Chapter 1

On my wedding day, I walked there on foot.

The driver they'd arranged for me dumped me in a ditch and drove off alone.

"Sorry, Cathy got the address wrong. I just sent you the right location. Hurry up and call a car."

By the time I limped up to the hotel, the ceremony was about to start.

My best friend was wearing my wedding gown, pressed close against my fiancé's arm.

"Sara Winfield, you got here too late. So I'll go up in your place in a bit. You won't be mad, will you?"

My fiancé held her hand, a helpless smile on his face.

"Too many guests came today. Cathy just slipped up for a second and got it wrong, that's all."

"But don't worry, Sara. The ceremony is Cathy's. The marriage license is still yours."

Watching the two of them stand there so close, I pulled the engagement ring off my finger.

If the bride could be replaced, then so could the groom.

I lowered my head and sent a message.

"Still want to marry me? Come now."

......

Barely three seconds later, my phone buzzed.

"Wait for me."

I put my phone away and looked at them, calm.

"It's fine. The marriage license can be hers too."

Val Sanchez froze for a moment, then decided I was just throwing a little tantrum, and shook his head helplessly.

"Sara, I keep my word."

"We've been together eight years. I won't do you wrong."

Catherine Summers's eyes reddened.

"Sara, is it because I'm wearing the gown that you're upset?"

The hotel corridor was full of people coming and going, and the earlier argument had already drawn plenty of eyes.

"Then I'll give it back to you. This gown doesn't fit me anyway. I nearly had a wardrobe slip just now."

And with that, she moved to strip the gown off right there in front of everyone.

"Cathy!"

Ignoring her struggling, Val pulled her tight against his chest.

"Sara, apologize to Cathy right now."

"...Why should I?"

My throat was so dry it hurt, like I'd swallowed a thousand razor blades.

Val's brow furrowed.

"Do you not understand? Cathy has never had a boyfriend."

"But for your sake, she was willing to throw away her own reputation and stand in as your bride. How is she supposed to marry anyone after this? Did you even think about that?"

Catherine lay against his chest and gave his chest two token little thumps.

The murmurs around me landed in my ears.

"I've been watching this whole time and I still can't tell. Which one's the mistress?"

"Isn't it the one with mud all over her pants, the one who looks so fierce? And the bride's still offering to hand over the gown to her."

"Tsk, tsk. The wronged wife stepping aside for the lucky one. What is the world coming to?"

Val had clearly heard those comments too.

But all he did was wipe Catherine's tears. Not a word of explanation.

I let out a breath. The pain kept shooting up from the soles of my feet.

The path down the hill was rough. I'd had to take off my heels and walk barefoot for almost an hour before I could flag down a taxi.

The soles of my feet were raw and aching, every step like walking on knife points.

"You two go ahead and get married. I'm leaving."

Only then did Catherine lift her head from Val's chest, her eyes red-rimmed, as if she'd suffered some enormous injustice.

"Sara, I know you're angry with me. But you won't even stay long enough to take one photo with me?"

Val chimed in.

"Today is the most beautiful day of Cathy's life. You were always taking her photos before. Why won't you today?"

"Because I'm going to the hospital."

My voice came out flat, like I'd spent every last bit of strength I had.

"That driver Catherine arranged followed the address and dropped me straight into a ditch."

"There were no cars up on the hill. I walked a long way before I could flag down a taxi."

"My feet hurt now. So I'm going to the hospital."

Val paused, and only then did he notice the strands of hair stuck to my face and my legs that wouldn't stop shaking.

"In a bit... let me take you."

Catherine's head snapped up, tears spilling out at once.

"So your girlfriend still matters most, is that it?"

She tugged at the gown that so obviously didn't fit her, several safety pins fastened along the waist.

"So many people came today. You said Sara hadn't shown up for so long, that it would be hard to save face."

"So I ruined my own reputation, put on someone else's gown, and out of the goodness of my heart went to hold things together for you."

"And now, just because Sara's feet hurt, you're going to make me walk through the whole wedding alone—"

She stopped. Tears fell in big heavy drops onto the gown, and a bleak little smile crossed her face.

"It's not like I'm someone who can stand in the light anyway. Go on, keep her company."

Val's face changed in an instant.

"Cathy, don't talk about yourself like that."

He gathered Catherine against him and murmured something in her ear, and her tears stopped at once.

"Rudolph Finch, push the ceremony back thirty minutes. Sara's hurt, I need to take her to the hospital."

I went still for a moment.

Back before, when I was even ten minutes late to a date, he'd complain that I wasn't giving him face, that I'd left him sitting alone in the restaurant.

But today...

Val kept his voice low, coaxing Catherine until she laughed, and only then did he lift his head to look at me.

"Sara, let's go."

I nodded.

Then I opened my phone and canceled the afternoon marriage-license appointment at the county clerk's office.