On the day of our wedding, my fiancé, Shawn Chandler, insisted that I wear a bridesmaid’s dress while having a million-dollar wedding gown custom-made for his childhood sweetheart.

“Jessica said she wants to fulfill her dream of wearing a wedding dress. She’s been looking forward to seeing me get married since she was little.”

I threw the bridesmaid’s dress into the trash.

His expression darkened as he scolded me, “Why are you so unreasonable? Even if you wear a bridesmaid’s dress, you’ll still be the bride. And if it weren’t for the fact that you’re pregnant, I wouldn’t be marrying you at all!”

Placing my hand over my belly, I slammed the door and left.

That night, he posted wedding photos with Jessica Jordan on his social media.

Five years later, Shawn and I met again at a charity gala. He was invited as a specially invited donor, with Jessica by his side in a custom designer gown. The two behaved intimately.

When he saw me crouching in a corner sorting a donated box of old clothes, he frowned and walked over. “Tiana Larrinson, you refused to wear that bridesmaid’s dress back then, and now, you’ve fallen so low that you’re rummaging through other people’s old clothes?

“Look at you, sneaking into events like this by picking through scraps. You should’ve just listened to me back then.”

I was confused, and it took me a long time to remember who he was. What he did not know was that the items up for auction at this charity gala were my and my daughter's old clothes.

“Tiana Larrinson?”

Hearing my name, I instinctively looked up.

Shawn Chandler stood over me, frowning. Beside him was Jessica Jordan, glittering with jewels in a custom designer gown.

“So, it is really you.” He let out a sneer as his gaze swept across my plain clothes and the old garments in my hands. “You refused to wear the bridesmaid’s dress back then, and now, you’ve fallen so low that you’re rummaging through other people’s old clothes?”

Jessica covered her mouth and giggled. She leaned closer and spoke as though she was concerned. “Ms. Larrinson, what are you doing here? Doesn’t this gala require at least half a million to get in? Don’t tell me you snuck in to freeload?”

Shawn sneered. His disdain toward me was obvious.

“How could she possibly qualify? A disgusting woman who abandoned her fiancé over a wedding dress. Forget the half a million, she probably can’t even afford a meal now.”

“That’s none of your business," I said coldly, turning to leave.

Shawn stepped forward and grabbed my wrist. “Tiana, look at you now. You should’ve just listened to me on the wedding day. If you’d been a little more sensible, you’d still be Mrs. Chandler instead of a beggar, stealing clothes no one else wants.”

The guests around us began gossiping upon hearing him.

Jessica got even more smug and deliberately raised her voice. “Shawn, I’ve been the one helping you move on these past five years. I’ll get jealous if you keep talking like that.”

“Ms. Larrinson, it’s too late for regrets. Shawn donated ten million just to bring me to this event.”

I looked at the small diamond ring on Jessica’s index finger and sneered, “It’s been five years, and Shawn still hasn’t married you? That diamond’s so small, like your devotion isn’t worth as much as that one million.”

Jessica quickly hid her hand behind her back. Her expression was distorted. “What nonsense are you talking about?! Shawn and I are getting married soon. The wedding’s set for next month. He’s going to reserve the entire Maladeivs!”

At that, Shawn’s expression darkened. He checked his watch impatiently. “Jessica, stop wasting time. Mr. Lynch and the others are waiting for us.”

He cast me one last cold glare. His voice was hoarse. “Throw those rags away and come work as a receptionist at my company. You used to be my woman. Ending up like this is an embarrassment.”

Jessica bit her lip, unable to hide the bitterness in her voice. “Shawn, how could you take in someone like her...”

Shawn’s tall figure loomed over me, casting me in shadow as he waited for an answer.

“Mommy!”

My daughter ran toward me from the crowd and threw herself into my arms.

Shawn stared at her face, momentarily stunned. “Tiana… Is this girl my child?”

I ignored Shawn and gently ran my fingers through my daughter’s slightly messy bangs.

“Tessa, why did you come here?”

“I missed you, Mommy.” Tessa nuzzled against my neck, then tilted her head to look at Shawn. “Sir, why are you looking at me like that?”

Shawn stared at her as his expression darkened. “Tiana, how could you take your daughter away? She’s five years old, and she’s this thin?”

As he spoke, he reached out to grab Tessa.

My expression turned cold. I slapped his hand away and pulled Tessa behind me. “Tessa is not yours!”

Shawn paused for a moment but snapped out of his shock. “Stop being stubborn. You haven’t changed at all. You knew I’d be here, so you brought my child along and pretended to pick through trash just to get my attention.

“Tiana, are you making use of this child?”

Jessica panicked and clung tightly to Shawn’s arm. “Ms. Larrinson, so what if you and Shawn have a child? Shawn and I are getting married soon. Please don’t try to ruin our relationship on purpose!”

I sneered, “First, this child is not Shawn’s. Second, you’re the homewrecker! Back then, when Shawn and I were getting married, you threw a tantrum to wear my wedding dress and made me wear a bridesmaid’s dress!”

Hearing that, some of the guests began looking at Jessica with disdain. Her face went pale as she shrank into Shawn’s arms.

“Shawn, look! She’s still holding a grudge over what happened back then. I just wanted to fulfill my dream of wearing a wedding dress. I didn’t expect her to break up with you over something so petty.”

A trace of pity flashed in Shawn’s eyes. “It’s not your fault. If anyone’s to blame, it’s her for always making a big deal out of everything.”

I could not be bothered to argue with the two of them. I took Tessa’s hand and prepared to leave. However, Shawn grabbed my wrist. He grabbed so hard that it hurt me.

“Tessa stays! She’s my daughter. I’ll raise her myself.” He paused, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “She’s still young. She needs her mother. You’re coming with me.”

“Let go of me!” I tried to pull free, but his grip only tightened. “I told you, Tessa is not your daughter! Shawn, you were the one who told me not to cling to you! What are you doing now?”

The moment the words left my mouth, Shawn froze before his expression turned cold again.

“Tiana, do you really think I still have any feelings for you? I just feel sorry for a five-year-old child who looks as frail as a three-year-old. You’re both coming with me today!”

Terrified by the scene, Tessa burst into loud tears. “Mommy! Bad guy, let go of Mommy! Daddy! Daddy! Mommy’s being bullied. Where are you?”

Shawn’s face went pale upon hearing Tessa’s scream. He looked at me in disbelief.

“Daddy?” Shawn’s grip loosened suddenly, and his face turned deathly pale. “Tiana, how dare you marry other guy with my child!”

He stared at me, his gaze dark and menacing, as if trying to pin me in place.

I rubbed my reddened wrist and looked at him calmly. “That’s right, I’m married. Tessa is his child. Shawn, you really think too highly of yourself.”

“You think I’d believe you’re married just because you just found some random man to pretend to be your husband?” As if trying to convince himself, Shawn’s expression grew more certain.

“Tiana, you hate me for choosing Jessica back then, so now you’ve brought our child to take revenge on me.”

His absurd logic almost made me laugh. “Are you delusional?”

He ignored me and stepped closer, lowering his voice as he threatened. “I’m telling you. Don’t think you can fool me by marrying just any man? I’m taking this child. If you know what’s good for you, come with me obediently with the child.”

I looked at his crazed expression and scoffed. The cold, selfish man from five years ago had only become more unreasonable. He did not care about the truth. All he cared about was his pride.

I took a deep breath and spoke slowly. “Shawn, do you really think I couldn’t live without you after leaving?”

He sneered, “Isn’t that the case?”

“Do you think I showed up here with a child just to get your attention?”

“What else could it be?” He curled his lips mockingly. “Tiana, what else can a woman like you rely on besides men?”

I looked at him silently, then laughed. “Shawn, you’re pitiful.”

That word completely enraged him. His fingers dug into my shoulder. “Tiana, who do you think you are? If I hadn’t taken pity on you back then and saved you from those thugs, would you even be alive today?”

“You took pity on me?” I shook off his hand as my eyes reddened.

It was true that Shawn had once saved my life. On my way home from school, I was dragged into an alley by a group of thugs. He was the one who saved me. To protect me, he fought them like a madman and was stabbed several times in the abdomen.

That was when I first began to fall in love with him. Even knowing I was just a substitute for Jessica, I endured it.

Tessa tugged at my sleeve, pulling me back to reality. “Mommy, can we go find Daddy?”

I touched her cheek gently. “Okay, I'll take you to Daddy right now.”

I looked up at Shawn, all my patience gone. “Shawn, I’ll say this one last time. Tessa is not your child. She’s only three years old this year. Stop deceiving yourself.”

However, Shawn did not believe a word of it. He looked at Tessa.

“Tessa, call me 'Daddy.' I can give you a good life. You won’t have to pick through trash with your mom anymore.”

Tessa bit her lip, her eyes filling with tears as she shook her head desperately.

When Tessa still refused to call him 'Daddy', Shawn reached out to snatch her. I held my daughter tightly, protecting her.

However, the difference in strength between us was too great, and I was thrown aside. My back slammed into a donation box, and I went into a momentary blackout due to the sharp pain.

My phone slipped out of my pocket, and the screen lit up. It was a photo of my family of three.