Losing my mom four years ago shattered something within me. The grief didn\u2019t diminish; it burrowed deep, intertwining itself with every aspect of my being.<\/p>\n
She had been my anchor, my sanctuary. Before she passed, she made me promise one thing.<\/p>\n
\u201cChloe, wear my wedding dress on your special day. Whether it\u2019s for the ceremony or just a moment at the reception\u2026 let it feel like I\u2019m there with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
I vowed I would.<\/p>\n
The dress had been carefully stored in my closet ever since, waiting for the day I would fulfill that promise.<\/p>\n
Then came Madison.<\/p>\n
She had been in our lives for just over a year\u2014my brother Jake\u2019s fianc\u00e9e, the woman he intended to spend his life with.<\/p>\n
If I had to describe Madison, I\u2019d say she was the type who issued demands instead of requests, viewing generosity as an obligation rather than a gift. But Jake was happy, so I kept my opinions to myself and played the supportive sister.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why, three months before their wedding, I invited them to a cozy coffee shop. I wanted to do something nice to bridge the growing gap between us.<\/p>\n
I should have anticipated that Madison would find a way to ruin it.<\/p>\n
We had just settled in when I slid an envelope across the table.<\/p>\n
Jake reached for it, but before he could open it, Madison snatched it from his hands.<\/p>\n
She pulled out the check inside.<\/p>\n
Ten thousand dollars.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t a mistake. I wanted to treat my brother, to help in any way I could.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know weddings can be costly,\u201d I said with a smile. \u201cI just want you both to have a beautiful day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cChloe, this is\u2026 amazing. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Madison barely reacted.<\/p>\n
She placed the check down as if it were something she had anticipated, then tossed her hair over her shoulder with a sigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I guess that\u2019s a good start,\u201d she said nonchalantly. \u201cIt\u2019ll help, but we still have so many expenses. Our wedding is going to be the most beautiful anyone has ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
A good start? Seriously?<\/p>\n
Before I could respond, she leaned in, her tone suddenly too casual.<\/p>\n
\u201cActually, Jake and I discussed something important. We\u2019ve decided that I\u2019ll be wearing your mom\u2019s wedding dress for the ceremony.\u201d<\/p>\n
My breath caught.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve\u2026 decided?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d she continued. \u201cI\u2019ll need it sent to my dressmaker for alterations. I\u2019ll text you the address.\u201d<\/p>\n
The words hit me like a slap.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me?\u201d I managed to say.<\/p>\n
Madison rolled her eyes, as if I were the unreasonable one.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, come on, Chloe. It\u2019s just sitting in your closet, gathering dust. And honestly? You don\u2019t even know if you\u2019ll ever need it. Don\u2019t fight us on this. It\u2019s important to Jake too.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s when it hit me.<\/p>\n
He had told her about the dress. About my mother\u2019s last wish. And instead of honoring it, they had chosen to make it about themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cMadison, my mom wanted me to wear that dress. It was her final wish. I\u2019m not fighting you because this isn\u2019t up for debate.\u201d<\/p>\n
She scoffed.<\/p>\n
Just then, the waitress arrived, setting down our drinks and plates of cake.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere you go! Enjoy! And Chloe, compliments from the chef,\u201d she added with a smile.<\/p>\n
I barely registered her words.<\/p>\n
Because Madison, in all her entitlement, leaned back and said the words that ignited my fury.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour mom\u2019s not here anymore, is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
All I saw was red.<\/p>\n
I wanted to throw my coffee in her face, flip the table, scream.<\/p>\n
But before I could act on any of those impulses, a familiar voice interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cExcuse me, can I steal you for a second, love?\u201d<\/p>\n
I turned to see Mark.<\/p>\n
Mark\u2014my boyfriend.<\/p>\n
He had been with me for two years. Jake had met him once, but judging by his blank expression, he probably didn\u2019t even remember.<\/p>\n
\u201cSure,\u201d I said, grateful for the escape.<\/p>\n
Mark took my hand and led me just far enough away that they couldn\u2019t hear.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought you were meeting with the owner?\u201d I asked, confused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI did. And I just got back,\u201d he said. \u201cI heard everything, Chloe. And I can\u2019t just stand by anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before I could respond, Mark disappeared into the kitchen.<\/p>\n
A moment later, he returned\u2014holding a bouquet of roses.<\/p>\n
And then, right there in the middle of the coffee shop, he got down on one knee.<\/p>\n
\u201cMark,\u201d I breathed.<\/p>\n
His eyes met mine, steady and full of warmth.<\/p>\n
\u201cI should have done this a long time ago,\u201d he said. \u201cI love you. And I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me, Chloe?\u201d<\/p>\n
The coffee shop fell silent.<\/p>\n
And then\u2014applause. Loud, thunderous applause from the staff.<\/p>\n
Madison, on the other hand?<\/p>\n
Her face twisted in pure rage.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you freaking serious?!\u201d she shrieked, standing so abruptly that her chair nearly toppled. \u201cYou\u2019re stealing my wedding?! What the hell, Chloe? You brat!\u201d<\/p>\n
Jake looked at me, his mouth slightly agape.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re\u2026 engaged?\u201d<\/p>\n
I smiled, lifting my left hand to admire the ring.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am indeed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSince when?! Two seconds ago?! It doesn\u2019t count!\u201d Madison shouted.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell,\u201d Mark said, struggling to hide his grin, \u201cnow there will be two weddings. Your mom would have loved to see both her kids get married on the same day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNO! NO WAY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOMENT!\u201d Madison screamed. \u201cUnbelievable!\u201d<\/p>\n
She grabbed her purse. \u201cYou and your fianc\u00e9 can pay for the coffee and cake.\u201d<\/p>\n
She stormed out, leaving Jake sitting there, awkwardly rubbing his face.<\/p>\n
And for the first time in a long time, I saw something different in my brother\u2019s expression.<\/p>\n
Realization.<\/p>\n
After a long pause, he sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to rethink some things.\u201d<\/p>\n
And with that, he left too.<\/p>\n
That night, back home, I unzipped the garment bag in my closet, letting my mother\u2019s dress spill over my lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, you would have lost your mind today,\u201d I whispered, laughing softly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it\u2019s safe now. Madison will never touch it. You made sure of that, didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
A lump rose in my throat.<\/p>\n
\u201cI wish you were here.\u201d<\/p>\n
A soft knock at my door made me wipe my eyes.<\/p>\n
Jake stepped inside, holding a plate.<\/p>\n
\u201cI let myself in with the emergency key,\u201d he said, awkwardly. \u201cI, uh\u2026 brought ginger cake.\u201d<\/p>\n
Our mom\u2019s favorite.<\/p>\n
He sat beside me on the bed. For a long moment, we said nothing.<\/p>\n
Then, he sighed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe crossed a line, didn\u2019t she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJake, she bulldozed right through it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He nodded, exhaling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know why I froze,\u201d he admitted. \u201cI heard her. I knew she was wrong. But I just sat there.\u201d<\/p>\n
I waited.<\/p>\n
\u201cI guess\u2026 I\u2019ve spent so much time defending Madison that I don\u2019t even know where I stand anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
There it was. The truth.<\/p>\n
Jake had been making excuses for so long that he had stopped questioning them.<\/p>\n
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled envelope\u2014the one I had given them earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t take this, Chloe. Not if I don\u2019t know where Madison and I are headed. And you\u2019re going to need it. You\u2019re getting married too.\u201d<\/p>\n
This wasn\u2019t just about money.<\/p>\n
For the first time in a long time, we were just Jake and Chloe.<\/p>\n
Just us.<\/p>\n
And that was enough.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Losing my mom four years ago shattered something within me. The grief didn\u2019t diminish; it burrowed deep, intertwining itself with every aspect of my being. She had been my anchor, my sanctuary. Before she passed, she made me promise one thing. \u201cChloe, wear my wedding dress on your special day. Whether it\u2019s for the ceremony…<\/p>\n