My Fiance Chose His 'Little Sister' Over His Bride

To make sure I would be the most beautiful bride, my mom spent an entire year pulling every favor she could. She even paid a hundred thousand dollars just to book the celebrity makeup artist who worked exclusively with one of the hottest actresses in the industry.

But on the morning of my wedding, the makeup artist never showed up.

Growing anxious, my mom immediately called her.

When the call connected, the makeup artist sounded completely innocent. "I'm already here. The groom picked me up earlier and brought me to his godsister's place. He said the bride had already agreed to let me do his little sister's makeup first."

On hearing her words, I froze. My fingers tightened around my phone as I called Warren.

When he answered, his tone was unbelievably casual. "Oh, that? She's just a young girl who likes looking pretty. You're the big sister-in-lawcan't you let her have this one? As soon as she's done, I'll have someone drive the makeup artist over. It'll only take a few minutes, don't worry."

I stared ahead in disbelief. "So... on our wedding day, you went behind my back and sent the makeup artist my mom spent one hundred thousand dollars and an entire year booking... to do your godsister's makeup first?"

As though his patience was already wearing thin, Warren snapped, "It's our wedding day. Do you really have to make such a big deal out of this? There's still plenty of time."

I glanced at the clock.

Only three hours remained before the groom's procession would arrive to pick me up.

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to stay calm.

"It's not early at all. Bridal makeup is complicated and it would take hours. After that, I still have to take my bridal robe photos. My mom also needs her makeup done, and so do my two bridesmaids. We don't have time."

"So what?" he replied carelessly. "You girls can just do your own makeup if you're in that much of a hurry."

Then Warren chuckled as he continued, "Besides, Babe... you'll always be the most beautiful woman in my eyes, even without makeup."

Before I could respond, a beeping sound rang.

He had hung up.

I lowered my phone slowly, my chest tightening until I could barely breathe.

At that moment, the seven years we'd spent together suddenly felt... insignificant.

Was this marriage even worth going through with?

My two best friends and bridesmaids had heard every word of the call.

Clara, who had spent the entire night rehearsing the wedding schedule, slammed the notebook onto the table.

"What the hell is wrong with Warren? Doesn't he know the bride is supposed to be the most important person on her wedding day?"

She was practically shaking with anger. "Your mom paid 100,000 dollars just to book that makeup artist, and he sends her to his god-sister first? Gosh! The audacity!"

She crossed her arms and snorted. "I don't think she's just a god-sister at all. She sounds more like a sweetheart."

Gentle as always, Grace tugged on Clara's sleeve and spoke. "Enough. Getting angry won't solve anything. The priority right now is fixing this."

On the other hand, my mother's smile had long since disappeared. She squeezed my hand firmly and tried to reassure me. "Jade, don't panic. I'll call the makeup artist myself. As long as she gets here in time to do your makeup, we'll figure everything else out."

I looked out the window at the dark predawn sky and nodded numbly. Then a sudden epiphany hit me.

No wonder my fiance who had never cared about wedding planning before had asked me yesterday for the makeup artist's contact information. He had even asked whether a celebrity makeup artist was really that much better than an ordinary one.

Back then, I'd been thrilled. I'd thought he was simply paying attention to every detail because he cared about our wedding.

I'd even bragged proudly, "Of course she's amazing! She's almost impossible to book. Even if you have money, you can't get an appointment without connections. Just wait until tomorrowI promise I'll amaze everyone!"

How ridiculous. All this time he'd been planning to steal my makeup artist for his precious godsister.

The phone rang for a long time before someone finally answered.

Instead of the makeup artist, it was Isabelle's mother, Jessa.

"Oh, the makeup artist?" she said cheerfully. "She's busy doing Isabelle's makeup right now. She doesn't have time to answer the phone."

Beside me, my mother struggled to keep her voice steady as she replied, "I hired her specifically for my daughter. If she doesn't come over now, the wedding schedule will be delayed. The children may not know better, but surely the adults should."

"Oh, don't worry so much, future in-law." Jessa laughed. "Warren and our Isabelle have always been close since they were little. What could we do? He insisted she get her makeup done first. He said such an amazing makeup artist is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

My mother's expression turned icy. Without another word, she ended the call and clenched her fist. "They were never planning to let her come!"

One of my aunts, who had come to send me off for the wedding, widened her eyes in disbelief. "What kind of nonsense is this?"

"I've attended countless weddings, but I've never heard of someone stealing the bride's makeup artist!"

"Those people have absolutely no shame!"

The clock on the wall continued ticking. Only two and a half hours remained before the groom's arrival.

The videographer looked at us hesitantly and said, "We really need to get the makeup situation sorted out soon. Otherwise there won't be enough time for the bridal robe photos."

The photographer also spoke cautiously. "Should... should we keep filming?"

I laughed bitterly, so angry it almost hurt. "Yes."

I clenched my palm until my nails dug into my skin. "Keep the cameras rolling, and point them at me."

"I'm calling Warren again."

The moment he answered, I could no longer hold back and almost shriek, "Warren! My mom spent 100,000 dollars, called in every favor she had, and booked this makeup artist a full year in advance!"

"This is my weddingthe most important day of my life!"

"Today, I'm supposed to be the most beautiful woman there. You know how much this wedding means to me!"

"Do you even know your precious little godsister is refusing to let the makeup artist leave?"

"Tell them to send her here. Right now!"

"If they do, this wedding can still go on."

For this wedding, my mother and I had spent a year and a half preparing everything.

My wedding dress was a custom-made designer piece that had taken six months to create by hand. I had hired one of the most sought-after wedding photography teams online.

Even the wedding favors had gone through ten different versions before I finally chose the perfect one.

Warren's voice softened. "Okay, okay, Babe. Don't panic. I'll tell Isabelle to hurry up, alright?"

Tears blurred my vision as I spat out, "No. I said now. The makeup artist has to come right now."

"Do you understand me? Not one more minute can be wasted!"

He sighed heavily. "Babe... be reasonable. They're almost finished over here. Don't worry. I'll make them hurry."

An overwhelming sense of helplessness washed over me. It felt like punching a wall that couldn't feel pain.

Without another word, I hung up. Tears splashed onto the back of my hand.

Because Isabelle was "the little sister," Warren had always expected me to give in.

At dinner, she picked first. When we went out together, she always got first choice.

Every time, I was the one who had to compromise.

But today... On the only wedding day I would ever have... Even my makeup artist had to be sacrificed for her?

Seven years...

The man I had chosen to marry... On the most important day of my life... In front of my best friends... In front of my relatives...

He had stripped away every ounce of my dignity and trampled it into the ground!

I finally broke down.

Burying my face against Grace's shoulder, I sobbed uncontrollably.

Clara and Grace's eyes turned red as well.

They hugged me tightly, gently reminding me through their tears, "A bride isn't supposed to cry on her wedding day..."

My father, who had stayed awake all night decorating the house with wedding decorations, heard me crying.

He immediately put down the red paper decorations he had been hanging and hurried into the room.

He wrapped an arm around my shoulders. "Don't cry, Jade. Dad's here. No one gets to bully my daughter."

Just then, my mother's phone rang. The caller ID showed the name Avery, the makeup artist.

She sounded utterly confused. "I've finished your little sister's makeup, but they won't let me leave. They said since I'm already here, I should do her mother's makeup too."

There was a brief pause before she continued, "You're the one who booked me. The package only includes one mother's makeup. Do you... want me to do hers?"

"No!" My mother answered without hesitation. "Avery, please come straight to the address I sent you before. Hurry. You don't need to do anyone else's makeup."

"Okay, got it." Avery's reply was brief.

She didn't end the call. It remained on speaker, and moments later, a commotion erupted from the other end.

Then I heard Isabelle's soft, gentle voice. "Warren, I'm really okay. Ms. Avery can go do Sister Jade's makeup first."

After a short pause, she added sweetly, "But my mom practically watched you grow up. She really wants to look presentable at your wedding too."

She was obviously talking to Warren.

Before I had the chance to say anything, the call ended.

Knowing the makeup artist was finally on her way lifted everyone's spirits.

My mother smoothed the wrinkles from her white ceremonial dress and quickly reorganized the schedule.

"Jade will wait for Avery."

She looked at Clara and Grace apologetically. "You two will have to make do. I'll find two backup makeup artists to do the rest of us."

Clara nodded immediately. "Don't worry, Auntie. We're flexible."

"Today is Jade's big day. We'll make sure everything still looks perfect."

Grace wrapped an arm around my shoulders in silent comfort.

My father said nothing. He simply clenched his fists, his eyes filled with heartbreak.

The moment I looked at him, tears streamed down my face again.

He had named me Jadea precious jewel.

For twenty-seven years, he had treasured me exactly as my name suggested. He had spoiled me so much that even if a bottle of cooking oil tipped over, he would clean it himself instead of letting me lift a finger.

People often joked that a respected university professor and doctoral advisor should have given his daughter a more elegant name.

Every time, he'd laugh proudly. "What do you know? I want everyone who sees her name to understand one thing."

"My daughter is the pearl in my palm. My little princess."

For twenty-seven years... His little princess had never suffered a grievance.

Yet today, on the day she was supposed to become a bridethe man who was about to become her husband had humiliated her more deeply than anyone ever had.

And because my father didn't want to ruin my wedding, he couldn't explode in anger. He couldn't confront them. He could only swallow every ounce of rage, grinding his teeth in silence.

The seconds ticked by, and more than ten minutes passed.

Outside, the pitch-black sky had begun to fade into the pale gray of dawn.

Using every connection she had, my mother finally managed to find two emergency makeup artists.

They began working on everyone else. The suffocating atmosphere in the room eased ever so slightly.

Suddenly, my phone rang again and Warren's name flashed on the screen.

One of my aunts smiled hopefully. "Go on, answer it. Maybe he's calling to apologize."

"The makeup artist might already be on her way."

"A wedding is a joyful occasion. Whatever it is, you two should talk it out."

I pursed my lips.

Despite everything, a tiny part of me still hoped she was right.

Taking a deep breath, I answered.

"Babe," Warren began gently, "don't be angry. Just hear me out."

"Avery won't make it to your place in time anyway. So I figured she might as well do Isabelle's mom's makeup while she's there."

"It'll make our wedding look more respectable too."

"I've already contacted another makeup artist near your house. They'll get there much faster. That way the wedding won't be delayed."

His words crashed over me like a bucket of ice water.

For several seconds, my ears rang so loudly I could barely process what he had just said.

The room fell completely silent.

Every conversation stopped, every movement froze.

Clara and Grace immediately rushed to my side, each steadying one of my arms.

My voice came out rough. "Warren... Do you even want to marry me?"

There was a pause before he answered, clearly suppressing his impatience. "Babe, of course I do. It's just makeup. Who does it doesn't really matter."

"So be reasonable, okay? I'm only trying to solve the problem as quickly as possible."

I laughed bitterly. Then my voice rose despite trying to calm myself. "After everything that happened, you still think this is just about the makeup artist?"

"It's about my dignity! It's about them trampling all over me."

"This is my wedding! I paid for that makeup artist."

"I'm the bride, and yet instead of doing my makeup, you sent her to your so-called godsisterand now even her mother..."

"So tell me, Warren. Who exactly are you marrying today?"

I took a shaky breath, tears threatening to spill over again. "We've been together for seven years. Every other time you asked me to give in to her, I did. I let it go."

"But now... Even my own wedding... You're asking me to give that away too?"

Hearing my voice crack with grief and anger, Warren fell silent for a brief moment.

For just an instant, he seemed shaken. Then he remembered what his mother had once told him.

"In a marriage, either the husband controls the wife, or the wife controls the husband. Jade's family is well-off. If you don't establish your authority now, you'll be the one suffering for the rest of your life."

Repeating those words in his mind, his heart hardened.

"There are less than two hours before I come to pick you up," Warren said. "You don't want our wedding to become a joke, do you?"

Without waiting for me to respond, he continued, "Stop making a scene. Just let someone else do your makeup for now. Once the wedding's over, I'll make it up to you. Whatever compensation you want, I'll agree to it."

I didn't even realize my parents had walked over until they were standing beside me.

My mother had spent decades building her business.

She was known for being decisive, fearless, and impossible to intimidate. No matter how fierce the competition, she never let her emotions show. But even someone with the patience of a saint had finally reached her limit.

Without saying a word, she gently took my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

My father's forehead was lined with bulging veins. His eyes were bloodshot, but his voice remained remarkably calm as he took my phone from my hand.

"Warren. We only have one daughter. And I won't allow anyone to bully her while I'm still alive."

"You and Jade spent seven years together before reaching this day. We all want this wedding to go smoothly."

"If you don't understand our position, I won't blame you. But I only need one thing from you."

"Send the makeup artist here. Show me with your actions that you truly want to marry my daughter."

Silence stretched across the line.

Finally, Warren spoke. "Dad... Please think about the bigger picture. Help me convince Jade to get her makeup done first."

"I'm about to leave to pick her up. All the relatives are already here. Let's not make ourselves the laughingstock of everyone else."

"When the wedding is over, you can hit me, yell at meI'll accept whatever punishment you think I deserve."

My father's expression turned cold as he thundered, "Don't call me Dad."

When he ended the call, I took my phone back.

Without another word, I opened the wedding planning group chat.

My fingers moved steadily across the screen. I cancelled the bridal robe photos, and the bride's pickup ceremony as well.

The wedding coordinator replied almost immediately.

[Should the rest of the schedule continue as planned?]

I looked at the message for a few seconds before typing back.

[Keep filming. Everything else... we'll decide later.]

I looked up at my parents. "Dad, Mom. I don't want to let this go anymore."

The two of them exchanged a glance.

My father stepped forward first. He carefully wiped away the tears on my face, just as he had done countless times throughout my life.

"Jade. Don't be afraid."

I had heard those words for twenty-seven years. As long as my father said them, I truly believed there was nothing in this world I needed to fear.

He smiled gently. "Dad's going to call your uncles and cousins over right now."

I was an only child. But my father had many brothers.

After generation upon generation of sons, I had been born as the only girl in the entire Mendez family.

Since the day I came into this world, I had been everyone's precious treasure.

My mother stepped forward and hugged me. "No matter what you decide to do next... I'll support you."

Then she turned to one of the emergency makeup artists she'd managed to hire.

"Please do my daughter's makeup first. It doesn't have to be bridal makeup. Just make her look refreshed."

Afterward, she picked up her phone and called Avery.

"It's alright if you can't make it. And you don't need to do anyone else's makeup either. We'll still pay your full fee."

Clara muttered curse after curse under her breath, calling Warren every name she could think of.

Grace gently rubbed my back, unable to hide the pain in her eyes.

Even my aunt, who had witnessed everything from the beginning, couldn't contain her anger.

"I'll explain everything to the relatives. No family should ever have to endure this kind of humiliation."

The videographer silently gave me an OK sign, letting me know that every second had been recorded.

My phone rang again and Warren's name flashed on the screen.

I declined the call. A second later, he called again. However, I still declined it.

Without another glance at my phone, I walked into my room.

I slowly took off the elaborate wedding dress I'd been wearing since before dawn. Instead, I changed into the simple beige dress I wore most often.

Sitting in front of the mirror, I opened WhatsApp.

A new message from Warren had popped up. [Babe, just another hour and a half, and I'll finally be there to pick you up. Be good.]

The makeup artist worked quietly, her brushes moving gently across my face.

Oddly enough, after everything that had happened, I found myself calmer than before.

Ever since I'd learned that the celebrity makeup artist my mother had spent a fortune booking had been "given" to someone else, I'd been consumed by anger and anxiety.

But now... Perhaps because things couldn't get much worse, my mind finally settled.

As I sat there, memories of the last seven years with Warren replayed one by one like scenes from a movie.

We met in college. At that time, he was a year ahead of me.

The moment he saw me, he fell in love at first sight and pursued me relentlessly.

Warren was tall, handsome, outgoing, and charming. Combined with the irresistible aura of being the popular senior on campus, I had fallen for him before I even realized it.

We went on dates, studied together, traveled together. For four years, our relationship had been almost unbelievably sweet.

Then I graduated. We both returned to Florida to build our careers.

That was when his godsister began appearing in our lives more and more often.

Whenever we went to an amusement park, Isabelle would suddenly call, saying she was in a bad mood and craving the crispy crab they used to eat as children.

Without hesitation, Warren would leave me behind to buy it for her.

On our anniversary, she once called in tears because her kitten had gotten sick. He left our dinner halfway through to take her and the kitten to the veterinary hospital.

Even when we traveled together, Isabelle somehow always managed to appear midway through the trip.

And every single time, Warren's attention would drift entirely toward her.

I would be left standing there alone, watching him look at her with the same tenderness that was supposed to belong to me.

I cried, I argued, I even threatened to break up.

But every time... I couldn't bear to walk away from the relationship I'd invested so many years in.

Warren would smile, coax me back into forgiving him... And then do exactly the same thing again.

His excuse never changed. "She's like my little sister. Just let her have this one."

So I kept giving in, over again. Until today.

Until even my wedding... Even the celebrity makeup artist my mother had spent a hundred thousand dollars on hiring had to be "given" to Isabelle first.

Since I wasn't doing the elaborate bridal makeup anymore, the emergency makeup artist finished in just over thirty minutes.

Outside, the first pale light of dawn stretched across the horizon.

One after another, my older cousins arrived.

Each of them offered a few quiet words of comfort before finding a seat.

Soon, the entire living room was packed. Even the younger relativeswho had originally planned to block the groom's entrance as part of the traditional wedding gamessat quietly in neat rows.

No one smiled. No one joked. The atmosphere was heavy.

Clara stood on my right side while Grace stood on the other side. The two of them looked less like bridesmaids and more like bodyguards prepared to charge into battle at any moment.

My parents sat together at the head of the living room.

My father's expression was colder than I'd ever seen. However, my mother, smiled calmly as she poured tea for everyone.

"Have some tea first. We'll be counting on all of you in a little while." She said it with the same composure she might have used to comment on today's weather.

Meanwhile, Warren was beginning to feel uneasy.

I wasn't answering his calls. I wasn't replying to any of his messages. Still, he was convinced that I loved him too much to actually do anything drastic.

'Jade had always been sensible. She cared too much about appearances. There was no way she'd ruin her own wedding.'

After reassuring himself with that thought, he pushed away the growing knot of anxiety and continued preparing for the bride-pickup ceremony as planned.

Just before they left, Isabelle climbed into the wedding car.

"Warren, I want to come with you to pick up Sister Jade."

He hesitated.

Something about it didn't feel right. But after a little pouting and a few rounds of pleading, he gave inas he always did.

When the wedding convoy finally arrived at the Mendez family's villa, everything looked perfect.

Bright red Double Happiness decorations covered the entrance.

A red carpet stretched all the way to the front door.

Yet, the house was eerily silent.

There were no laughing relatives. No children waiting to block the entrance.

None of the excitement that should have filled a bride's home on her wedding day.

A chill ran down Warren's spine, and his uneasiness deepened.

He hurried inside with the rest of the wedding party.

There were no obstacles, no games, no one tried to stop him. He walked straight into the living room.

The moment he stepped inside, his heart skipped a beat.

The room was packed with people. Every seat was occupied.

Dozens of eyes turned toward him in complete silence. Then he saw me.

I wasn't wearing my elaborate white bridal dress anymore. Instead, I was dressed in an ordinary beige dress.

His instincts screamed that something was terribly wrong.

Looking directly at me, he forced a smile. "Jade... What's going on? I'm here to take you home."

"Our relatives are all waiting. Come with me."

Before I could answer, Isabelle stepped forward.

Her face was flawlessthe masterpiece of the celebrity makeup artist who should have been preparing the bride.

Radiant and breathtaking, she looked more like the star of today's wedding than I did.

She lowered her head slightly, her voice soft and pitiful. "Warren only asked the makeup artist to do my makeup first."

"Are you angry because of that, Jade?"

"If you are... I'm sorry. But today is your wedding."

"Please don't make a scene, and just go with Warren."

Around me, several of my older cousins immediately started to rise from their seats, their expressions dark.

I raised a hand, signaling them to stay where they were. I picked up a glass of water sitting on the table. Then, I walked toward Isabelle.

And in front of everyone present... I did something no one saw coming.