Lingerie Scraps, The Canceled Centenary Wedding

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Growing up with Silas Sterling and eventually walking toward the altar was a dream everyone envied. People couldn't stop talking about how much he adored me.

After I accepted his proposal, he spent a fortune at an auction to buy a priceless diamond ring. He even used a family heirloom, a rare silk, to custom-make my wedding dress.

When I went to pick it up, I found a set of lingerie made from the leftover silk scraps. It was hidden in the back of the shop.

I caught a glimpse of Silas's phone while he wasn't looking. It was a photo from his secretary wearing that exact lingerie.

The message read, "The waist fits perfectly. Want to come into the fitting room and try out this new skin?"

He replied with a smirk I could feel through the screen. "I'll get rid of her and be right there."

Later, when I chose to call off the wedding, he was the one who desperately searched the world for me.

1.

Silas locked his phone and looked up with a face full of wonder. He wrapped his arm around my waist and whispered in my ear.

"Elara, you look breathtaking. The best things in this world belong on you."

Looking at myself in the mirror, wearing that high-end custom gown, I should have been the happiest woman alive. Instead, my heart felt like it was drowning in bitterness.

This dress was made from the Sterling family heirloom silk. He had promised to give me the best of everything, and he had delivered.

The designer stood nearby, eyes full of envy. "Ms. Vance, Mr. Sterling's love for you is truly something else. There isn't another dress like this in the world."

"I heard he also bought a priceless diamond ring for you. This will surely be the wedding of the century."

Silas soaked up the praise. His grip on my waist tightened as he smiled at the staff.

"It took twenty years for Elara and me to get here. Of course, I'm going to give her the world."

It was the same sweet talk as always. This time, I couldn't bring myself to hide in his arms like a shy schoolgirl.

His phone kept buzzing in his pocket. I forced a tight smile.

"Yes, the best of everything," I said, my voice feeling heavy.

He ruffled my hair affectionately. "Elara, I can't wait to see you walking toward me in this on our big day."

I managed a bitter smile. He suddenly frowned and pulled out his phone, sounding annoyed.

"What is it now? I told you not to disturb me while I'm with my fiance!"

He looked impatient, but I was sharp enough to catch the flicker of excitement in his eyes. He put his phone away with an apologetic look.

"Something came up at the office. I need to take a quick call in the restroom. Sorry, babe, can you wait for me?"

I didn't call him out. I just nodded like a dutiful partner. "Sure, go ahead."

He leaned down to kiss my cheek, but I turned my face away. He was usually quick to notice my moods, but he was too distracted today.

He told me to wait and hurried toward the second floor. He didn't go to the restroom; he went straight to the VIP fitting rooms.

Twenty minutes ago, I saw a staff member carry that scrap-silk lingerie up there. I knew exactly who was wearing it.

Maybe I was just punishing myself, but I asked the attendant to show me the security feed for the second floor.

Within ten minutes, the fitting room wasn't enough to hold their fire. They were all over the sofa, completely lost in each other.

Tessa Lane did have a great body. That lingerie looked like it was molded onto her.

No wonder Silas couldn't wait. He was bold enough to cheat just a few steps away from me.

The monitor had no sound, but I could read Tessa's lips. She mentioned my name.

I don't know what she said, but Silas became even more aggressive. He gripped her chin with a dark, intense look in his eyes.

I took off the wedding dress and handed it back to the designer. "I love it. Please keep it here for now."

The designer looked confused but then smiled. "You're probably worried about it getting dirty before the big day."

"Don't worry, I'll keep it safe until your wedding in seven days."

I gave her a small smile and said nothing. I wasn't leaving it there because I was worried about stains.

I was leaving it because I had no intention of wearing it. There wouldn't be a bride at the wedding of the century.

2.

"Mom, I want to cancel the wedding. I'm coming to stay with you guys abroad."

I sent the text, and my mother replied almost instantly.

"Finally. I told you Silas wasn't the right fit for you. I'll take five days to handle the Sterling family. Just get yourself ready."

I turned off my phone and sat on the sofa, counting the minutes. Forty-two minutes later, Silas finally came back down.

His shirt was tucked in perfectly, but the lingering look in his eyes gave him away. He started with an apology.

"Sorry, babe. That meeting went longer than I thought. Tell me what you want, and I'll buy it for you as an apology."

He sounded so natural. You would never guess he just came from another woman's bed.

I had been blinded by this perfect mask for so long. I only saw the shallow version of his devotion.

I looked away. "It's fine."

He opened his arms to hug me. "Why did you take the dress off? I didn't get enough of a look."

I smelled a faint, musky scent on him. I stepped back, avoiding his touch.

"I got a bit cold, so I changed back."

His hands froze in mid-air. He looked at me, confused.

"What's wrong, Elara? Are you mad about the meeting? I'm sorry. I'll turn my phone off next time we're together, okay?"

I stayed silent. Before I could answer, a staff member came down with a small bag.

"Mr. Sterling, the lady upstairs asked me to give this to you. She said the fabric is too delicate for her to wash, so you should take it home and clean it for next time."

I glanced at the bag. It was the silk lingerie, clearly stained with things that shouldn't be mentioned.

Silas panicked and shoved the bag behind his back. He looked at the girl with wide eyes.

"I don't know any lady! You have the wrong person!"

He turned to me, his voice trembling. "Elara, this isn't mine. I don't even know who she's talking about. You know you're the only woman in my life."

The more he lied, the more obvious it became. I looked up and saw Tessa standing on the balcony, looking down at me with a smug grin.

One wedding dress, one set of lingerie. One for the fiance, one for the mistress.

He really knew how to keep things balanced. It was pathetic.

I smiled calmly at him. "I didn't say a word, Silas."

He watched me for a few seconds. When he realized I wasn't throwing a tantrum, he relaxed.

"Babe, I knew our trust was unbreakable. I'm glad you believe me."

"Yeah," I whispered. "I believe you. I always have."

But my trust had finally run out. It wasn't about belief anymore; it was about indifference.

3.

I never thought Silas would cheat. I used to wake up from nightmares about it, shaking for days.

But now that it was real, I didn't crumble like I expected.

Silas never had close female friends. His whole world seemed to revolve around me.

His wallpaper was me. My name was engraved on his ring. His desk was covered in my photos.

That's why I knew something was off the moment Tessa appeared.

He said she was a student he had sponsored and that she was a genius he had to hire.

At first, she only texted him about work late at night. Silas would reply with short, cold messages.

Then, he started staying up late, glued to his phone. When I caught him, he didn't even look guilty.

He said it was business. And in a way, it was.

They were planning their little office hookups. I saw the records on Tessa's social media, which she had set to be visible only to me.

My first reaction was denial. Silas couldn't be that trashy.

When I confronted him, he claimed Tessa's boyfriend had the same profile picture as him.

After that, the posts stopped. But other things happened.

Wrong food deliveries, packages sent to the wrong address, and mocking texts.

I wasn't stupid. I just didn't want to face the fact that twenty years was ending like this.

I lied to myself over and over again to keep his secrets safe. But this time, I couldn't do it anymore.

My mom texted me. My flight was in three days.

Four days before the wedding, Silas acted perfectly normal. He skipped work to take me to a holistic wellness clinic.

He talked about the wedding and our future the whole way there.

Since the engagement, we had been trying for a baby. He said I was too frail and needed to prepare my body.

The specialist finished my check-up. Silas stepped out to take a call.

The doctor sat back down and looked at me seriously.

"Ms. Vance, there's something you should know. I don't know what Mr. Sterling is thinking."

"He asked me privately to add certain additives to your supplements. They act as a long-term contraceptive. If you keep taking them, you might never be able to conceive."

I dug my nails into my palms. I looked at Silas's silhouette through the glass, feeling a chill go through my bones.

He turned around and blew me a kiss. He looked so concerned as he mouthed, "You okay, babe?"

I looked away. "I'm fine."

My eyes burned. I turned to the doctor. "I understand. Thank you."

He had planned it all. He never wanted a child with me.

My heart was already dead, but seeing his true face again still made it ache.

Twenty years is a long time. It's half a lifetime.

I realized I didn't know this man at all. I didn't know what was real and what was a lie.

He walked back in and draped his coat over my shoulders.

"See? I told you to dress warmer. What would you do without me, Elara?"

He took my hands and rubbed them to keep me warm. I used to wonder the same thing.

I pulled my hands away and stood up to get my medicine.

Silas, you're the one who's forcing me to leave.

With one day left, I went to the office to resign. I lied to HR and said Silas already knew.

On my way out, Tessa blocked my path. She shoved a piece of paper into my hand.

It was a lab report. She was two months pregnant.

She smirked at my pale face. "I'm pregnant. Do you think he'll let me keep it?"

How poetic. He gave me birth control and gave his mistress a baby.

I forced myself to stay calm. "A mistress's child rarely has a happy ending."

Tessa's face twisted. "Elara! You think you're so secure in that Sterling wife position? Silas loves me!"

I laughed, but before I could reply, she suddenly looked fragile and teary.

"Elara, I don't know what I did wrong. Why are you saying such mean things to me?"

Silas appeared and pulled me into his arms. He didn't even let her finish. He started screaming at her.

"Tessa! Are you focusing on gossip instead of work again? I saw how you were looking at Elara! Apologize!"

Tessa apologized through tears and ran off. Silas spent the next hour apologizing to me.

But I noticed his eyes darting toward her office every five seconds.

That night, the bed was empty. I got up and heard him on the balcony.

He was whispering into the phone. "Stop being mad, okay? That was all for show. You know I love you."

"I promise, we'll keep the baby. Satisfied now?"

I felt like I was drowning. I stood there, frozen, before crawling back into bed.

Silas came back a few minutes later. He tucked me in and fell fast asleep.

The next morning, I left with nothing. I texted my mom and sent a breakup text to Silas.

Then, I turned off my phone and boarded the plane.