PART 1: THE CUT OF BETRAYAL

Chapter 1: The Night Before the Storm

The night before the wedding should have been the happiest night of a girl’s life. But for me, Victoria “Tori” Anderson, it was the beginning of a nightmare.

I sat on the edge of the bed in the attic room of the family home in Boston. Outside, snow was falling lightly, signaling a cold winter. Inside, the coldness was even more terrifying.

The gorgeous white lace wedding dress – a gift my fiancé, Captain Ethan Miller, had custom-ordered from Paris – was lying on the floor.

It was no longer intact.

It had been cut in half. A rough, jagged cut ran from the neckline down to the hem, splitting the dress into two halves like a hideous scar.

Standing before me were my parents, Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, and my younger sister, Bella.

“You deserve this, Tori,” my mother hissed, her hand still holding the shiny sewing scissors. “You are terrible. You dared to steal your sister’s husband!”

“Steal her husband?” I looked up, my eyes dry from crying too much. “Mom, Ethan and I have been in love for 5 years. Bella has only met him exactly twice at family parties. How can you say I stole him from her?”

“Don’t deny it!” My father shouted, pointing his finger at my face. “Bella told us everything. She said Ethan promised to marry her last year. But you, with your imposing military officer title, you used your power to force Ethan to marry you. You threatened his career!”

I looked at Bella. She was standing nestled behind Mom’s back, head down, shoulders shaking as if crying. But I saw the corner of her mouth twitch up in a triumphant smile. Bella was always the princess of the house. She was beautiful, weak, and good at acting. And me? I was the tomboy daughter, stubborn, joined the army at 18 and rarely came home. In my parents’ eyes, I was always the strong one bullying the weak.

“Ethan loves me,” I said, my voice strangely calm. “And tomorrow is our wedding. You ruining the wedding dress won’t change that fact.”

“You think you’ll have a wedding?” Bella suddenly spoke up, her voice sweet but full of venom. “Do you think Ethan will marry a bride in a tattered dress? Or do you plan to wear your clumsy uniform to shame the whole family?”

“I forbid you!” My father declared. “Tomorrow, you are not allowed to step out of this room. The wedding will be canceled. Or… if there is a wedding, the bride will be Bella. Ethan needs a gentle wife who knows how to take care of a family, not a woman who holds a gun and kills people all day like you.”

I stood up. I was a whole head taller than Dad. Military training had given me a sturdy physique and fearless eyes.

“You can cut my dress,” I said, voice icy. “But you cannot cut the love between Ethan and me. And Bella, remember this carefully: What doesn’t belong to you, even if you steal it, you can never keep it.”

“You dare lecture me?” My mother rushed forward, intending to slap me.

I caught her wrist. Gently but firmly.

“I am Major Victoria Anderson. I have faced the most dangerous terrorists. I am not afraid of your slap, Mom. But I respect you because you gave birth to me. Don’t make me lose that last bit of respect.”

I let go of her hand. My mother stepped back, frightened by my aura.

“Get out of my room,” I ordered.

They left, leaving me with the torn wedding dress. I knelt down, stroking each layer of lace fabric. Painful. But I didn’t cry anymore. Soldiers aren’t allowed to cry before a big battle.

I took out my phone, called Ethan.

“Hello, Tori? Not asleep yet?” Ethan’s warm voice rang out, dispelling the cold in the room.

“Ethan, I have something to tell you. About tomorrow…”

“What’s wrong? Did you change your mind about marrying me?” He joked.

“No. It’s just… I won’t be wearing that wedding dress.”

“Why? You said you loved it?”

“It had an… accident,” I evaded. “But don’t worry. I’ll find a way. Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything, my female commander.”

“Tomorrow, no matter what I wear, no matter what anyone says… will you still hold my hand?”

“Tori,” Ethan’s voice became serious. “I love you not because of the dress. I love you because you are Tori. Tomorrow, I will wait for you at the end of the aisle. Nothing can stop me from marrying you.”

I hung up, smiling.

I opened the closet. In the corner, carefully wrapped in a dust bag, was my Dress Blues uniform. The uniform with gold epaulets, sparkling medals, and vibrant red piping. It was my pride, my sweat and blood.

Bella was right about one thing. I would wear my uniform. But it wasn’t clumsy at all. It was the most beautiful wedding dress of a soldier.

And I would wear this veil. The veil my grandmother left me before she died.

Tomorrow, I would show them what a real wedding looked like.

Chapter 2: The Aisle of Truth

The next morning. The Old North Church was packed with guests. They were friends, comrades of mine and Ethan, and relatives of the Anderson family.

Parents and Bella arrived early. Bella wore a pristine white dress, made up like a real bride. She stood next to parents in the front row, whispering to guests that “Sister Tori got sick suddenly, maybe Bella will have to fill in to save face for the family.” The relatives nodded, looking at Bella with sympathy and admiration.

Ethan stood on the altar, wearing the Army Captain uniform. He looked handsome and dignified. He heard the whispers, but he didn’t care. His eyes were only directed toward the main door.

Marching music played. Not traditional wedding music. It was the United States Army March.

The doors opened.

The whole church gasped in surprise.

No shy bride in a flowing white dress.

I walked in.

I wore the crisp Dress Blues uniform, hugging my body, accentuating a strong yet feminine figure. On my left chest, I wore two rows of medals, including the noble Silver Star Medal. My hair was in a neat high bun, and on my head was a floor-length veil, softly draping over shoulders bearing the rank of Major.

I didn’t need my father to walk me. I walked alone. My every step was solid, echoing on the marble floor.

I saw my parents’ jaws drop. Bella’s face drained of blood. She backed away, hiding behind the pew.

I walked past them, not sparing a glance. My goal was only one: The man waiting for me at the end of the path.

Ethan looked at me, his eyes shining with pride and intense love. He stepped down from the altar, walking toward me. He didn’t wait for me to walk the whole way. He wanted to walk the rest of the path with me.

We met in the middle of the aisle. Ethan took my hand, bringing it to his lips for a gentle kiss.

“You look beautiful, Major,” he whispered.

“Ready, Captain?” I smiled.

We stepped up to the altar together. The priest smiled at us.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the priest said. “Today we witness not just the union of two people, but the union of two soldiers, two brave souls.”

“Wait!”

A piercing scream rang out. It was my father. He stood up, face red with anger.

“I object to this marriage!” He yelled. “This daughter… she is unworthy! She stole her sister’s husband! She is a disgrace to the family!”

The whole church fell silent. All eyes turned to my father, then shifted to me.

I turned around, calmly looking at him.

“Dad says I stole a husband?” I asked, voice echoing through the microphone. “Then Dad, ask Ethan, has he ever promised anything to Bella?”

Ethan stepped up, holding the microphone. He looked straight at my parents and Bella.

“Mr. and Mrs. Anderson,” Ethan said, voice steely. “I have never had any feelings for Bella. She fabricated everything herself. She even repeatedly texted to harass me, threatening suicide if I didn’t leave Tori. I kept quiet out of respect for Tori, but today, my tolerance has reached its limit.”

Ethan pulled out his phone, connecting it to the large screen in the church.

Lines of text messages, voice recordings of Bella appeared clearly. Words of begging, threatening, fabricating… all exposed before hundreds of guests.

Bella screamed, covering her face and sobbing. “Turn it off! Turn it off!”

My parents were stunned. They looked at their “innocent, weak” darling daughter, then at the irrefutable evidence on the screen.

“That’s not all,” I continued. “Parents say I shame the family? Do you know why I was promoted to Major so quickly?”

I pointed to the Silver Star medal on my chest.

“I received this medal for commanding a team to rescue 10 hostages, including the son of this state’s Senator, from terrorists. I was shot twice in the shoulder, almost lost my life. But I never told you, because every time I called home, you only cared about what handbag Bella needed to buy, what Bella was sad about.”

I looked down at the crowd of guests. In the VIP row, Senator Jones stood up. He clapped his hands.

“She speaks the truth,” the Senator said loudly. “Victoria Anderson is a hero. Your family should be proud to have such a child, instead of suppressing her.”

Applause started sporadically, then spread throughout the church. My comrades stood up, saluting in military fashion. The applause thundered, drowning out Bella’s crying and my parents’ shame.

My father slumped into his chair, covering his face. My mother lowered her head, not daring to look at anyone.

I turned back to Ethan.

“Shall we continue?”

“Absolutely,” Ethan held my hand tight.

PART 2: THE SOLDIER’S WEDDING AND BELATED REPENTANCE

Chapter 3: Vows Under the Flag

The ceremony continued in an atmosphere more solemn and emotional than ever. When the priest pronounced us husband and wife, Ethan kissed me deeply and passionately, making the whole auditorium cheer.

But the surprises didn’t stop there.

As soon as the ceremony ended, a squad of Military Police (MP) entered the church. They walked straight to my parents and Bella.

“Mr. and Mrs. Anderson, Ms. Bella Anderson,” the commanding officer said. “Please come with us.”

“Why? What did we do wrong?” My mother panicked.

“We received a report of destruction of military property and harassment of a high-ranking military officer,” the officer said coldly. “The wedding dress you cut up last night… inside the lining contained a top-secret tracking microchip that Major Victoria was testing for an upcoming mission. Your act of vandalism damaged government equipment worth $50,000.”

I froze. Microchip? I remembered when trying on the dress, Ethan joked that he attached a “tracking device” so I wouldn’t run away. Turns out he was telling the truth, but it was a military device he entrusted in the dress for me to bring to Washington after the wedding.

“And Ms. Bella,” the officer turned to my sister. “Your threatening messages to Captain Miller are sufficient to constitute harassment and threatening military personnel security. You will have to explain yourself before a military court.”

Bella collapsed to the ground, fainting. My parents trembled, faces drained of blood. They looked at me with pleading eyes.

“Tori… save us… we didn’t know…” My father stammered.

I looked at them. My heart held no anger, only pity.

“I cannot interfere with military law, Dad,” I said gently. “Everyone must be responsible for their actions. I hope this will be a lesson for parents and Bella to understand: No one has the right to trample on the happiness and honor of others.”

They were escorted away amidst the contemptuous looks of everyone.

My wedding became a shocking event in Boston. But more importantly, it was my liberation from the shackles of a toxic family.

Chapter 4: True Happiness

Five years later.

Ethan and I were sitting on the porch of our ranch in Texas. I had discharged to spend time taking care of our small family. Ethan had been promoted to Major and transferred to work at a base near home.

An old car stopped in front of the gate.

A thin woman, dressed simply, stepped out. It was Bella.

After the case that year, my family went bankrupt having to pay for damages and legal fees. Bella was sentenced to 2 years of community service and mandatory psychological treatment. My parents had to sell the house, moving to the countryside to live in seclusion out of shame.

Bella walked into the yard, holding a small gift box.

“Sister Tori,” Bella called softly, her voice lacking the shrewishness of the past. “I… I came to visit you and the kids.”

I put down my tea cup, looking at my sister. Time and punishment had changed her. Her eyes were now calm and apologetic.

“Come in,” I said.

Bella timidly stepped onto the porch, placing the gift box on the table. “I knitted some sweaters for the twins myself. I know you don’t lack anything, but… this is my heart.”

I picked up the sweater. The knitting was clumsy but sturdy.

“Thank you,” I smiled. “They will love it.”

“Sister Tori… and brother Ethan,” Bella bowed her head. “I’m sorry. It took me 5 years to understand how terrible I was. I was jealous of you, because you were strong, you were respected by everyone. I tried to steal what you had to cover up my own weakness.”

“The past is past, Bella,” Ethan said, placing his hand on my shoulder. “What matters is you have changed.”

“Mom and Dad also send their apologies to you,” Bella wiped her tears. “They didn’t dare come here out of shame. They said the wedding dress cut that year… was the most painful cut into their conscience.”

I looked out at the vast meadow. The heart wound of that year had now scarred over. I didn’t forget, but I had forgiven. Because I was happy. I had Ethan, I had my children, and I had my own self-respect.

“Stay for dinner,” I said to Bella. “I’m making grilled ribs.”

Bella looked up, smiling through tears. “Yes, Big Sister.”

The words “Big Sister” sounded so warm.

That night, under the starry Texas sky, I realized: Sometimes, the most painful cuts are the beginning of the greatest healing. The severed wedding dress of the past didn’t destroy my happiness; it only helped me shed the shell of weakness to put on the uniform of resilience and find my true worth.

THE END