"Miss Emma?" The wedding planner poked her head in. "It's time."

I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. Maybe I was overreacting. Maybe he really was just stuck in traffic. Maybe I will just assume what it is not.

The moment I stepped into the hallway, I heard it.

Crying.

Not sad crying. The high-pitched, dramatic kind that made everyone stop and stare.

I rushed toward the sound, my heels clicking against the marble floor. A crowd had gathered near the bride's private entrance—the one I was supposed to use.

And there she was.

Melissa.

Wearing my wedding dress. The same designer, the same lace details, the same everything. Except hers was stained with red wine down the front, and she was sobbing into Adrian's chest while he held her like she was made of glass.

I was caught between shock and disbelief so many emotions at once that I just froze. I didn't know whether to cry, laugh or just stare.

"I'm so sorry!" she wailed. "I just wanted to try it on, to see what Emma would look like, and then someone bumped into me with their wine and now it's ruined and…"

"Shh, it's okay," Adrian murmured, stroking her hair. "We'll figure it out."

I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach.

"What the hell is going on?" My voice came out sharper than I intended.

Everyone turned. Adrian's eyes met mine, and for a split second—just a split second, I saw something that looked like guilt.

Then it was gone.

"Emma, thank God." He didn't let go of Melissa. "There's been an accident. Melissa was just…"

"Why is she wearing a wedding dress?" I cut him off. "Why is she wearing my wedding dress?"

"It's not yours, it's just similar…" Melissa started, but I wasn't listening anymore.

I pushed through the crowd and grabbed