Dahlia is planning her brother’s wedding, from designing the invitation to booking vendors to even baking the perfect cake. But on the big day, she spots a serious betrayal: she’s not invited.

When my brother, Liam, got engaged, I was happy for him. Sure, Claire wasn’t my favorite person in the world.

But she seemed to love my brother.

And Liam? He was smitten.

Therefore, when Claire pleaded me to help plan the wedding, I agreed. Not for her. But for Liam.

I started to design the invitations. I called vendors. I booked the venue. And I even paid for catering and the wedding cake.

The wedding cake had to be perfect.

Chocolate-peanut butter cake.

My lip twitched into a small smile. It was Liam’s favorite.

Birthdays, soccer games, even the time he got a participation trophy in third grade.

“Best flavor in the world,” he’d say.

My bakery was my dream. My entire world. And for a while, I thought my marriage had been, too.

I had loved my husband. Deeply. And for a while, I thought he had loved me, too.

But in the end, he had only loved what I built. The successful business. 

Not me.

And the day I finally realized that? It broke me.

Not now, Dahlia. This is about Liam.

The morning of the wedding, I stood in the venue’s kitchen, carefully piping the final details onto the cake.

Guests were arriving, laughter spilling in from the grand hall. Then, my mom stormed in, her face like thunder.

“Sweetheart…” she hesitated.

“You’re not on the guest list.”

I let out a small laugh.

“What? That’s ridiculous. I’m literally holding their wedding cake.”