My Sister Stole My Wedding Dress and Married the Man I Loved for Money, Then He Was Shocked

The Theft of a Wedding and the Rise of a New CEO

I had always believed that betrayal was something that came from enemies, not from the people you love the most, but life has a cruel way of proving you wrong. I had just returned from a business trip, exhausted but excited, when I noticed something was off.

The air in my apartment was thick with the scent of vanilla, a fragrance I knew all too well—my sister’s perfume. Confused, I stepped into my bedroom and opened my closet; my wedding dress was gone.

Before I could even process it, my phone rang. It was Christine, my best friend. The moment I picked up, her voice was unusually steady, almost hesitant.

“Ellie, sit down,” she said.

My heart pounded. Christine only spoke like that when something was seriously wrong.

“What’s going on?” I asked, my throat tightening.

There was a pause. “Amelia and Axel got married yesterday in your dress,” then she said.

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I squeezed the phone in my hand, my knuckles turning white.

“What?” I whispered, my mind scrambling to keep up.

“It’s all over social media,” Christine continued.

“I tried calling you, but your flight was delayed. I thought you knew.” she said.

I couldn’t breathe. I had been gone for only a few days, and in that time, my fiancé and my sister had stood at an altar, exchanged vows, and stolen everything that should have been mine.

Then everything started making sense—Axel’s recent coldness, Amelia’s sudden interest in my wedding plans, the way they both encouraged me to take this business trip despite the tight timeline. I had been blind.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I need to go,” I told Christine.

“Ellie, wait!” she said.

But I ended the call. I opened Instagram, my hands trembling, and there it was—picture after picture of Amelia in my dress, holding on to Axel, smiling like she hadn’t just shattered my world.

The caption read: “When you know it’s meant to be. Sorry sis, but sometimes love can’t wait.”

A bitter laugh escaped my lips. They have no idea what’s coming.

My phone buzzed again, this time with a text from Bruno, my mentor. “Deal sealed. You now own controlling interest in Harrington Enterprises. Announcement goes public next week. Congratulations.”

A slow, cold smile spread across my face. Harrington Enterprises was Axel’s family company, the same company he had been desperately trying to save for the past year, and now it was mine.

The doorbell rang, snapping me out of my thoughts. I opened the door to find Leah, Amelia’s best friend, standing there, her face full of regret.

“Ellie,” she said quietly.

“I’m so sorry. I tried to stop her.” she said.

I stepped aside, letting her in. “Tell me everything.” I said.

Leah hesitated before sitting on my couch. She wrung her hands together, guilt written all over her face.

“It was planned for weeks,” she admitted.

“Amelia told Axel you were cheating on him. She even staged fake messages between you and your business partner.” she said.

“And when he confronted her about his doubts, she told him that fate had brought them together, that you were too focused on your career to love him the way he deserved.” she said.

I clenched my fists. “And my dress? My apartment key?” I asked.

“She stole your spare key weeks ago,” Leah said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“She wanted to make sure you wouldn’t stop her.” she said.

I inhaled sharply, forcing myself to stay calm. The old me would have screamed, cried, and demanded answers, but I wasn’t that person anymore.

I had leverage now. I had power, and I was going to use it.

Leah hesitated. “They’re having a celebration dinner tonight at Bella’s.” she said.

I exhaled slowly. “Good to know.” I said.

She looked up at me, surprised. “You’re not going to do anything reckless, are you?” she asked.

I smiled, but it didn’t reach my eyes. “Oh, Leah,” I murmured, standing up.

“You should know me better than that. Because I never played to participate; I played to win.” I said.

I stared at my phone, scrolling through the endless flood of comments and likes beneath Amelia’s latest Instagram post. When you know it’s meant to be. Sorry sis, but sometimes love can’t wait.

I laughed, not because it was funny—no, there was nothing amusing about my fiancé and my sister betraying me—but because they truly had no idea what they had walked into. They thought they had won.

They thought I was broken, but I was already planning my next move.

My phone buzzed with another notification, this time from Bruno. “Final paperwork is ready. Once you sign, it’s official.”

I walked over to my desk, sat down, and opened my laptop. One final click—that was all it took to strip Axel of everything he had spent his life trying to preserve.

His family’s company, the one he had fought tooth and nail to save, was now mine. I exhaled, watching the confirmation email come through: Ellie Monroe, Majority Shareholder of Harrington Enterprises.

It had a nice ring to it. As if on cue, my phone rang: Axel.

I let it ring, then I let it ring again and again. Finally, I picked up.

“Ellie, please,” he started, his voice urgent.

“You don’t understand. It’s not what it looks like.” he said.

“Oh,” I interrupted, keeping my tone light.

“So you didn’t marry my sister in my wedding dress?” I asked.

Silence. “That’s what I thought,” I said, smiling to myself.

“I hope you two are very happy together. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have more important things to deal with—business, you know how it is.” I said.

“Ellie, wait!” he said.

I hung up. Christine arrived shortly after, arms crossed, worry etched into her features.

“You’re too calm,” she said.

“And I don’t mean that in a good way.” she said.

I poured two glasses of wine and slid one across the counter to her. “What would you rather I do?” I asked.

“Cry? Scream? Throw things?” I asked.

Christine hesitated. “I don’t know, maybe just feel something.” she said.

“Oh, I feel something,” I assured her.

“I feel focused. I feel ready.” I said.

She studied me for a long moment before sighing. “You’re terrifying when you’re like this.” she said.

I smiled. “Good.” I said.

Bruno arrived next with the final details. “We need to discuss the gala,” he said.

“The announcement about your acquisition is set for next week. Everyone important will be there, including Axel’s family.” he said.

“Make sure they all receive invitations,” I instructed.

“Make it impossible for them to refuse.” I said.

Christine shook her head. “This isn’t just business, Ellie. You want them to see you in—” she said.

I met her gaze. “Why shouldn’t they?” I asked.

That evening, I walked into LeBlanc, the upscale restaurant where Amelia and Axel were celebrating their new life together. The maître d’ looked up.

“Miss Monroe, do you have a reservation?” he asked.

I smiled. “Table for one.” I said.

Heads turned as I walked in. Amelia, sitting at the center of the table, went pale; Axel’s jaw tightened.

“Ellie!” Amelia started, standing abruptly.

“Don’t let me interrupt,” I said smoothly, accepting the menu from the waiter.

“I just came for the lamb; it’s excellent here, isn’t it, Axel? We used to order it every anniversary.”

Axel’s face lost all color. Amelia’s friends whispered among themselves, shifting uncomfortably.

“You should join us,” one of Axel’s business associates offered, clearly trying to diffuse the tension.