Chapter 14 - THE DRESSOne year after the wedding, Nicole asked what I planned to do with the ruined dress.
It had been cleaned.
The stain remained faintly pink across the bodice.
I could restore it professionally.
Replace fabric.
Hide everything.
I didn’t.
Instead, I had the lower portion altered.
The gown became a shorter anniversary dress.
The stained panel remained visible if you looked closely.
Ethan stared when I wore it.
“You’re serious?”
“Yes.”
“Doesn’t it bother you?”
“Less than hiding it.”
We went to dinner.
No ballroom.
No speeches.
No Patricia.
Just us.
At dessert, Ethan said:
“I wish I could redo that night.”
“I don’t.”
He looked surprised.
“Why?”
“Because now I know who you are when it matters.”
His face tightened.
“That’s not entirely flattering.”
“It isn’t supposed to be.”
He smiled.
Then:
“Who am I?”
“Someone who was late.”
He nodded.
“But arrived.”
“Yes.”
That was the marriage we had.
Not a fairytale where he always protected me.
May you like
A real one where he failed, admitted it, changed behavior, and stayed accountable.
I could work with that.
