Chapter 3

3.

Vanessa took a deep breath, forcing down the stabbing pain in her heart, and was about to stand up and go home.

A pair of large hands caught her from behind.

"Sweetheart, why didn't you wait for me? Are you not feeling well today? Let me take you to try on your wedding dress. The custom gown from Paris has arrived. Let's go see if you like it. If not, I'll have the designer fly here immediately to make changes."

Benedict pulled her into his arms, ruffling her hair with doting affection.

"I don't want to go. You decide on the dress."

She was going to "leave" on the day of the wedding. It made no difference to her what that dress looked like.

Benedict seemed to pick up on her coldness. He signed carefully, a hint of real panic in his eyes.

"Vanessa, it feels like you're not looking forward to our wedding at all. Are you... are you having second thoughts about marrying me?"

Vanessa looked at the man in front of her. There was genuine fear in his expression.

She felt a powerful urge to tell him.

Yes, I'm not marrying you.

You're the one who cheated. You're the one who trampled our love into the dirt. You're the one who destroyed all my anticipation for this marriage.

And now, you have the nerve to ask me that?

But she wasn't ready to lay her cards on the table just yet.

Inside the high-end bridal boutique on Madison Avenue, the moment Vanessa and Benedict walked in, a sales associate pulled back the velvet curtain, revealing the wedding gown that had been waiting for her.

"Ms. Hayes, the custom Zuhair Murad gown Mr. Vanderbilt ordered for you from Paris has arrived. Please, have a look and let us know if there's anything that needs altering."

As soon as the associate finished speaking, the ASL interpreter standing by stepped forward and translated the words into sign language.

Watching this, the other associates murmured among themselves, their voices brimming with envy.

"Mr. Vanderbilt is so incredibly thoughtful. He even brought a sign language interpreter."

"That's not all. Look at the main diamond on the bodice. That's the 'Heart of Dawn' that Mr. Vanderbilt won at a Sotheby's auction. He specifically instructed the designer to set it right over the heart of the dress."

"I also heard he paid a fortune to buy out the designer's entire schedule for the year, just so he could focus solely on designing this one dress for Ms. Hayes."

The admiration in their voices made the corners of Benedict's mouth curl up slightly. He stepped forward and wrapped an arm around Vanessa's waist.

"Baby, do you like it?"

Right over the heart of the dress was a pink diamond the size of a pigeon's egg. The train stretched a full five yards, encrusted with countless smaller diamonds. Under the spotlights, the entire gown shimmered with a dizzying brilliance.

Vanessa reached out and gently touched the skirt.

There was no denying it. This dress suited her taste perfectly.

When they were dating, she had mentioned countless times that her favorite color was pink and that her dream wedding dress was a glamorous gown with a long train.

Benedict had carefully filed away every one of those details, and the result was this nearly perfect creation before her eyes.

But it was a pity. No matter how beautiful the dress, no matter how dazzling the diamond, it couldn't fill the crack in her heart.

"Vanessa, look at the very center of the diamond. It's engraved with 'B & V forever.'"

"Diamonds are forever. I had the initials of our names engraved there to show that my love for you is also eternal."

Vanessa's gaze instinctively moved to the diamond. Right in the center, there was indeed a tiny line of letters engraved.

She turned around to face him, looking straight into his eyes, which were overflowing with love. Her heart trembled slightly, and she asked in a low voice.

"Is your love for me really eternal?"

Benedict signed back urgently, as if afraid that a split-second delay might cause her to misunderstand.

"I, Benedict Vanderbilt, will love Vanessa Hayes forever. In this life―no, for all eternity. I will never betray her. If I break this vow, may I lose my reputation and everything I own."

Such passionate words of devotion, yet they couldn't warm a heart that had already gone completely cold.

He had already broken his vow, and yet he was still performing for her. Wasn't he tired?

Vanessa looked away, unwilling to face his hypocritical face any longer.

Benedict looked like he wanted to say something more, but his phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, and his expression flickered. He strode a few paces away, away from anyone who might overhear, and took the call.

When he came back, an apologetic look had settled on his face.

"Sweetheart, something urgent just came up at the company. An emergency acquisition. I have to go back right away. You go ahead and try on the dress. Just tell the associates if you need anything changed. I'll have my driver take you home when you're done."

After finishing his signing, he didn't even take the time to give her a hug like he usually did. He just hurried into his car, leaving her with nothing but a view of his back as he sped away.

After Benedict left, the associates erupted in excited whispers.

"Oh my god, that confession Mr. Vanderbilt just made was so touching. I'm practically in tears."

"He's rushing off to handle a business deal worth tens of millions, but he still didn't forget to carefully remind his fiancée about everything. What an incredible, perfect man."

Vanessa's heart was filled with nothing but bitter irony.

Benedict never used to leave her alone because of work.

And besides, when he came back from taking that call, there was an unmistakable flash of desire in his eyes.

How could it possibly be work?

It was likely a booty call with his little mistress, Sabrina.

Vanessa's mouth twisted in a humorless smile as she turned and walked toward the exit.

An associate hurried to stop her.

"Ms. Hayes, you haven't tried on the dress yet."

Vanessa shook her head calmly.

"There's no need to try it on."

On the day of the wedding, a bride's "body" would be the only thing showing up. This dress was completely useless.