Julian's face froze, his eyes locked on mine. I stared back, unflinching. The air crackled with tension until Chloe's sob broke the silence, her hand tugging at Julian's sleeve.
"Julian, don't fight with Sophia over me," she whimpered. "She just wants the dress. It's my fault—I thought it was pretty and tried it on. I didn't know she'd get so mad. I'll go change right now."
She shuffled to the changing room under Julian's pitying gaze. When she returned, she handed me the dress. I took one look and my heart sank. The hem was torn, a gaping hole ruining the delicate embroidery—Mary's handiwork, stitched by candlelight over sleepless nights.
My eyes burned. "You did this on purpose," I said, voice shaking.
Chloe's face was all innocence, shaking her head. "I didn't, I swear! Sophia, you'
