The first thing I saw when I entered the bridal suite was a wedding dress covered in so many rhinestones that it looked like someone had glued an entire jewelry store onto cheap fabric.

I had exactly thirty-eight minutes before I was supposed to walk down the aisle.

Thirty-eight minutes to transform myself from a humiliated bride into a woman who could face three hundred guests without letting her mother see how badly she had hurt me.

Celeste stood outside the dressing area, issuing instructions to the makeup artist as though nothing unusual had happened.

"Make her eyes brighter," she said. "The photographer needs her to look happy."

I sat in front of the mirror while a stranger dabbed concealer beneath my eyes.

Happy.

The word almost made me laugh.

My mother had spent years teaching me that appearances mattered more than feelings. If I cried, she told me I was dramatic. If I complained, she accused me of being selfish. If someone hurt me, she wanted to know what I had done to provoke it.

Now she wanted my face to look beautiful while she destroyed the one day I had hoped would belong entirely to me.

The makeup artist glanced at me through the mirror.

"Are you all right?"

I almost told her everything.

Instead, I nodded.

"Just nervous."

She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze.

"That's normal."

I wondered how many brides sat in rooms like this, surrounded by flowers and expensive perfume, pretending that the people closest to them weren't breaking their hearts.

When she finished, I dismissed her and locked the door.

Then I pulled out my phone.

The message I had sent was still unanswered.

I stared at the screen, willing the recipient to respond.

Finally, three dots appeared.

Then a message arrived.

"Understood. I have the files. Are you absolutely sure?"

I typed back.

"Yes."

Another message followed.

"Once the presentation begins, everyone will see it."

I swallowed.

"That's the point."

I put my phone away and looked at myself in the mirror.

My veil was pinned into a low bun. Pearl earrings rested against my neck. My makeup was flawless.

And beside me lay the ridiculous rhinestone gown.

I had two choices.

I could spend the rest of my life wishing I had defended myself.

Or I could walk into that ballroom and finally do it.

I picked up the gown.

It took ten minutes to get into it. The stiff material scratched my skin, and the bodice pinched whenever I breathed. I refused to let myself cry.

When I stepped out of the dressing area, Celeste examined me from head to toe.

"Well," she said, forcing a smile, "at least the dress photographs beautifully."

Lila burst into laughter.

I looked directly at her.

"Enjoy it while you can."

Her laughter stopped.

Celeste narrowed her eyes.

"What does that mean?"

"It means I'm getting married today."

I walked past them.

Neither followed immediately.

That was how I knew they were beginning to suspect something.

The corridor outside the bridal suite was crowded with hotel staff carrying flowers, champagne, and trays of appetizers. A wedding coordinator hurried toward me with a clipboard.

"Nora! There you are. We're ready for the processional."

She stopped when she saw my dress.

For half a second, her expression betrayed her shock.

Then she recovered.

"Everything looks... wonderful."

I gave her a small smile.

"Thank you."

As we approached the ballroom entrance, I heard the orchestra playing softly. Through the partially opened doors, I could see rows of white chairs, towering flower arrangements, and guests dressed in their finest clothes.

At the front stood Daniel.

My fiancé.

The man I loved.

He wore a black tuxedo, and his hands were clasped in front of him. Even from a distance, I could see the tension in his shoulders.

When his eyes found me, he stopped breathing for a moment.

I couldn't blame him.

The dress was hideous.

But Daniel wasn't looking at the rhinestones.

He was looking at my face.

And somehow, that hurt more.

Because I knew he could see that something was wrong.

My mother appeared beside me.

"Smile," she whispered.

I kept my eyes on Daniel.

"Did you know?"

Her fingers tightened around my arm.

"Know what?"

"About the dress."

She looked toward the ballroom.

"This is not the time."

That was an answer.

A terrible one.

I pulled my arm free.

"Did you know?"

Celeste leaned closer.

"If you embarrass me today, don't expect me to forgive you."

I looked at her for a long moment.

Then I said the words I had been too afraid to say for years.

"Maybe I'm tired of asking you to forgive me for things I didn't do."

Her face went white.

Before she could respond, the wedding coordinator announced that it was time.

The doors opened.

Three hundred guests turned toward me.

I lifted my chin and began walking.

The rhinestones caught the light with every step. I heard a few whispers from the front rows. Someone gasped. A man near the aisle leaned toward his wife.

My face burned.

But I kept walking.

When I reached the altar, Daniel took my hands.

His palms were cold.

"Nora," he whispered, "what happened?"

I looked into his eyes.

"Not yet."

He glanced at the dress again.

"Did someone force you to wear this?"

I squeezed his fingers.

"Trust me."

His expression shifted.

He looked past me toward Celeste, who had taken her place in the front row with Lila beside her.

Then he looked back at me.

And he nodded.

The officiant began speaking.

I barely heard him.

My attention was fixed on the large screens mounted on either side of the ballroom. They were supposed to display romantic photographs of Daniel and me throughout the ceremony.

Instead, they were about to reveal something my mother had spent years trying to hide.

The officiant reached the part where he asked whether anyone had a reason this marriage should not proceed.

I heard Celeste inhale sharply.

She had always believed she controlled every room she entered.

Today, she was about to discover that control was not the same thing as power.

I turned toward the audience.