Chapter 3

Carla smiled, eyes half-closed as she leaned in toward Landon.

He didn't pull away. If anything, he deepened the kiss.

Then the cup slipped from my hand and shattered on the floor, and it snapped them both back to reality.

Landon shoved Carla away, his face panicked as he looked at me.

"When did you get here?"

I said nothing. I just stood there, watching them.

When I stayed silent, something awkward flickered across his face.

"Carla's young, she doesn't know where the line is. Don't be angry."

Carla chimed in from beside him.

"Leah, I was only joking around with Landon."

The disappointment inside me had already bottomed out. I didn't want to say anything more.

I was about to go get a new cup when I saw the dress Carla was wearing, and the color drained from my face.

My hands curled into fists, my body trembling and I couldn't stop it.

"Why is she wearing my dress?"

Landon looked at me like it was nothing.

"Carla accidentally got her clothes dirty, and she likes this one, so I let her wear it."

"If it bothers you, I'll buy you a better one later."

I stared at the man in front of me, and something inside me broke.

I didn't want to say much. I just looked at him, cold.

"This is the last dress my mother sewed for me before she died."

Landon's body went stiff.

"I forgot."

"Carla, take the dress off and give it back to Leah. I'll buy you a new one."

Carla peeled it off and flung it at me like she was venting.

But when I caught it, I saw the dress looked ruined.

My breath quickened as I searched through it in a panic, and under the cuff I found a tear.

I shoved the tear right up in front of Carla's face.

"How did this happen?"

Carla flinched like I'd frightened her, her voice choking up.

"I just snagged it by accident. I didn't mean to."

Hearing that, my chest heaved.

She looked innocent on the surface, but I could see the provocation underneath, clear as day.

I couldn't hold back. I slapped her hard across the face.

The instant my hand landed, Landon shoved me away hard.

My waist slammed into the corner of the table, the stabbing pain leaving me unable to straighten up.

He gathered Carla against him and looked down at me.

"Didn't I already say I'd buy you a new dress?"

"Carla's admitted it was an accident. Can you stop making a scene?"

I looked at Landon standing on the opposite side, and the ache went so deep it turned numb.

How would I not know?

I'd bought a special garment bag and sealed this dress away with care.

I even took it out to iron every week.

I checked it over carefully every single time. How could I not know?

I looked at Landon's face, familiar and yet a stranger's, and every last thing in my heart died.

Before I could speak, Carla cut in.

"Leah, if it's my fault, then punish me. Don't drag Landon into it."

"And you two are getting married soon. What's yours is Landon's, and he already said he'd buy you a new one. Why do you still have to hold this over me?"

Landon frowned at me, his voice full of exasperation.

"Carla's right. She didn't do it on purpose, and it can just be sewn up."

"I'll take it to get mended in a bit."

I gripped the dress tight in my hands, my throat clogged like it was packed with dirt, no words able to come out.

He still chose Carla.

I didn't want to say anything more. I turned to go upstairs.

But Landon suddenly grabbed my wrist.