When my wedding gets delayed for the 99th time, I call the company in charge of planning the wedding and tell them to swap my name out for Julian Foster's childhood sweetheart, Madison Hart.

"We understand what you mean, Ms. Sinclair. But are you sure you want to make the change? It seems that Mr. Foster has no intention of delaying the wedding this time."

As I listen to the shocked host's words, I stare at the draft on the monitor.

Groom: Julian Foster

Bride: Olivia Sinclair

But the design's special note shows, "Adjust the theme according to champagne yellow, Madison's favorite color."

Madison is Julian's childhood sweetheart. Even though he claims that she's only lending a hand in referencing the wedding's designs, the truth is, she's the one calling the shots in the wedding's flower arrangement, wedding gifts, as well as the wedding anthem during the bride's entrance.

She even leaves an airy comment about my wedding dress. "A fishtail gown suits her more."

After dragging the document into the recycle bin, I reply calmly, "Yes. Please change the bride's name to Madison."

I shall return the wedding that's filled with Madison's traces to her and Julian without altering a single thing. After that, I will retreat from this bunch of nonsense unscathed.

Finally, we shall part ways permanently. Julian can stay with the woman he truly wants to be with, while I can enjoy the unbridled freedom on my own.

"Alright, we'll make the changes right away. Would you like us to notify Mr. Foster ahead of time?" the wedding planner asked after some hesitation.

I calmly looked at the screen. "No."

The call ended, and my computer screen went dark.

I glanced around the house that Julian Foster and I were supposed to move into next month after the wedding.

It was a three-story villa exuding elegance in every detail.

Yet the crystal chandelier in the living room was there because Madison Hart thought it looked more sophisticated.

The silk bedding in the master bedroom was one that Madison insisted felt better against the skin. Even the diffuser in the foyer carried her favorite bluebell scent.

I felt like a guest who had wandered into someone else's home.

I headed to the bathroom to wash my face.

A used Tom Ford lipstick sat prominently on the marble countertop. It was Madison's signature vintage red.

Beside it lay a delicate pearly earring.

I stared at the lipstick. I knew exactly whose it was.

Just then, my phone vibrated. It was a message from Julian.

"Olivia, the wedding planner said you've contacted them several times today."

"It's nothing—just a few minor details. Everything's taken care of," I replied.

Several minutes passed before he responded with a single word. "Okay."

Then, he sent a picture.

Madison was in a champagne-colored couture gown, turning before a mirror.

"Maddie's trying on bridesmaid dresses. The zipper got stuck, so I'm helping her," read the message. "The boutique has some nice options. She's having trouble deciding. Do you want to come by and help her choose?"

I stared at the screen, my hands growing cold.

Just last week, I went wedding dress shopping alone. The dress' tight straps made it hard for me to breathe in the changing room, so I called Julian for help.

"Get one of the employees to help you. Maddie's car broke down, and I need to go pick her up," he replied, his voice drowned in noise.

I stood there alone in a mermaid gown Madison had picked out—one that didn't even fit me properly—while the sales associates looked at me with sympathy.

Yet, Julian was currently adjusting the hem of his childhood friend's bridesmaid dress. He even wanted me there as the audience.

I called him.

"Have you arrived?" he asked.

"No."

My voice was steady. "We should end this. The wedding—"

Before I could finish, Madison's voice floated through the line. "Julian, come look at this one! Isn't it gorgeous? Stop talking on the phone and help me decide."

There was an immediate change in Julian's usually flat tone. "It looks great. Then again, anything you wear always looks good, Maddie."

Then, as if suddenly remembering I was still there, he added, "What were you saying about the wedding? Once something's decided, stop trying to change it."

"It's nothing. Enjoy your time with Madison."

The corner of my mouth twitched. I didn't even have the energy to be disappointed anymore.

"Sure. Maddie's the bridesmaid. Her dress will reflect on the Foster family. I need to make sure it looks right. Don't overthink it.

"Oh, right," he quipped, seeming to realize his tone had been a little harsh. "I ordered a ruby necklace for Maddie earlier. The store included a diamond pendant as a complimentary gift. I wasn't going to take it, but Maddie said it would suit you. I'll bring it home later."

"Olivia!" Madison's voice cut in clearly once again. "Julian's just not very good at this sort of thing. Don't mind him. The pendant was just a gift, and it isn't anything special. You usually dress pretty simply, though, so I thought it'd suit you.

"We can wear them together on the wedding day. Consider it a small gift from me to both of you."

She wanted everyone at the wedding to know who the Foster family's true favorite was by having me wear a pendant that made it clear.

Ever since Madison came back from Vandalia, things had been like this.

Whenever Julian went on business trips, he'd bring her limited-edition handbags worth thousands of dollars. Meanwhile, he'd casually pick up a discounted bottle of perfume for me from the airport duty-free store.

He eventually started repeatedly postponing our wedding just to get the limited-edition items she wanted.

Whenever I confronted him about it, he always sounded completely justified. "Maddie's used to the best things since she was little. You don't usually dress up anyway. It's fine if you make do. Besides, the wedding delays were unexpected. I definitely won't postpone it next time."

"Don't treat Olivia like that. I still have some of the things you gave me years ago. Maybe I should pass them on to Olivia," Madison would always say with a grin.

"How generous of you two, Ms. Hart and Mr. Foster."

My voice was light as I ended the call.

Once disappointment reached a certain point, there was simply nothing left to say.

Back in the bedroom, I opened the closet.

More than half of it was filled with designer clothes that Julian had bought so that I would look presentable at social events. I hadn't even taken the tags off.

I pulled out my old suitcase and started packing a few changes of clothes and my laptop.

My phone lit up again. It was a message from the magazine's editor-in-chief.

"Olivia, your transfer to our Luten office has been approved. Are you sure you're leaving tomorrow? Isn't it your wedding tomorrow?"

With the scent of bluebells filling the house and the memory of Madison's lipstick on the bathroom counter fresh in my mind, I replied, "Yes, I am.

"The bride has changed."

At 10:00 pm that night, Julian and Madison entered the house one after the other.

"Olivia, here." Julian handed me an unwrapped black velvet box.

The lid popped open. Inside was a delicate diamond pendant necklace.

Around Madison's neck, however, was the dazzling ruby statement piece.

The blood-red gem stabbed straight into my eyes. My fingers paused slightly.

On our first anniversary, I had once stopped in front of a boutique window to look at a similar ruby necklace.

Julian had pulled me away immediately. "It's too flashy. It'll look tacky on you."

The rubies weren't tacky after all. They just looked tacky on me.

"Julian was so clueless that he didn't even bother with a gift box," Madison said as she touched the ruby around her neck and smiled. "The diamond pendant suits you, Olivia. You don't really go out much anyway, so you don't need anything better."

I calmly closed the cheap black box.

"You're right. It would've been wasted on me."

Julian froze. Something in his gaze shifted. It seemed like he had finally noticed how quiet I had been all day.

Madison, on the other hand, had already walked over to the couch and sat down.

She pulled the wedding schedule out of her limited-edition handbag and said, "By the way, I changed the bridal car to a convertible Porsche. I always get carsick, and Julian said the open top would help. You don't mind, do you?"

It was my wedding, yet the bridal car had to be changed for the bridesmaid.

I lowered my eyes to the suitcase by the door. "As you wish."

Julian's gaze faltered. Then, he followed mine and saw the old suitcase.

It was the same one I had used when I moved in with him in the early days of our relationship.

"Are you going on a trip?" he asked, his brows furrowing. "The wedding's tomorrow."

I looked at him calmly and opened my mouth to answer.

Suddenly, Madison's glass of water slipped from her hand and shattered on the carpet.

"Julian… I'm sorry…" She pressed a hand to her chest and muttered with a shaky voice, "I felt dizzy all of a sudden."

Julian's expression darkened immediately.

"Did you catch a cold? Is your heart acting up again?" he pressed, his tone filled with urgency and concern.

My words never made it out. I stared at the broken glass on the carpet.

It was our couple's mug.

Last year, Julian had given Madison a full set of handmade porcelain mugs. When I asked him if we had anything that belonged just to us, he frowned and told me I was being petty.

He then casually ordered a custom set of matching couple mugs.

That was the only time he had ever given me anything resembling reassurance.

My mug had my portrait on it. Now, it lay shattered on the carpet.

"Didn't I tell you to take better care of yourself? Why do you never listen?"

Julian didn't seem to notice. His expression was stern, but the worry in his eyes gave him away as he scolded Madison.

Last winter, I'd run a 104°F fever. I was so sick I could barely stay on my feet.

All Julian said was, "Take some medicine, get some sleep, and you'll feel better tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Madison had done nothing more than drop a glass, yet he was acting as though it were an emergency.

Leaning against his chest, Madison looked over to me weakly. "Julian, are you really going to have the first dance with me tomorrow? Won't Olivia be upset?"

Julian gently patted her on the back and casually replied, "You've been dreaming of waltzing in a ballroom ever since you were a kid. I gave you my word, and I'm not going to break it. Olivia's reasonable. She's not the type to get worked up over something like this. She'll understand."

The groom's first dance would belong to the bridesmaid at my very own wedding.

A smile tugged at my lips as I watched them nestle together.

Julian caught the smile on my face and seemed pleased by how understanding I was being.

"I'm glad you see it that way," he said. "I've always thought of Maddie as a little sister. Taking care of her is second nature by now."

Madison immediately snuggled closer to him. "Don't get the wrong idea, Olivia. I still remember when I was little and wanted to see the fireworks. Julian snuck me out of the house, and his dad grounded him for it.

"There was also a time when I fell and cried after starting dance lessons. Julian carried me all the way home. We're basically brother and sister."

She sighed. "I'm so jealous of you, Olivia. After tomorrow, you'll officially be Mrs. Foster."

Julian gazed down at her. Indulgence was clear in his voice. "That's enough. How are you feeling now?"

Madison slipped her arms around his neck and pouted. "A little better. Just a little."

A helpless smile flickered across Julian's face. "Okay. Then, I'll take you upstairs so you can rest."

Then, he finally remembered that I was still standing there. "We've got a wedding tomorrow. Get some sleep. I'll come back once Maddie's okay."

With that, he carried Madison upstairs without a second glance.

The door to the master bedroom closed. The faint sounds of their laughter disappeared behind it.

I didn't go back to the bedroom. Instead, I calmly walked toward my suitcase and slipped the last of my documents inside.

The moment I closed it, a sharp pain twisted through my stomach. I crumpled to the floor. Cold sweat instantly soaked through my shirt.

It was an old condition I'd developed years ago, spending night after night drinking with clients while helping Julian secure investors.

My hands shook as I pulled out my phone.

"Julian, my stomach's acting up again. The cramps are so bad I can't walk… Can you take me to the hospital?"

There was a two-second silence on Julian's end.

Then, Madison's breathless voice came through. "Julian, my chest still feels tight…"

The next second, Julian whispered, "Maddie just got through another episode. Her heart has always been fragile. She can't be left alone right now."

Curled up on the carpet, I felt as though knives were twisting through my stomach.

"It really hurts."

There was another brief pause before Madison's voice drifted through the speaker. "Julian, maybe you should go check on Olivia?"

Before she could finish, Julian cut her off, "Don't push yourself."

He turned his attention back to me. "Stop overthinking. A heart condition is serious. You just have a stomachache. I'll call an ambulance for you right now."

The call ended.

I stared at the closed master bedroom door upstairs.

The staircase was no more than a few yards from the living room, yet even that short distance was too much for him to make.

Ten minutes later, the doorbell rang. But Julian still didn't come downstairs.

I had to brace myself against the wall to slowly make my way to the front door. When I opened it, the paramedics saw how pale I was and immediately stepped forward to support me.

"Where's your family?"

I forced a smile.

"Upstairs. They're busy."

…

When I opened my eyes, it was still dark outside.

The sharp smell of disinfectant filled my nose. An IV needle was taped to the back of my hand, and cold fluid slowly seeped into my veins.

My coworker, Yvette Lewis, was sitting beside the bed. Her eyes were red, and she was still clutching my document pouch.

"Have you completely lost your mind? Your stomach's bleeding, yet you're still planning to fly to Luten tomorrow?"

My throat felt raw. "Did you change my flight?"

Yvette stared at me before letting out a humorless laugh.

"I moved it to tomorrow," she replied. "What about your wedding? Was that thing about the bride being replaced actually serious? Please tell me you're joking."

I stared at the brightening sky through the window.

"I wasn't joking. I replaced her myself."

Yvette froze.

I handed her my phone. The screen showed the confirmation image that the wedding planning company had sent in the middle of the night.

The groom was Julian, and the bride was Madison.

Yvette stared at it for several seconds before swearing under her breath. "Does he know?"

I shook my head. "Not yet. There's no reason for him to know."

Just then, the hospital room door opened.

Julian walked in.

Madison followed right behind him. She wore a short white dress and had Julian's suit jacket draped over her shoulders. The ruby necklace around her neck gleamed brightly beneath the hospital lights.

When Julian noticed that I was awake, he seemed relieved.

"The doctor said it's nothing serious. Since you're awake, let's not waste time."

Before I could ask for clarification, Madison clapped her hands and smiled.

A crowd immediately poured in through the doorway. There were bridesmaids, photographers, makeup artists, and several members of the Foster family.

They carried balloons, wedding decorations, and champagne-colored ribbons.

Within minutes, the cold hospital room was transformed with wedding decor.

A "Just Married" banner hung above my bed, and bouquets were arranged beside my IV stand. The room looked less like a wedding and more like a ridiculous memorial service.

Yvette shot to her feet. "She's still hooked up to an IV. What exactly do you think you're doing?"

"She's sick, isn't she? We'll just use this place as her bridal suite," Julian stated, frowning. "Olivia's always been understanding. She won't mind."

Madison tugged on his sleeve. "Olivia, this was my idea. If you don't like it, we can forget about it. We can wait."

Her eyes drifted toward the photographer as she spoke.

Julian's expression faltered. "Don't ruin the mood. Maddie put a lot of work into planning all this."

I looked at him.

The IV needle stung faintly in the back of my hand. A streak of blood had flowed back into the clear tubing. It stood out against the plastic.

Julian's mother, Phoebe Smith, walked over and patted Madison's hand. "Maddie's such a thoughtful girl. She's the one who understands Julian the best."

"I know, right? Ever since we were kids, we always thought Julian and Maddie were perfect for each other."

"Yeah. If Maddie didn't see him only as a brother, someone else would've never had a chance," several of the bridesmaids chimed in.

Then, as if they had only just noticed me, they added with a laugh, "Don't take it personally, Olivia. We're just joking.

"By the way, my friends planned all the wedding games today. You should just sit back and watch since you're not feeling well. Besides, everyone's basically family here. Nobody really cares if the bride participates."

Family.

I scanned the room.

The Foster family knew Madison. Julian's friends knew Madison. Even the bridesmaids at the wedding were Madison's friends.

Meanwhile, I, the actual bride, lay in a hospital bed like an outsider who was summoned to witness the ceremony.

Julian walked over to my bedside and adjusted the IV bag for me. He didn't say a word.

I looked up at him.

The lingering pain in my stomach rolled through me in waves, yet strangely, I felt calm.

"Julian, am I really your bride today?" I asked.

A frown creased his brow as he finally spoke, asking, "What are you talking about?"

He glanced at his watch.

"I'll be picking you up in seven hours. Isn't that enough to make you happy?"

I smiled. "I am. I'm looking forward to the surprise I prepared for you at the wedding."