Chapter 1Night before my wedding, my million-dollar dress showed up on some sketchy resale app.
Price? ONE FUCKING DOLLAR.
Seller? My fiancé, Fletcher Graves.
Oh, and my ring. My jewelry. Every goddamn thing I ever bought.
All up for a dollar. Same buyer for everything.
I clicked on the account. Hands shaking so bad I almost dropped my phone.
Vera Sullivan.
Fletcher's little grad school princess. His beloved professor's daughter.
I called him right then. Played it cool.
"Hey babe, my wedding dress went missing..."
He cut me off.
"It's just a dress. You can buy another one."
"No dress? Let's just call off tomorrow then."
"Vera's getting married tomorrow. I'm walking her down the aisle."
He hung up.
I just sat there. Then called the cops.
Joke's on them—every single thing had trackers. Had mics.
They thought they could screw me over?
WRONG MOVE.
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Just as I put my phone down, Vera posted buyer photos.
"Doing a test run for tomorrow. He says I look perfect in it."
Five photos in a row.
All of her in MY dress, walking down the aisle with Fletcher.
Their families were there. Including Fletcher Graves's parents.
His family didn't have money.
I bought them this huge condo and a nice car.
Set them up with over a grand a month, plus hired help.
They said they'd treat me like their own daughter.
I almost believed them.
I kept looking at those photos. Got madder.
My hands shook so bad I almost dropped my phone trying to zoom in.
The "groom's gift list" pissed me off so much.
Mansion downtown. A pound of gold.
Nine storefronts. An Escalade. Two hundred K cash.
Hold up—that was MY prenup list!
Now it was Fletcher's "gift" to Vera?
I lost my shit.
Sent those screenshots straight to his family group chat.
Then grabbed scissors and shredded every wedding photo in the house.
Half an hour later, they all came rushing back.
I stood barefoot at the top of the stairs.
"Explain."
Fletcher looked at the torn photos. Grabbed me slippers.
Knelt down to put them on my feet.
"Jordy, you got it wrong."
"Vera's guy can't make it back till tomorrow. I'm just standing in as family."
He stood up. Stared at me.
"She's proud. Can't just give her expensive stuff."
"You don't need that stuff anyway. Just get new ones for our wedding."
I didn't say anything.
His mom Diane came over. Fake smile.
"Fletcher sees Vera like a sister. What's wrong with helping her out?"
"Your stuff is Fletcher's anyway. Why make such a big deal?"
His dad Ron sat down hard on my couch. Lit a cigarette.
Ash dropped on my new rug. Burned a hole.
"Your dad's dying at the hospital. Fletcher's been running your company for years."
"You start shit now, your relatives gonna take everything..."
Fletcher cut him off. Pissed.
"Mom, Dad, shut up!"
Cold sweat ran down my back.
I'd spent years pushing Fletcher up at my family's company. Now he had real power.
Only way out? Wait for Dad to get better and take control back.
Chapter 2
Once I got that, I caved.
"Fine. Whatever."
His parents looked happy. Left.
"Jordy, thanks."
Fletcher let out this big breath. Started picking up the torn photos.
Got on his knees by the coffee table. Taping them back together real careful.
Back in high school, he used to help me study on weekends.
Eight hours. Never got tired of explaining stuff.
Sometimes I'd get pissed and rip up my tests.
He'd tape them back together. Just like this.
Saw me watching. Looked up. Smiled.
"Vera's got no parents. I'm scared people gonna walk all over her."
"What if you make her your sister? She could marry as a Whitmore?"
I snapped out of it. Headed straight upstairs.
"Hell no."
Fletcher's hands stopped. Smile gone.
Two hours later, I got the call. Dad was dying.
I threw on clothes. Ran downstairs.
Fletcher was gone. Photos on the coffee table half-taped.
When I got to the hospital, Dad was still in surgery.
My relatives blocked me outside. Trying to force me to give up my shares.
I lost it. Called security. They threw them out.
The nurse came up to me. Shaking.
"Mr. Graves showed up with some girl. Tried to get your dad to accept her as his kid."
"Your dad freaked out. Passed out cold."
"Surgery's twenty grand. You don't pay now, we can't keep going."
My legs went weak. Started crying.
Tried to pay. Card declined.
"No way! I had five hundred eighteen thousand in there."
I couldn't believe it. My ears started ringing.
Right then, the doctor handed me Dad's third death warning.
Panic hit me like a truck. I was freaking out.
Called Fletcher like ten times. Nothing.
I forced myself to calm down.
Then remembered—Dad never trusted Fletcher. Set up an offshore account for me years back.
I transferred the money. Signed everything. Hands still shaking.
Dad made it through the night.
Six AM. Vera posted.
"He felt so bad for me, pulled out five hundred eighteen thousand in cash just like that."
Picture: Fletcher in his wedding suit. Down on one knee like he's proposing.
I saw that. Something clicked.
Got real calm now.
Told the nurse to watch Dad. Got in my car. Drove to the hotel.
Let's see Fletcher try getting married without his actual bride.
Chapter 3
I got to the hotel. Ready to lose it.
They were doing the groom's games in MY bridal suite!
Inside was crazy loud. Cheering and shouting.
Someone dared them to play the pocky game.
Vera bit off too much.
Fletcher didn't even think. Leaned in and took the extra piece right from her lips.
Everyone lost their minds.
"Yo, check out Romeo over here!"
"Heard the bride's the Whitmore chick. That dress costs like a hundred grand."
"He added five hundred eighteen thousand cash this morning. Surprise gift."
Diane stood by this huge box of cash. Grinning like she won the lottery.
I was seeing red. Kicked the door open.
Grabbed the flowers off the table. Chucked them at both of them.
"Fletcher, you gonna tell everyone who you're actually marrying?"
Fletcher jumped in front of Vera.
Saw me. Stumbled back.
"Jordy, what are you doing here?"
"Relax. Vera's guy couldn't make it. I'm just standing in."
I pointed at the cash box. Could barely talk.
"You brought her to the hospital yesterday. Almost killed my dad!"
"Then you took five hundred eighteen thousand from MY account! That was Dad's emergency money!"
The room went dead silent.
Fletcher's face went white.
"I didn't know..."
Diane saw what was happening. Pushed everyone out.
Then turned back to me. Fake sweet smile.
"Jordy, it's Vera's wedding day. Don't start drama."
"Fletcher's got an image now. Can't have this mess."
Vera stood up. Playing helpless.
Tears in her eyes. Forcing a smile.
"Jordy, we didn't mean anything with your dad."
"Fletcher just didn't want people walking all over me. That's why he gave me the cash."
"I didn't know it was your dad's emergency money. I'll give it back. Don't want it."
But her hand was gripping Fletcher tight.
I pointed at her dress. Her earrings. Her necklace.
Made sure everyone could hear.
"You got a hundred-thousand-dollar dress for a buck and you're playing dumb?"
"Acting all innocent? Strip."
Her face went red. Actually started taking off the dress.
"Jordyn, enough!"
Fletcher lost it. Ripped off his jacket. Threw it over her.
"Vera, I bought this. You're fine."
The dress stayed on her.
But Vera curled up against him. Shaking.
I actually laughed.
Pulled out my phone. Showed them the one-dollar receipts.
"You bought it? Cool. Pay me back. Full price. One million."
"And quit telling everyone you're marrying me. I want my prenup stuff back. Plus last night's five hundred eighteen thousand..."
Diane jumped up. Stood in front of the cash box.
"Why you acting like this? You got money."
Fletcher lost it.
"Jordy, since when do you only care about money?"
I grabbed the flowers. Shoved them at both of them.
"She's your professor's kid. You two got history."
"Want me to call off the wedding right now? You can go be together."
"But I want the house back. The car. Everything I gave your family."
"Or I'm calling the cops."
Good thing we never got the marriage license. There was still time.
"Don't call the cops!"
"Jordy, Vera and I—it's not like that."
Fletcher grabbed my arm. Looked terrified.
Diane switched up fast. Pulled Vera over to me.
Voice all sweet now.
"Jordy, you're joking, right? Where we gonna live without the house?"
"That was just games before. You know that."
She kicked Vera under the table.
"Vera, give Jordy back the dress."
The three of them looked at each other.
Vera looked down. Grabbed the dress. Went to the bathroom.
Five minutes later, came out in her own clothes. Holding the dress.
Playing innocent.
"Jordy, just put it on. We got time."
"My guy can't make it. I'm calling off my wedding. Don't let this mess you and Fletcher up."
People packed the doorway. All staring.
Fletcher's face went red.
"Jordy, you really gonna do this? In front of everyone?"
"Press might be out there."
"Word gets out we're fighting? I'm done. Can't show my face anywhere."
I was over Fletcher. But wasn't letting him off.
My phone buzzed. Text from the cops.
"Ms. Whitmore, found the dress. Making arrests in an hour."
I put my phone away. Felt way better.
"Fine. Don't say I didn't warn you."
