“Ulyssa, you really are something. When I come back, I’ll deal with you.”

“It wasn’t me.”

My voice was cold.

But it only earned an angrier shout from him.

“Who else could it be? The dress was in your hands the whole time, and you’re still denying it? Do you have no conscience at all?”

My patience snapped. My tone turned even colder.

“I said it wasn’t me. Felix, are you incapable of understanding human speech?”

The moment the words left my mouth, Tracy let out another sharp cry of pain in his arms.

“Felix, it hurts… don’t blame Ulyssa. She didn’t mean to…”

Felix never wanted to hear my explanation. He shot me a vicious glare and carried Tracy away.

Mocking laughter burst out around me immediately.

“The real bride isn’t even as valued as the foster sister. No wonder she had to throw herself at him.”

“Bride? She can’t even keep the groom’s attention. Even when she begs, nobody wants her.”

Every word hit like a thorn, but I didn’t even bother lifting my eyelids. I simply sat back down.

As the noise faded, I had just finished eating when my phone buzzed.

An anonymous account sent a message.

“Oh dear, sorry Ulyssa. I’m a little allergic to outdated wedding dress styles. Forgot to tell you.”

“Your favorite dress… it must already be in the trash by now, right? A five year old design, carrying your devotion to Felix… sigh, my apologies.”

Every sentence dripped with mockery.

It was obviously Tracy.

I was about to reply when Felix’s name flashed across my screen.

The ringtone felt like the continuation of this ridiculous play.

“Get over here and apologize, Ulyssa! What did you do to Tracy? Why would you hurt her like that?”

“She only tried your dress for a moment. And you tampered with it?”

His roar shook my eardrums. Soon after, under his command, the driver dragged me from the venue and forced me to the hospital.

When I pushed the door open, Tracy lay on the bed with a rosy face and teary eyes.

“Felix, I know Ulyssa didn’t mean it… after all, the dress was from years ago.”

Her voice was soft, trembling just enough.

“Back then, Ulyssa hadn’t even started chasing you, right? Or… did she already like you and buy the dress early, swearing she would only marry you?”

Each line was more venomous than the last, twisting the issue from allergies to the origin of the dress.

Felix listened, then predictably turned to me with a dark look and a mocking curl of his lips.

“Ulyssa, you really are pathetic. You bought a dress years in advance? And now you pretend you’re above all this.”

He lifted his chin and ordered coldly.

“Get over here and apologize to Tracy. I can let go of your disrespect.”

I only lowered my head and massaged the wrist the driver had bruised. I didn’t spare Felix a single glance.

The wedding dress he once begged me to accept had now become evidence that I was desperate to marry him.

He really knew how to twist the truth.

I let out a soft laugh, which made him even angrier.

“Ulyssa, are you deaf? I told you to apologize!”

“And you still dare laugh? The only reason I agreed to marry you was because you chased me for five years. I pitied you!”

“You dared hurt Tracy? I’m warning you, I can cancel this wedding any time!”

He was roaring, veins bulging, and I answered in a calm voice.

“Then cancel it.”

The air froze. He stared at me in disbelief.

“What did you say?!”

I kept the same cold smile and repeated every word clearly.

He was about to explode, but suddenly paused as if something clicked. A knowing expression appeared on his face.

“Ulyssa, even jealousy has limits.”

“Tracy is my foster sister. No matter how much you like me, you shouldn’t take it out on her.”

His tone was the same as speaking to a pet, full of patronizing pity, convinced I was hopelessly devoted to him.

I only looked at him calmly.

I would be leaving for good soon, so I no longer cared to argue.

Morning light crept in. The rash on Tracy’s skin had already disappeared.

Before they left, Felix supported her with exaggerated concern. He still turned back to give me a cold warning.

“I’ll send Tracy home first. If you have any sense, you’ll apologize to her. I might be kind enough to give you a ride.”

His eyes held the same disdain one would show a beggar.

Tracy added her own provocation.

“Ulyssa, don’t blame Felix. He only worried because I’m too delicate.”

“As for the dress, I know you didn’t mean it…”

Before she could finish, I pulled out my phone and called a car.

I didn’t give them a single word and walked away.

Felix’s furious shouting was left behind me.

“Ulyssa, I’m giving you one last chance! Miss it and there won’t be another!”

I never looked back.

His so called last chance sounded like a joke.

Back home, I was packing when Felix called again.

“Ulyssa, I’ll give you extra time.”

“Tracy said as long as you wear the dress she tried earlier and finish the wedding with me, she’ll forgive you immediately.”

His tone was high and mighty, like he was granting me a favor.

I hung up without answering.

Then I found the number hidden at the bottom of my drawer and pressed call.

“You once said you wanted to marry me. Does that still count?”

A low, lazy chuckle came from the other side.

“What is it? You rejected me so many times, and now you think of me? As long as it’s you, it always counts, princess.”

For the first time that day, my heart felt steady.

But the moment I hung up, Tracy’s messages flooded in.

“Ulyssa, remember to wear the dress Felix and I played with tomorrow. Exciting, isn’t it?”

“Chased him for five years, and he never played with you like this, right?”

“Oh, and be careful digging the dress out of the trash. Don’t get your hands dirty.”

Then came photos of her and Felix in intimate poses.

Touching, flirting, reckless.

I felt nothing. Not even a frown.

I continued packing the last of my things.

Soon, the door was kicked open.

Felix stormed in.

“Ulyssa! How many times have I told you? Tracy is my foster sister! How dare you treat the dress she wore like that?!”

Before the words ended, he grabbed my collar and slammed me to the ground.

Falling with me was the torn wedding dress.

Tracy rushed in with perfect timing, dropping to her knees beside the dress.

“Felix, I only wore it for a moment… and Ulyssa threw it into the trash… it’s all my fault… I shouldn’t have touched her dress… Felix, please don’t blame her…”

She cried while cradling the dress like a priceless treasure, shielding it with her body.

Felix frowned with heartache and pulled her into his arms immediately.

The look he gave me was pure disgust and rage.

“Ulyssa, I’ll say it again. Apologize to Tracy.”

“Otherwise, forget about marrying me!”

He held the weeping Tracy in his arms while screaming down at me like a king disciplining a servant.