Seven Years of Winter Before Spring

After being locked away for two days, the door swung open, and the harsh light flooded in. Wendy instinctively curled up, moving toward the corner to hide.

Miles stood at the doorway. He frowned.“What happened?”

The doctor was about to speak, but Vivian hurried in and said in a gentle tone, “Miles, Wendy’s been through enough. We should take her home quickly.”

She reached out to touch Wendy, but Wendy flinched sharply.

Wendy hung her head, long hair falling messily over her face. Her right wrist was still wrapped in bandages, and her fingertips trembled slightly.

Miles stared at her. Annoyance crept into his voice. “It’s just two days, and you’re acting like this?”

The doctor hesitated to speak, but Vivian was already holding Miles' arm, interrupting with a soft voice, “Her right hand is still injured. Of course, she’s uncomfortable.”

Miles frowned, stepped forward, and reached for Wendy’s hair. “Wendy, we’re going home.”

Wendy shuddered and instinctively drew back.

Miles’ hand hung frozen in the air.

On the way back, Wendy leaned against the car window. Her eyes were hollow as she stared at the scenery outside the window streamed by.

“It’s tomorrow.” Miles suddenly spoke. His voice sounded a little hesitant. “It’s just a staged wedding between Vivian and me.”

Wendy said nothing.

“You know that. It’s just to make my mother happy.” He glanced at her from the side. “I’ll withdraw the divorce application. Nothing happened between Vivian and me.”

Still, Wendy remained silent.

Vivian, in the passenger seat, looked back and asked with a gentle voice, “Wendy, would you like to come with me to pick out a wedding dress later?”

Miles frowned. “She’s still recovering.”

“But Wendy’s been married before. She knows what styles suit someone,” Vivian blinked her eyes and replied with an innocent tone, “I needed her advice.”

Miles hesitated for a moment, then looked at Wendy. “Will you come together?”

“Fine.”

At the bridal shop, Vivian reached out to touch a gown and gave Miles a sweet smile.

“Miles, this one’s beautiful. I like it.”

Wendy jerked her head up. It was her wedding dress.

Designed by her late mother, a top-tier bridal designer, it was the last piece her mother had crafted for her daughter—a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

After her wedding, it had been safely kept in this bridal shop.

“No.” Wendy’s voice trembled. “This is mine.”

Vivian looked at Miles with puppy-dog eyes. “But I really like it.”

Miles remained silent for a moment, then spoke in a low voice, “Wendy, it’s just a wedding dress. Let her have it.”

Wendy stared at him in disbelief. “You know what this means!”

That dress was her mother’s last gift to her.

Miles looked away and replied in an indifferent tone, “Then we’ll order another one.”

Vivian eagerly had the staff bring the gown down for her to try on. Wendy stood frozen, fingers digging into her palms, numb to the pain.

As Vivian walked out wearing the wedding dress, the staff could not help but gasp.

“It’s gorgeous! It looks like it was made just for her!”

Vivian twirled in the gown, grinning at Wendy. “What do you think, Wendy?”

Wendy’s gaze was fixed on her. Her throat felt blocked. She could barely speak.

Miles stood to the side, his gaze conflicted. Finally, he said, “It suits you.”

Vivian’s smile grew even brighter, but suddenly she yelped and tripped, falling hard to the ground.

The dress tore with a loud rip. Wendy’s mind went blank. She lunged forward like a madwoman, pushing Vivian aside and trembling as she scooped up the damaged gown. “You did this on purpose!”

Vivian fell forward into Miles’ arms. Her eyes reddened. “I didn’t! Wendy, why did you push me?”

Miles grabbed Wendy’s wrist. “Wendy! What are you doing?”

Tears fell onto the gown as Wendy looked up at him. “This was my mother’s last gift to me.”

Miles was stunned. For a moment, he seemed to waver. However, Vivian was already sobbing on his shoulder. “Miles, it hurts so much.”

He closed his eyes and said coldly, “Stop embarrassing yourself.”

Then, he turned around and left.

The staff exchanged uneasy glances with each other and whispered,

“So sad.

“I heard it’s all because of her that Mr. Carter's mother has been bedridden for two years.”

Wendy knelt on the floor, picking up scattered diamonds and torn tulle one by one. Tears fell onto her hands, burning with pain.

She broke down, crying heartbrokenly as she held the ruined gown.

It was just like her love story, which had once shone like diamonds, but now it was shattered and worthless.