When her stepsister, Jade, asked her to sew six custom bridesmaid dresses, Amelia said yes, hoping it would bring them closer. She spent $400 from her baby fund on materials and worked tirelessly for three weeks, only to be told by Jade that her work was a “gift.” But at the wedding, just before the first dance, karma struck at the perfect moment.
A Gift or a Project?
Amelia was a new mom to a four-month-old son, Max, when Jade called and asked her to make six custom bridesmaid dresses for her wedding. Despite their not-so-close relationship, Amelia agreed, hoping the project would bring them closer and provide some much-needed income. Jade promised to pay her well and reimbursed her “very soon.”
Amelia spent three weeks hunching over her sewing machine, working late into the night. Each of the six bridesmaids had conflicting opinions, making the work even more challenging. She used $400 from her baby fund for high-quality materials, with Jade constantly promising to pay her back. When she delivered the dresses, Jade’s response was a far cry from what she had hoped for. Jade called her work “adequate” and then refused to pay her, telling her that the dresses were her “wedding GIFT” and that she was just “sitting at home all day” anyway.
A Split Seam and an Unlikely Apology
Heartbroken and angry, Amelia cried in her car. Her husband, Rio, was furious and wanted to confront Jade, but Amelia pleaded with him not to, not wanting to cause a family war. The wedding was beautiful, and Amelia’s dresses were the talk of the reception. She even overheard Jade bragging about how she had gotten her stepsister to do the work for free because she was “easy to manipulate.”
Just 20 minutes before the first dance, a frantic Jade grabbed Amelia and dragged her into the women’s restroom. Her expensive designer dress had split completely down the entire back seam. With tears streaming down her face, Jade begged Amelia to fix it, terrified of being humiliated. Amelia, a professional, silently pulled out her emergency sewing kit and, on her knees, fixed the dress. As Jade was about to leave, Amelia stopped her and asked for an apology, not for the money, but for her to simply tell the truth. Jade left without a word.
But during the speech, Jade stood up and, in front of all 200 guests, apologized to Amelia. She admitted that she had treated her stepsister like she was disposable, had promised to pay her, and then lied. She also admitted that after her dress had ripped, Amelia was the only person who could save her, and she did. Jade walked over and handed Amelia an envelope with the money she was owed, plus extra for the baby. The room erupted in applause, but all Amelia could hear was her own heartbeat. She realized that justice doesn’t come with revenge plots but with dignity and the ability to open someone’s eyes.