Alessia's Pov
The shrill ring of my phone shattered the fragile peace of the morning. I groaned, fumbling for it on my nightstand. The name “Madam Claudia” flashed on the screen, and my stomach immediately knotted.
“Good morning,” I mumbled, still groggy.
“Be ready in thirty minutes,” her voice was sharp, no room for argument. “The car will take you to the boutique. We have a gown to find, and I don’t like wasting time.”
Before I could reply, she hung up. I stared at the phone, a sense of dread curling in my chest. Spending the day with Madam Claudia was the last thing I wanted, but I knew I had no choice.
Forty minutes later, I stood outside a boutique so grand it looked like it belonged in a movie. Its sleek black facade exuded exclusivity, and the golden letters spelling out its n
