Losing my mom four years ago shattered something deep inside me. The grief didn’t fade—it took root, intertwining with every part of who I am.
She was my rock, my safe place. And before she passed, she made me promise one thing.
“Chloe, wear my wedding dress on your big day, whether it’s for the ceremony or just a moment at the reception… let it be like I’m there with you.”
I swore I would.
The dress had been carefully kept in my closet ever since, waiting for the day I would fulfill that promise.
Then came Madison.
She’d been in our lives for just over a year—my brother Jake’s fiancée, the woman he planned to marry.
If I had to describe Madison, I’d say she was the type of person who spoke in demands, not requests, and viewed generosity as an obligation rather than a gift. But Jake was happy, so I kept my opinions to myself and played the supportive sister.
Which is why, three months before their wedding, I invited them to a cozy coffee shop. I wanted to do something kind—to bridge the growing gap between us.
I should’ve known Madison would find a way to ruin it.
We’d just settled in when I slid an envelope across the table.
Jake reached for it, but before he could open it, Madison snatched it from his hands.
Inside was a check for ten thousand dollars.
It wasn’t a mistake. I wanted to spoil my brother, to help in any way I could.
“I know weddings can be expensive,” I said with a smile. “I just want you two to have a beautiful day.”
Jake’s eyes widened. “Chloe, this is… incredible. Thank you.”
But Madison barely reacted.
She set the check down as if it were expected, flipping her hair over her shoulder with a sigh.
“Well, I guess that’s a good start,” she said casually. “It’ll help, but we still have so many expenses. Our wedding’s going to be the most beautiful one anyone’s ever seen.”
A good start? Seriously?
Before I could respond, she leaned in, her tone suddenly too casual.
“Actually, Jake and I talked about something important. We’ve decided I’ll be wearing your mom’s wedding dress for the ceremony.”
My breath caught.
“You’ve… decided?”
“Yeah,” she continued. “I’ll need it sent to my dressmaker for alterations. I’ll text you the address.”
I felt the words hit me like a slap.
“Excuse me?” I managed.
Madison rolled her eyes, as if I were the unreasonable one.
“Oh, come on, Chloe. It’s just sitting in your closet, collecting dust. And honestly? You don’t even know if you’ll ever need it. Don’t fight us on this. It’s important to Jake too.”
Jake.
That’s when I realized.
He’d told her about the dress. About my mom’s final wish. And instead of respecting it, they had decided to make it about them.
“Madison, my mom wanted me to wear that dress. It was her last wish. I’m not fighting you, because this isn’t up for discussion.”
She scoffed.
Then the waitress arrived, setting down our drinks and cake plates.
“Here you go! Enjoy! And Chloe, compliments from the chef,” she said cheerfully.
I barely heard her.
Because Madison, in all her entitlement, leaned back and said the words that made my blood boil.
“Your mom’s not here anymore, is she?”
Red. That’s all I saw.
I wanted to throw my coffee in her face, to flip the table, to scream.
But before I could do any of that, a familiar voice interrupted.
“Excuse me, can I steal you for a second, love?”
I turned to see Mark.
Mark—my boyfriend.
He’d been with me for two years. Jake had met him once, but judging by his blank expression, he probably didn’t even remember.
“Sure,” I said, grateful for the escape.
Mark took my hand and led me just far enough away that they couldn’t hear.
“I thought you were meeting with the owner?” I asked, confused.
“I did. And I just got back,” he said. “I heard everything, Chloe. And I can’t stand back anymore.”
Before I could respond, Mark disappeared into the kitchen.
A moment later, he returned holding a bouquet of roses.
And then, right there, in the middle of the coffee shop, he got down on one knee.
“Mark,” I breathed.
His eyes met mine, steady and full of warmth.
“I should’ve done this a long time ago,” he said. “I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. Marry me, Chloe.”
The coffee shop fell silent.
Then—applause. Loud, thunderous applause from the staff.
Madison? Her face twisted with rage.
“Are you freaking serious?!” she shrieked, standing so fast her chair nearly tipped. “You’re stealing my wedding?! What the hell, Chloe? You brat!”
Jake looked at me, his mouth slightly open.
“You’re… engaged?”
I smiled, lifting my left hand to show the ring.
“I am indeed.”
“Since when?! Two seconds ago?! It doesn’t count!” Madison yelled.
“Well,” Mark said, struggling to hide his grin, “now there will be two weddings. Your mom would have loved to see both her kids get married on the same day.”
“NO! NO WAY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOMENT!” Madison screamed. “Unbelievable!”
She grabbed her purse and stormed out, leaving Jake sitting there, awkwardly rubbing his face.
For the first time in a long while, I saw something different in my brother’s eyes.
Realization.
After a long pause, he sighed.
“I need to rethink some things.”
And with that, he left too.
That night, I unzipped the garment bag in my closet, letting my mom’s dress spill across my lap.
“Mom, you would’ve lost your mind today,” I whispered, laughing softly.
“But it’s safe now. Madison will never touch it. You made sure of that, didn’t you?”
A lump rose in my throat.
“I wish you were here.”
A soft knock on my door made me wipe my eyes.
Jake stepped inside, holding a plate.
“I let myself in with the emergency key,” he said, awkwardly. “I, uh… brought ginger cake.”
Our mom’s favorite.
He sat beside me on the bed. We didn’t speak for a long moment.
Then he sighed.
“She crossed a line, didn’t she?”
“Jake, she bulldozed through it.”
He nodded, exhaling deeply.
“I don’t know why I froze,” he admitted. “I heard her. I knew she was wrong. But I just sat there.”
I waited.
“I guess… I’ve spent so much time defending Madison that I don’t even know where I stand anymore.”
There it was. The truth.
Jake had been making excuses for so long that he’d stopped questioning them.
He pulled a crumpled envelope from his pocket—the one I’d given them earlier.
“I can’t take this, Chloe. Not if I don’t know where Madison and I are going. And you’re going to need it. You’re getting married too.”
This wasn’t about money.
For the first time in a long time, it was just Jake and Chloe.
Just us.
And that was enough.