Losing my mom four years ago cracked something inside me. The grief didn’t fade—it settled deep, threading itself into every part of me.

She had been my rock, my safe place. And before she left, she made me promise one thing.

“Wear my wedding dress on your big day, Chloe. Whether it’s for the ceremony or just a moment at the reception… let it be like I’m there with you.”

I swore I would.

The dress had been carefully tucked away in my closet ever since, waiting for the day I would keep that promise.

And then came Madison.

She had been in our lives for just over a year—my brother Jake’s fiancée, the woman he planned to spend forever with.

If I had to describe Madison, I’d say she was the kind of person who spoke in demands rather than requests, who saw generosity as an expectation rather than a gift. But Jake was happy, so I bit my tongue and played the role of the supportive sister.

Which is why, three months before their wedding, I invited them to a cozy coffee shop. I wanted to do something nice—to bridge the growing distance between us.

I should have known Madison would find a way to ruin it.

We had just settled in when I slid an envelope across the table.

Jake reached for it, but before he could open it, Madison snatched it from his hands.

She pulled out the check inside.

Ten thousand dollars.

It wasn’t a mistake. I wanted to spoil my brother, to help in whatever way I could.

“I know weddings can be expensive,” I said with a smile. “I just want you two to have a beautiful day.”

Jake’s eyes widened. “Chloe, this is… incredible. Thank you.”

But Madison barely blinked.

She set the check down like it was something she had expected, then flipped her hair over her shoulder with a sigh.

“Well, I guess that’s a good start,” she said breezily. “It’ll help, but we still have so many expenses. Our day is going to be the most beautiful wedding anyone has ever seen.”

A good start? Seriously?

Before I could say anything, she leaned in, her tone suddenly too casual.

“Actually, Jake and I talked about something important. We’ve decided that I’ll be wearing your mom’s wedding dress for the ceremony.”

My breath caught.

“You’ve… decided?”

“Yeah,” she continued. “I’ll need it sent to my dressmaker for alterations. I’ll text you the address.”

I felt the words like a slap across my face.

“Excuse me?” I managed.

Madison rolled her eyes, like I was the one being unreasonable.

“Oh, come on, Chloe. It’s just sitting in your closet, collecting dust. And honestly? You don’t even know if you’ll ever need it. Don’t fight us on this. It’s important to Jake too.”

Jake.

That’s when I knew.

He had told her about the dress. About my mother’s final wish. And instead of respecting it, they had decided to make it about them.

“Madison, my mom wanted me to wear that dress. It was her last wish. I’m not fighting you because this isn’t up for discussion.”

She scoffed.

And then, the waitress arrived, setting down our drinks and plates of cake.

“Here you go! Enjoy! And Chloe, compliments from the chef,” she added with a smile.

I barely heard her.

Because Madison, in all her entitlement, leaned back and said the words that made my blood boil.

“Your mom’s not here anymore, is she?”

Red. That’s all I saw.

I wanted to throw my coffee in her face, to overturn the table, to scream.

But before I could do any of those things, a familiar voice interrupted.

“Excuse me, can I steal you for a second, love?”

I turned to see Mark.

Mark—my boyfriend.

He had been with me for two years. Jake had met him once, but judging by his blank expression, he probably didn’t even remember.

“Sure,” I said, grateful for the escape.

Mark took my hand and led me just far enough away that they couldn’t hear.

“I thought you were meeting with the owner?” I asked, confused.

“I did. And I just got back,” he said. “I heard everything, Chloe. And I can’t stand back anymore.”

Before I could respond, Mark disappeared into the kitchen.

A moment later, he returned—holding a bouquet of roses.

And then, right there, in the middle of the coffee shop, he got down on one knee.

“Mark,” I breathed.

His eyes met mine, steady and full of warmth.

“I should have done this a long time ago,” he said. “I love you. And I want to spend my life with you. Marry me, Chloe.”

The coffee shop fell silent.

And then—applause. Loud, thunderous applause from the staff.

Madison, on the other hand?

Her face twisted in pure rage.

“Are you freaking serious?!” she shrieked, standing so fast that her chair nearly toppled. “You’re stealing my wedding?! What the hell, Chloe? You brat!”

Jake looked at me, his mouth slightly open.

“You’re… engaged?”

I smiled, lifting my left hand to admire the ring.

“I am indeed.”

“Since when?! Two seconds ago?! It doesn’t count!” Madison shouted.

“Well,” Mark said, struggling to hide his grin, “now there will be two weddings. Your mom would have loved to see both her kids get married on the same day.”

“NO! NO WAY! THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOMENT!” Madison shrieked. “Unbelievable!”

She grabbed her purse. “You and your fiancé can pay for the coffee and cake.”

She stormed out, leaving Jake sitting there, awkwardly rubbing his face.

And for the first time in a long time, I saw something different in my brother’s expression.

Realization.

After a long pause, he sighed.

“I need to rethink some things.”

And with that, he left too.

That night, back home, I unzipped the garment bag in my closet, letting my mother’s dress spill over my lap.

“Mom, you would have lost your mind today,” I whispered, laughing softly.

“But it’s safe now. Madison will never touch it. You made sure of that, didn’t you?”

A lump rose in my throat.

“I wish you were here.”

A soft knock at my door made me wipe my eyes.

Jake stepped inside, holding a plate.

“I let myself in with the emergency key,” he said, awkwardly. “I, uh… brought ginger cake.”

Our mom’s favorite.

He sat beside me on the bed. For a long moment, we said nothing.

Then, he sighed.

“She crossed a line, didn’t she?”

“Jake, she bulldozed through it.”

He nodded, exhaling.

“I don’t know why I froze,” he admitted. “I heard her. I knew she was wrong. But I just sat there.”

I waited.

“I guess… I’ve spent so much time defending Madison that I don’t even know where I stand anymore.”

There it was. The truth.

Jake had been making excuses for so long, he had stopped questioning them.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out the crumpled envelope—the one I had given them earlier.

“I can’t take this, Chloe. Not if I don’t know where Madison and I are going. And you’re going to need it. You’re getting married, too.”

This wasn’t just about money.

For the first time in a long time, we were just Jake and Chloe.

Just us.

And that was enough.