Even after a week had passed, I felt like I was floating. With its garment bag securely fastened, the dress hung in the guest room. I couldn't help but sneak glances at it whenever I had the opportunity.
"You're obsessed," Adam playfully taunted one evening as I came back after my naughty dress visit.
I rolled over onto the sofa next to him and chuckled. "Is it possible that you hold me responsible? I get to wear the dress to our wedding in three weeks. What a fortunate girl I am.
Adam drew me near as he kissed my forehead. It's me who's fortunate.
Things would have fallen apart so much faster if I'd understood back then.
On my day off, a Tuesday, I eagerly made my way to the guest room, where I would get my daily dose of outfit inspiration. Opened the closet door, however, and my spirits plummeted.
My outfit was a total loss since the garment bag had come undone. Scarlet lace and beading were left by massive burns.
I was so out of breath that I fell on the floor. I had no clue what occurred to ruin my ideal outfit. I phoned my mom through a cloud of tears.
"The dress... it's ruined," I cried out to my mother.
“What? Just how? “I'll be right there,” she assured me, attempting to assuage my anxiety. "We'll find a solution."
So, I contacted Adam. Even though he responded with a smile, his disbelief became apparent when I described what had transpired.
In his opinion, it was impossible. Is it safe to say that it wasn't an accident? Perhaps the home's wiring is malfunctioning?
For some reason, this didn't sit well with me.
We both checked out the gown when my mom showed there, which was less than an hour later. "Someone appears to have used an iron on this," she said with a furrowed brow. But I ask, "Who would act in such a way?"
My mom was the only one who had been in the home lately; Adam's closest buddy Jason was the only other visitor. On the other hand, his motivation wasn't clear...
My mom proposed that we look at the surveillance footage.
The moment I pressed play on the video, my pulse quickened, and the chills went down my spine.
My fiancé Adam walked serenely into the guest room brandishing an iron. He took the iron out of its carrying case and scorched my clothing on purpose.
Frightened, I threw the phone down. What could possibly motivate him to act in this way? I said softly.
I waited in the living room for Adam to return later, with the soiled garment spread out between us.
"I can explain—" Jenna said.
Can you tell me what you did to ruin my wedding dress? How did you deceive me? My fury was so great that my voice quivered when I interrupted.
What you think is wrong, he muttered. Things that Jason told me... concerns the relationship between you and your former partner. He implied that you were experiencing uncertainties and that you were re-visiting him.
Surprisingly, my anger began to boil over as I just gazed at him. Who were you to trust him? You honestly believed I would cheat on you after everything we've gone through? So you destroyed my clothing as a test?
Damn, Adam's face was a river of tears. It's my apologies, Jenna. My thoughts have been completely clouded. Okay, we can figure this out—"
"A fresh garment will not remedy this," I said in a clinical manner. You duped me. There will be no wedding.
Adam and the future we had imagined were abandoned when I departed.
Anger took the place of sadness when the first shock subsided. I was angry not just with Adam but also with Jason, who had used his manipulation skills to ruin our relationship. He would not get away with it if I let it.
I discovered just what I wanted after spending days researching. Months had passed while Jason had been unfaithful to Sophie. I provided Sophie everything anonymously, including dates, places, and images that would incriminate her.
It had a devastating effect. Friends of both Sophie and Jason took sides when she publicly rejected him. Isolated and humiliated, his reputation fell in a matter of days.
I saw Adam in a coffee shop a few weeks later. F
