Dahlia loves preparing her brother’s wedding, from invitation design to vendor booking to cake baking. She gets brutally betrayed on the big day and not welcomed. Dahlia must determine if some betrayals deserve forgiveness or retaliation as secrets are revealed and relationships are tested.
I never carry grudges.
I will never forgive Claire for what she did to me.
I was thrilled when my brother Liam got engaged. Claire wasn’t my favorite person. She made every conversation feel like a subtle fight with her edge.
She seemed to like my brother.
And Liam? Was smitten.
Claire asked me to help arrange the wedding, so I did. Not for her. For Liam.
We designed the invites. I hired vendors. I organized the site. I paid for catering and the cake.
I poured my heart into their wedding for weeks. What Claire was planning behind my back was unknown.
I stared at the sketches and tapped my pen on my desk. Elegant designs, smooth fondant, cascading sugar flowers, and meticulous piping on flour-dusted pages.
The wedding cake must be beautiful.
Flipping through possibilities, I frowned.
Classic vanilla? Too dull.
Red velvet? Hated by Claire.
I wrote the lone right choice after hovering my pencil over the page.
Chocolate-peanut butter cake.
A little smile appeared on my lips. Liam’s fave.
I still saw us as kids, sitting on the kitchen floor with our legs crossed, licking chocolate frosting off the beaters. Our mom made chocolate-peanut butter cupcakes for every important Liam event.
Birthdays, soccer games, and his third-grade participation trophy. He would sneak into the kitchen and steal spoonfuls of peanut butter frosting from the bowl.
He said, “Best flavor in the world,” licking his fingers.
As I reclined, I sighed. Claire probably wants something ostentatious. She discovered an expensive, stylish cake with sugared roses or a clever French technique online.
I wanted Liam to taste something familiar if I was pouring my heart into this dessert.
It felt like home.
I wrote my ultimate taste choice in ink on the paper.
I stretched my fingers and exhaled. My fingers hurt after baking this morning.
A reminder of my progress. A reminder of my expense.
A bakery was my dream. My entire world. It seemed like my marriage was too.
Swallowing hard, I glanced at the mound of unopened letters in my desk corner. My ex-husband’s useless apologies, the divorce lawyer’s final bills, and stock inventory.
I adored my hubby. Deeply. Once, I thought he loved me too.
Ultimately, he loved what I built. A profitable business. Marriage to a pastry chef whose cakes and pastries appeared in publications offers distinction.
Not me.
The day I realized it? It broke me. I felt compelled to leave him. Or be his private bank.
I closed my eyes and inhaled.
Not now, Dahlia. About Liam.
Squared my shoulders, I took my pen again.
Focus.
Liam deserved a perfect wedding cake nonetheless. Even if I stopped believing in happy endings.
I meticulously piped the cake’s finishing embellishments in the venue’s kitchen the morning of the wedding.
From the main hall, guests arrived laughing. Knowing I helped organize this event warmed my heart.
My mother stormed in, her face thunderous.
“Sweetheart…” she hesitated, grasping the kitchen counter. “You’re not on the guest list.”
Just a little laugh.
“What? That’s ridiculous. Their wedding cake is in my hand.”
Mom looked serious.
The guest list is checked by Claire’s mother. Not invited, she says. She won’t admit you.”
My stomach sank.
My hands shook as I set down the piping bag.
Did she explain? You mean what?”
Mum clinched her jaw.
“She refuses to explain.”
A ringing filled my ears. I helped Claire plan her wedding for months. Months. She didn’t even tell me?
Mom was furious. She bolted for Liam without saying a word.
As for me?
I removed my apron, wiped my hands, and left by the side exit.
Broken.
Mom found Liam before the ceremony. He smiled and adjusted his tie, unconscious of what was happening.
“Liam,” she said. “Do you know that Claire didn’t invite your sister?”
Liam froze. His smile evaporated.
“Wait. What? Why?”
She won’t say. Yet she’s barring Dahlia from entering. How can you accept that? Your sister!”
Liam’s face grew black. He dashed to Claire without hesitation.
Claire stood with her bridesmaids, shining in her lace gown and soaking up their compliments.
She barely looked up when Liam approached.
“Claire,” Liam thundered. “Did you seriously not invite my sister?”
Claire rolled her eyes and moaned.
“Babe, ugh. Not now, she said. “Can we not do this on our wedding day?”
Liam remained still.
“Answer me.”
She huffed as if annoyed.
We got help from her. So what? Her gift to us. It’s also her job.”
Astounded, Liam looked at her.
Claire, she bought you food. Days went into baking the cake! So you did what? Pretended she didn’t?”
Claire sighs dramatically.
“Fine. You want the reason? I didn’t want divorcees at our wedding. Poor energy, especially for the bride! I don’t want that marriage luck! I invited few acquaintances and cousins.”
He clinched his jaw.
“So you excluded my sister because she got a divorce?”
Claire shrugged.
“Come on. I’m not responsible for her failure. Why make our day like that? Don’t get furious at me for trying to be joyful. I’m superstitious, Liam! How could you not know?!”
Liam clenched his hands, furious.
Marriages don’t fail for ‘poor vibes,’ Claire. They fail due of selfishness and cruelty. Like this!”
Claire lowered her smirk.
Stop being theatrical, Liam. Making a scene over this? You’re lucky I let her help. I helped her.”
Liam had a long, cold look at her.
“What? “Yes,” he responded calmly. “I don’t want bad energy at my wedding either.”
Claire frowned.
So you realize what I mean?” she asked.
“No, I don’t,” answered. Actually, I’m done. Completely done.”
Liam stopped listening. Walked to the catering table on his heels.
Everyone gasped as Liam took the cake, but no one stopped him.
The doorbell rang while I was home, shocked on the couch.
Liam was there in his suit holding the wedding cake as I opened it. We were silent for a moment. His expression showed tiredness and something heavier.
He remarked, “I’m sorry you wasted your time and money on that wedding,” with a gruff voice. I’ll get her to pay. More than that…”
Shaking his head, my brother exhaled.
“Thank you. Because I might never have seen Claire as she is without you.”
A knot formed in my throat.
Liam was always my older brother. Someone who protected me. He selected me now, when it counted.
He entered and placed the cake on my coffee table after I stepped away.
We stared at it for a while.
A breathless laugh from Liam.
“You know, I haven’t eaten all day.”
I took two forks.
“Then let’s fix that.”
We devoured the wedding cake on the floor in formal attire like sugar-starved children.
Liam froze after one bite. A faint, almost broken sound came from his throat when he saw me.
“Chocolate-peanut butter,” he whispered.
“Yeah,” I choked.
Shaking his head, he looked at his fork.
“You made this for me,” he remarked.
Not a question. A peaceful realisation.
“Of course, I did, Liam.”
Liam nodded gently, pressing his lips. He took another mouthful, eating slowly, as if tasting more than cake. As if recalling home.
His throat cleared.
“You know… if this was the wedding cake, I guess that means I got the best part of today.”
I blinked. He exhaled.
“I left a disrespectful person. From an unhappy future.”
He glanced at me and said quietly but confidently.
“But I still have you.”
“Always,” I whispered.
I heard a faint knock on the door while running my fingertips over a new cake design at my workspace.
I briefly believed I was dreaming.
Again, it came. Tentative. Hesitant.
Already exhausted, I sighed.
“Come in,” I said.
She appeared when the door creaked.
Claire.
She appeared different. Not polished. Not arrogant. She seemed pale, anxious, and sad.
Standing wasn’t me. I didn’t seat her.
I waited with folded arms.
“Hey.”
“You lost?” Raised eyebrow.
She flinched but nodded, due to her merit.
“No. I wanted to see you.”
I cocked my head to watch her.
“I can’t imagine why.”
Claire swallowed, looking at her hands.
“Liam won’t talk. He won’t see me…” Her voice caught, and I glimpsed a glimpse of regret in her eyes.
It didn’t move me.
She breathed and tried again.
I erred. I…” Her exhalation was harsh. Dahlia, I mistreated you. I was harsh and selfish…”
Her fingers twisted.
“I never meant for things to go this way.”
Short, humorless laughter.
“Really? Because it felt planned.”
Clair winced.
“I thought…” she hesitated. “I believed I could manage everything. That my perfect day was possible if I tried hard. And instead? I ruined everything.”
I said nothing.
Her eyes were unsure as she looked at me.
No, I don’t deserve your forgiveness. But I wanted…”
“Stop,” I said flatly. “You don’t get to want anything from me, Claire.”
Swallowed hard.
I stood.
“You used me. Lied to me. Leave my bakery.”
She paused. Then nodded and faced the door.
She paused, holding the handle.
“I really am sorry.”
I remained silent. A moment later, she left.
