Title: The Night She Didn't Wear White
ACT I — THE BETRAYAL (Ch. 1–4)
The Eve of Forever
The Confession That Shattered Everything
The Groom's Silence
A Wedding That Never Happened
Chapter One: The Eve of Forever
The night before Ava's wedding arrived quietly, like it was afraid to disturb something sacred.
Outside, the city glowed in soft gold and silver, streetlights blurring into halos through the sheer curtains of her apartment. Inside, everything smelled like fresh roses and warm vanilla—the scent of love, according to the florist Lena had insisted on. White flowers filled every corner: on the kitchen island, along the windowsills, beside framed photos of Ava and Daniel smiling through the years.
Tomorrow, she would be a wife.
Ava stood barefoot on the hardwood floor, her silk robe brushing against her calves as she moved slowly from room to room, checking things she had already checked twice. Her wedding dress hung from the bedroom door, wrapped in protective plastic, ivory lace peeking through like a secret. She paused in front of it, fingertips grazing the fabric.
"This is it," she whispered to no one.
Her phone buzzed on the counter.
She smiled before she even looked.
Lena 💕
Lena had been with her all day—helping, laughing, crying over nothing. Maid of honor. Best friend. The sister Ava never had. They had survived heartbreaks, bad haircuts, empty bank accounts, and terrible men together. Lena knew every version of her.
Ava unlocked the phone.
Can I come over? I need to talk. It's important.
A flicker of unease passed through her, brief and easily dismissed. Weddings made people emotional. Nervous. Dramatic.
Of course, Ava typed back. I'm home.
She poured herself a glass of champagne, the bubbles rising fast and bright. Tomorrow she wouldn't be allowed to drink—Lena's rule, not hers. Ava laughed softly at the memory and took a sip, letting the cold sweetness calm her nerves.
She put on music—something soft, romantic—and wandered into the bathroom, where her bridal skincare routine waited neatly lined up. She had just started applying moisturizer when the doorbell rang.
The sound was sharp. Urgent.
Ava frowned, wiping her hands on a towel as she walked to the door. She expected Lena to burst in with nervous energy, arms already reaching for a hug.
Instead, Lena stood rigid in the hallway.
Her eyes were red. Not puffy—raw. Like she'd been crying for hours.
"Hey," Ava said gently. "What's wrong?"
Lena swallowed. Her mouth opened, then closed again.
"Can I come in?"
Something in her voice made Ava step aside without speaking.
Lena walked in slowly, like she was entering a stranger's home. Her gaze drifted over the flowers, the candles, the framed engagement photos lining the wall. Each step looked heavy, as if the floor itself resisted her.
Ava closed the door.
"You're scaring me," she said lightly, forcing a smile. "What happened?"
Lena didn't answer. She set her bag down, then turned to face Ava. Her hands were shaking.
"We need to sit," she said.
The music suddenly felt too loud. Ava reached over and turned it off. The silence rushed in, thick and uncomfortable.
They sat on opposite ends of the couch. That alone felt wrong. Lena had always been close—knees touching, shoulders pressed together.
"I don't know how to say this," Lena whispered.
Ava laughed nervously. "You're being dramatic. You sound like someone died."
Lena flinched.
The laugh died in Ava's throat.
"I never meant for it to happen," Lena said.
Ava's heart skipped. "For what to happen?"
Lena stared at her hands. Her voice trembled. "I tried to stop it. I swear I did."
The room felt smaller. The walls closer.
"Lena," Ava said sharply. "Say what you're trying to say."
Lena looked up.
"I'm in love with him."
Time fractured.
"With who?" Ava asked, though her chest was already tightening, breath shallow and uneven.
Lena's lips parted. Tears spilled freely now.
"With Daniel."
The name echoed, hollow and cruel.
Ava shook her head, a small, disbelieving smile forming. "No," she said. "No, you're not."
"I am," Lena whispered. "I didn't choose it."
Ava stood abruptly, her champagne glass tipping from the table and shattering on the floor. Neither of them moved.
"You're confused," Ava said. "You're emotional. This is wedding stress."
"It's been almost a year," Lena said.
The words landed like a blow.
A year.
A year of dinners together. Of shared holidays. Of late-night phone calls where Lena listened to Ava talk about Daniel—about their future.
Ava's voice dropped. "Does he love you?"
Lena hesitated.
That pause destroyed something fundamental inside her.
Ava felt herself go very still.
"Where is he?" she asked.
Lena's silence answered for her.
Ava grabbed her keys from the counter. Her hands were steady now—too steady.
"Don't," Lena cried, standing. "Please. Let me explain."
Ava opened the door.
"Get out of my house," she said quietly.
Lena sobbed her name as Ava walked past her into the night, the door closing softly behind her.
And just like that, the eve of forever ended.