C03
I was jolted awake by a knock at the door just after dawn. When I opened it, Daniel stood, stubble on his face and a look of determination in his eyes.
“I asked you to deliver the ointment. Why are you at the hotel?” I asked, keeping my tone cold and my expression
When My Boyfriend Chose My Stepsister
guarded. I didn’t want to engage with him–after all, nothing I said ever seemed to come out right.
“Gianna, stop making a fuss. I won’t press you about this any longer,” he said, his voice softer. “But don’t forget, we still have a wedding to attend tonight.”
I crossed my arms, holding my ground. “You can handle the wedding dress, the photos, everything else. It’s your show.”
At this point, he still thought I was just making a fuss.
I nodded slightly, signaling that I understood.
Daniel seemed taken aback by my lack of tears; he opened his mouth to say something but then fell silent. “Let’s go, then… Let’s start with the wedding dress,” I said, keeping my voice steady.
He instinctively opened the front passenger door and waited for me to get in, as he always did. But for me, the front seat no longer felt like my place. Instead, I climbed into the back seat, creating a clear boundary between us.
Daniel stared at me for several seconds, a flicker of confusion crossing his face. “Why don’t you sit in the front?” he finally asked, his tone questioning.
I ignored his question, my thoughts consumed by visions of wedding dresses. The last time I had chosen a style, it was to please Daniel, never considering what I truly wanted. This time, I was determined to be my own bride.
However, instead of heading to the wedding dress shop, Daniel turned the car around to go home and pick up Helena first. When she hopped in, she smiled and casually opened the passenger door, pouting her lips as if she were about to kiss him. She quickly settled into the co–pilot seat, and Daniel instinctively wrapped his arms around her.
After a moment, she seemed to remember my presence and pushed Helena away awkwardly. “Gianna is here too? Why didn’t you say anything? There’s no teacher here to complain to you.”
I continued to listen to Daniel’s weak attempts at justification. “Gianna, don’t think too much; it was Helena who said she wanted to pick a wedding dress for herself.”
Bored and disinterested, I turned my gaze out the window, tuning them out completely.
In the bridal shop, Daniel eagerly selected the most beautiful and expensive wedding dresses for Helena, while
I was left with a torn, yellowed second–hand dress. Eight years of love paled in comparison to the allure of his first love. Frustrated, I tossed the shabby dresses to the ground and set off to find a wedding gown that truly represented
me.
As I stepped out of the dressing room, Daniel’s gaze was fixed on Helena, completely ignoring me as I admired myself in the mirror. Suddenly, Helena insisted on taking a group photo. But the moment the shutter clicked, she elbowed me out of the frame. The wedding photo that should have featured me was now a snapshot of her smiling face.
“Miss, your husband seems…” the photographer began, but I waved my hand dismissively. Daniel was no longer important to me.
I wore my wedding dress alone, capturing the most beautiful photo of myself–unaccompanied by the man who should have been at my side. Meanwhile, Daniel had already left to dine with Helena, oblivious to my absence. His image had already appeared in her circle of friends, leaving me feeling more invisible than ever.
“I bit my tongue while eating, but luckily Daniel blew on it, and it healed quickly!” I smiled, giving her a thumbs up. When I got home, I finally checked my luggage. Just as I was about to close it, I found a letter written by Daniel. My heart sank as I read the words: “Please investigate this matter thoroughly and never let Gianna go.” Each stroke of his pen seemed to accuse me, insisting that I was the one at fault.
I looked up at the house, feeling a heartache that left me numb. It was clear now. Daniel had always loved Helena, and I had merely filled the void when he was lonely. I couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at my own foolishness.
The truth had been there all along, especially since I discovered that Daniel had reserved a room to post photos
nim by friends, and I forced myself to believe it, choosing to ignore the nagging suspicion that he was still infatuated with her.
Now, seeing the reality laid bare before me, I had nothing left to say. I placed the wedding dress and photos I had bought that day back in the house and headed for the airport alone.
“Everyone is waiting for you to appear. Where are you?”
I glanced at Daniel’s endless messages on my phone and made my choice. I turned off the device, resolute in my decision to break free.
“Let’s break up.”
Chapter 4