When Adam’s mom, Lena, invited Hayley to design her wedding dress, it was odd enough. But nothing could have prepared Hayley for the truth that was about to unfold. What came next was a confession, a second shot at love, and a surprise that completely blindsided her. Sometimes, life throws the most unexpected curves your way…
It had been three long years since Adam and I had broken up, yet I still couldn’t seem to let go of him. Five years of deep – seated love doesn’t simply vanish overnight. His abrupt decision to end things felt like a gut – punch, especially with no explanation, no closure, just deafening silence.
Then, about a year ago, he started dating Miranda, my former friend. If betrayal had a face, it was hers, plastered all over social media with captions like “When you know, you know” and “The best thing that ever happened to me!” alongside pictures of the two of them.
I kept telling myself to block her, to stop torturing myself by looking, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Every photo, every smile, every comment about their “forever love” felt like salt rubbed into an open wound.
The sad, honest truth was that I never stopped loving him. I knew it was pathetic, but I hadn’t been able to date anyone seriously since we split.
So, when Lena called me out of the blue last month, I thought I was hallucinating.
We had never really gotten along. She’d always been polite, but there was a distinct distance, as if she was constantly sizing me up and always finding me lacking in some way.
After the breakup, I was certain I’d never hear from her again. But there she was on the other end of the line, her voice uncharacteristically warm.
“Hello, sweetheart,” she said. “I know this might come as a shock, but I have a favor to ask, Hayley.”
Lena told me she was getting married! And she wanted me to design her wedding dress. She went on and on about how I’d become one of the most in – demand seamstresses in the city.
“I’ve always been a huge admirer of your work, Hayley,” she said softly. “And I trust you implicitly. I know you’ll create something absolutely perfect for me.”
I nearly dropped the phone. I was completely bewildered, trying to figure out what game she was playing. Every instinct in me was screaming to say no, to hang up and block her number, and finally be done with that entire family.