Olivia had been by Claire’s side through every step of wedding planning, but something had changed. The once unbreakable bond between them now felt fragile. When Claire suddenly demoted Olivia as maid of honor without explanation, she knew something was wrong—but she never expected exactly what.
Olivia adjusted the hem of her bridesmaid dress, forcing a smile as she watched her best friend, Claire, twirl in her wedding gown.
It was perfect, just as Claire had always imagined—a vision of ivory lace and shimmering beads.
Olivia had been with her through every step of the planning, from the first wedding magazine flip to this final fitting.
« It looks stunning, Claire, » Olivia said, clasping her hands together.
Claire’s lips twitched into a half-smile, but something was off. Her eyes flickered to the mirror and back, never settling.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
She ran a hand over the beaded bodice,
her fingers pressing into the fabric as if testing its reality.
“Yeah, it’s fine,” Claire muttered, staring at her reflection. “I just… I don’t know if I should have gone with the other dress.”
Olivia frowned. “You were in love with this one the moment you put it on. What’s going on?”
Claire’s shoulders stiffened. “Nothing,” she snapped, stepping off the platform with sharp movements.
“Just drop it.”
The words hung in the air between them, thick and unspoken. Olivia swallowed, choosing her next words carefully.
For illustration purposes only. | Source: Midjourney
“Claire, you’ve been acting weird lately. Did I do something?”
Claire let out a short, breathy laugh, but there was no humor in it. “God, Olivia, not everything is about you.”
Olivia’s face warmed at the sudden bite in Claire’s tone. She took a step back, folding her arms.
“That’s not what I meant. I just… I feel
