On my wedding day, my best friend, Bianca, hid my wedding dress. My fiancé, Lorenzo, searched everywhere but couldn’t find it. With the ceremony minutes away, I told her to give it back. She only shrugged. “Lorenzo! You’re not taking Serena from me that easily. Keep looking!” Lorenzo laughed. “Still trying to beat me when it comes to Serena after all these years?” Then he turned to me. “See what your best friend is putting me through? This time, I’m finding that dress myself. I’m finally going to win one against her.” Listening to them, I grew more anxious by the second. “Stop fooling around. We’re going to miss the ceremony.” Lorenzo didn’t seem concerned. “A few minutes won’t make a difference. And this time, you’re not allowed to take her side.” Bianca scoffed. “If you can’t find it, I’m not letting you marry Serena.” Then the two of them ignored my protests and started bickering and teasing each other, just like they always did. Here we go again. I glanced at my phone. Only five minutes remained before the ceremony, but a message suddenly lit up the screen. [If you change your mind, come outside. I’m waiting at the east entrance of the church.] The message was from Marcello Ferrante, the man who had been in love with me for years. He was the Don of the Ferrante family—and the man who ruled the East Coast underworld. I replied: [Give me five more minutes.] His answer came almost instantly. [All right.] If this farce wasn’t over in five minutes, I would leave this church with a different groom. I was done playing along with their ridiculous wedding game. When I put my phone down, the two of them were still at it. I walked over to Bianca. “Where is my dress? Give it back.” She froze for a moment, then smiled. “Lorenzo hasn’t found it yet. I can’t give it up that easily.” “If he can’t even find your wedding dress, how am I supposed to trust him with you?” I ignored her excuse and looked directly at Lorenzo. “Lorenzo, the ceremony starts in five minutes.” “I know.” He reached over and ruffled my hair as if I were a child. “As soon as I find the dress, we’ll start. Just wait a little longer, Serena.” Bianca pinched him. “What’s that supposed to mean? Are you saying our Serena is desperate to marry you?” “You should be grateful she agreed to marry you at all. Keep looking. If you can’t find it, admit defeat.” Lorenzo tugged at the bow on her wrap with an indulgent smile. “Don’t get cocky. Even if it takes until nightfall, I’m finding it myself.” Then he went back to searching through the cabinets in the bridal suite. Bianca deliberately got in his way, and Lorenzo never once lost his temper with her. I stared at their backs, my nose stinging. They had always turned loving me into a competition. I had believed marriage would change things. At least, I had believed that until today. Now I finally understood how wrong I had been. I raised my voice. “Bianca, give me the dress. The game is over. I’m getting married today.” My tone left no room for argument. But Bianca looked at Lorenzo with wounded eyes. “Is Serena mad? Maybe I should just give it back and end the game.” “But you have to admit you lost. I’m only letting you off because Serena asked.” Lorenzo glanced at her, then at me, his tone turning cold. “Admit defeat? That phrase isn’t in my vocabulary. No matter what, I’m finding it.” One of Lorenzo’s groomsmen tried to smooth things over. “Serena, you know how they are. They always have to settle who wins. Just be patient a little longer.” “Exactly. Lorenzo’s still marrying you. It’s not like anyone’s taking him away.” … Just then, the wedding coordinator pushed open the door. Seeing me still dressed in a white silk robe, he immediately urged, “Miss Valenti, why aren’t you in your gown yet? The ceremony is about to begin.” I said calmly, “It’s fine. Even if I have to go in wearing this, I’ll be there on time.” Impatience crossed Lorenzo’s face. “Serena, stop making a scene, okay?” “I’m not making a scene.” I was simply planning to replace the groom.
The wedding coordinator frowned and was about to speak when my mother hurried into the room. “Lorenzo, what exactly are you doing? The priest is ready, and representatives from every family are waiting.” Lorenzo hesitated, but Bianca cut in. “Mrs. Valenti, Lorenzo still hasn’t found the dress. How can they go to the church?” “This is my final test for him. If he passes, maybe he’ll finally prove he deserves her.” I walked over, linked my arm through my mother’s, and gently patted her hand. “Mom, it’s all right. My wedding will go ahead today.” Then I whispered a name into her ear. Only then did some of the tension leave her face. Before my mother could respond, Lorenzo spoke first. “Serena, you’re being unreasonable today. Bianca only wants our wedding to be perfect.” “Why are you turning this into a family crisis? We can push everything back a few minutes.” I checked my phone. Another minute had passed. I looked up at him. “Lorenzo, what exactly am I doing wrong?” “So any time I refuse to go along with the two of you, I’m throwing a tantrum?” “Isn’t it?” Lorenzo said through clenched teeth. “I already told you. If I don’t find the dress, I’m not going to the church.” The answer had always been yes. Whenever we went out to eat, we chose whatever suited the two of them. If I suggested a restaurant I liked, I was “ruining the mood.” Even the alterations to this dress had been decided by Bianca. When I said I didn’t like the design at the waist, Lorenzo laughed and asked if I was jealous because Bianca had better taste. He told me not to be petty. I was about to marry him, so I swallowed my resentment rather than argue. But I had never imagined the two of them would behave this outrageously today. Bianca hurried over and took my arm. “Serena, stop. Lorenzo’s getting angry.” The wedding coordinator looked at me. “Miss Valenti, what would you like us to do? Should I tell the priest to delay the ceremony?” I shook my head. “No. We start on time. I’m going out there now.” At the same time, I texted the man waiting outside. [Is the dress ready?] A photo arrived immediately. It showed a breathtaking ivory mermaid wedding gown. [It’s ready.] [No one has worn it. No one has touched it. It belongs only to my bride.]
Hearing me, Lorenzo leaned against the wall and watched me with a cold smile. “Serena, if I’m not going out there, who exactly are you planning to marry?” I was about to answer when my phone rang. “Hello, I’m calling about a sofa delivery to the Vescari residence. Will someone be available to sign for it today?” “A sofa?” I hadn’t ordered one. Thinking they had the wrong number, I was about to hang up when Bianca snatched the phone from my hand. “Today doesn’t work. Deliver it tomorrow.” Then she ended the call and shoved the phone back at me. “Bianca, what sofa?” She shrugged as though it were nothing. “The Italian black leather sofa you picked was too gloomy. It was too dark and formal. I ordered a cream velvet one instead.” My fingers tightened around the phone. “That was supposed to be my home. Did you even ask me?” She pointed at Lorenzo. “I discussed it with Lorenzo. He agreed the velvet would be more comfortable and make the living room feel less oppressive.” “And when you choose furniture, you always choose whatever looks proper for the family. You have no idea what makes a house feel like a home, so I took care of it.” Lorenzo nodded. “I approved it. Bianca even paid for the sofa herself. You should be thanking her.” Bianca smiled as though it were the most natural thing in the world. “Exactly. Since all three of us will be spending so much time there, I wanted the living room to be comfortable.” “Oh, and I replaced the old silverware in the dining room too. Everything you picked looked dated.” My mother’s expression darkened instantly. “Bianca, what exactly do you mean by that?” Bianca took my mother’s hand and smiled. “Mrs. Valenti, the three of us have never been apart. Of course we’ll still live together after Serena gets married.” “Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of your way tonight—no matter what I hear.” My mother stared at her in disbelief. “Bianca, you’re supposed to be Serena’s best friend.” I stared hard at Lorenzo. He looked away, making it obvious that he had known all along. I had known none of it. Bianca covered her mouth with a laugh. “That’s exactly why Serena won’t make a fuss over something so small, right?” I looked at her coldly. “Who said this was small?” Every argument I could have made rose to my lips, then died there. I nodded. “Fine. Do whatever you want. Buy whatever you want. Throw out whatever you want.” I didn’t care anymore. I would never live there. How they decorated the place had nothing to do with me now. At that moment, the wedding coordinator opened the door. “Miss Valenti, it’s time.” I nodded. “All right.” Lorenzo called after me. “Serena! Without a wedding dress or a groom, what do you think you’re going out there for?” I walked out without looking back.
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