Ruined by the White Veil

I was born with a strange condition. I couldn't recognize faces and could only identify people by their clothes.

Vincent Lancaster, my boyfriend, never minded. He said it didn't change the way he loved me.

That was, until our wedding day.

He answered a phone call. His childhood friend, Grace Langley, was in labor, life hanging by a thread, and she demanded he come immediately.

My voice shook with despair. "Vincent! If you drive away now, we'll never be husband and wife!"

But he left anyway, not looking back.

Grace had always loved seeing him in white, so he threw aside the black suit I had sewn for him with my own hands and changed into white.

A year later, Vincent returned. By then, my belly was swollen with life, and I was holding onto another man while hosting a baby shower. And the man wore the black suit Vincent had thrown away.

Vincent went mad, claiming he was my husband, but no one believed him.

The Bride Left Behind

"Babe, Grace is in labor. It's serious. I have to go. Please, just listen." Vincent slipped his phone into his pocket and turned away without hesitation.

I grabbed his arm, my voice trembling. "But this is our wedding. Everyone's watching."

His brows drew together, his face full of disappointment. One by one, he pried my fingers off his sleeve. "Fiona, do you have no empathy at all? Grace needs me right now. We'll cancel the wedding. I'll make it up to you another day."

Tears spilled down my cheeks, smudging the makeup I had spent five hours perfecting that morning. But I still couldn't let go.

The guests sat in stunned silence below the stage. Just a few minutes ago, Vincent had kissed me in front of them all.

Then Grace called, and it was as if he became someone else. He had to leave.

It had always been Grace. For years, her name had been like a needle wedged between us, impossible to pull out.

I had swallowed my resentment over and over again, but today was my wedding day.

"Vincent," I whispered, forcing my shaking voice to steady, "every other time, I stayed quiet when you chose her. But today happens once in a lifetime. Back in college, when you confessed to me, you said you'd treat me well forever. Just for today, please stay. Will you?"

He hesitated, his tone softening a little. "Babe, I'll never forget what the Ashford family did for me all these years, or the vows I made to you. But Grace and I grew up together. She's done so much for me. Without her, I wouldn't be who I am today. She's in danger. I can't just ignore that."

My stomach twisted in knots.

Grace and Vincent had clawed their way out of a poor countryside town together to study in the city.

I knew she held a special place in his heart, but she was married now, and I was his