Chapter 4

Celeste’s POV

The next morning, I changed and waited for Kieran in the living room.

Footsteps descended the stairs.

I looked up to see Kieran guiding Juniper down slowly.

My heart sank.

"Celeste, Juniper says she's never worn a wedding dress." Kieran glanced at me with a hint of apology. "She just wants to look around. Don't worry, she won't be in the way."

I nodded silently, saying nothing.

When we arrived at the bridal shop, he instructed the staff to show me dresses. Yet his attention stayed anxiously fixed on Juniper.

"There are gowns everywhere—be careful not to wander."

"Kieran, I might never get to wear a wedding dress in my life. Can't I at least try one on?"

She pointed to the dress I had just selected, her voice sweet:

"The one Celeste is holding is so pretty. May I try it?"

Kieran looked helpless and turned to me.

"Celeste, let her try it on? Just this once. Please, let her go first."

Without a word, I handed the gown to Juniper. No protest, no reaction.

Kieran, I had wanted to spend our last moments together, to show you the dress I'd chosen.

Now you've taken even that away.

Since you don't cherish what we have, I hope you won't regret what you chose today after I'm gone.

He even asked me to accompany Juniper to the fitting room, rattling off instructions.

"Juniper is pregnant—it's inconvenient. Help her put it on. Don't let her trip..."

I listened in silence, choking back the bitterness in my chest.

Juniper was right about one thing—Kieran would make a good father.

It took me a long time to get her into the wedding dress.

Holding up her skirt, Juniper walked toward the display platform by the spiral staircase.

A large floor-to-ceiling mirror there showed the full sweep of the gown.

"I want to see myself from this angle." She stood at the edge of the platform, turning this way and that before the mirror. "Celeste, come here and help me arrange the train."

I stepped forward, knelt down, and began straightening the long train.

"You don't need to feel too bad."

Juniper's voice drifted down, light and airy, audible only to me.

"This dress really is beautiful. It's a pity—"

She paused.

"You'll never get to wear it."

I looked up sharply.

And met her ice-cold gaze.

The next second—

She screamed and lunged forward, slamming into me.

Caught off guard, I lost my balance, my foot slipping off the edge. I plummeted backward.

I tumbled down the spiral staircase, each step hammering into my body like a sledgehammer.

Finally, I crashed onto the first-floor tiles.

Pain wracked every inch of me. I couldn't move.

"Help—! Help me—!"

A piercing cry rose beside me.

I struggled to lift my head and saw Juniper had collapsed nearby with astonishing speed, clutching her belly, weeping hysterically.

"Kieran! Help! She pushed me! Celeste pushed me! My baby—"

"Juniper!"

Rapid footsteps pounded down the stairs.

Kieran rushed toward Juniper like a man possessed and swept her into his arms.

"Call an ambulance!" His voice was frantic. "She's pregnant!"

Then, holding Juniper tight, he ran out of the bridal shop without looking back.

I lay on the cold floor.

Suddenly, a searing pain tore through my abdomen.

As if something was being ripped apart inside me.

I looked down.

A dark red stain was slowly spreading beneath my skirt.

My vision blurred. All I heard were the panicked shouts of the staff.

"Help! This lady is bleeding!"