The Sweetest Revenge

Chapter 3 - Shopping Sprees and Tiny T's

The mall was a whirl of activity, buzzing with the energy of weekend shoppers. I trailed behind Sophie as she practically skipped into Chic Haven, a boutique known for its trendy pieces and stylish ensembles. The sleek white walls and modern lighting made everything in the store gleam like it belonged on a runway. I couldn't help but feel a little out of place.

"Alright, Em, we're here to find the perfect dress for tonight. And by perfect, I mean one that makes Jake regret every life choice he's ever made," Sophie announced with dramatic flair, already scanning the racks.

"I'm still not even sure I want to go," I muttered, running my fingers along the fabric of a nearby dress. The morning's events were still swirling in my mind like a storm cloud I couldn't shake. Jake's post, the pregnancy announcement-it all weighed heavily on me, settling in my chest like lead. But I forced myself to push those thoughts aside. I didn't want to ruin Sophie's enthusiasm.

Sophie shot me a sharp look. "You don't have a choice. You said yes to the party, and more importantly, you said yes to the shopping spree."

I smiled despite myself. That was Sophie-determined to lift my spirits, no matter how low I felt. I could never say no to her. The idea of a distraction, even if just for a few hours, was tempting.

We started pulling dresses off the racks, laughing and joking as we went. Every now and then, Sophie would hold up a ridiculously short or sparkly number, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I'd roll my eyes in response, but I couldn't help but laugh. For the first time since that morning, I felt a little lighter.

I pulled out a slinky black dress with thin straps and eyed it skeptically. "Do you think I could actually pull this off?" I asked, holding it up to myself in the mirror.

Sophie glanced over, her eyes lighting up. "Are you kidding? You'd look like a total knockout in that! But keep looking. I want you to try on a few."

I smiled, tucking it under my arm, and continued browsing. A few minutes later, Sophie called me over. "Em, come check this out!"

I walked over to find her holding a deep emerald green dress. It was stunning-elegant yet sexy, with a fitted waist that flared out slightly at the hips. The neckline was low, dipping just enough to show some cleavage without being over the top. The fabric clung to the body in a way that felt effortless and sophisticated.

"This," Sophie said, holding it up against me. "This is the one. You have to try it on."

I hesitated, glancing at the price tag. "No way. Not on my salary," I said, shaking my head.

Sophie smirked, unfazed. "Em, you only turn 25 once. Besides, I didn't get you a birthday gift yet, so let me buy it for you."

"Sophie, no. That's way too much."

She waved a hand dismissively. "It's a birthday gift, which means you can't say no. I can afford it, and you deserve something special. Plus, you're halfway to 50 now, so you need to show off that body before your boobs hang down to your knees."

I laughed, rolling my eyes. "You're terrible."

"And you still love me." She winked, shoving the dress into my hands. "Now go try it on. I'm not taking no for an answer."

As I made my way to the fitting room, I couldn't help but smile. Sophie was more than just my best friend-she was family. Our moms had been best friends growing up, so Sophie and I were practically sisters from birth. We grew up together, shared everything, and no matter what life threw at us, she had always been there.

Sophie was everything I wasn't-confident, outgoing, and fearless. She had this natural ability to command attention without even trying. Despite being born into a wealthy family, she was humble and grounded, with an incredible sense of humor that could make you laugh on your worst days. And, of course, she was brilliant-an architect with a sharp mind and creative vision that set her apart in her field.

When she found out about Jake and Celine, she immediately called her boss and asked for the weekend off just to be with me. I loved her for that. She always knew when I needed her the most.

I slipped into the dress and turned to face the mirror. The fabric hugged my body perfectly, accentuating my full breasts and curvy hips without feeling too revealing. It was... beautiful. For the first time in a long time, I actually felt good about how I looked. Maybe Sophie was right-maybe tonight could be a turning point.

I stepped out of the fitting room, and Sophie's jaw dropped. "Oh. My. God. Emma, you look incredible."

I blushed, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. "You think?"

"Think? I know. You have to get that dress. No arguments."

I turned back to the mirror, smoothing down the fabric as I tried to picture myself at the party. Maybe this could work. Maybe I could fake it-at least for one night.

"Okay," I said with a sigh. "You win. I'll take it."

Sophie clapped her hands together in excitement. "Yes! Now let's pay and get out of here. We have some serious prep to do before tonight."

We made our way to the register, and despite my protests, Sophie pulled out her credit card and paid for our dresses without a second thought. "Consider this an investment in your future happiness," she said with a grin.

As we left the store, shopping bags in hand, we passed by a baby boutique. I wasn't paying much attention until I heard Sophie mutter, "Oh, no."

I followed her gaze and felt my stomach drop. Standing by a rack of tiny clothes was Celine. She was laughing and holding up a small baby onesie, her face glowing with that unmistakable pregnancy radiance. Beside her was an older woman, who I could only assume was her mother, both of them gushing over the baby outfits.

I froze, unable to look away. The happy buzz I'd felt from finding the perfect dress evaporated, replaced by a cold knot of dread in my chest.

Sophie quickly grabbed my arm, steering me away from the store. "Come on, let's keep moving."

I couldn't speak. Seeing Celine, so carefree and happy, felt like a punch to the gut. It was a reminder of everything I'd lost, everything Jake had taken from me. No matter how hard I tried to push him out of my mind, moments like this made it impossible.

Sophie, ever the fixer, tightened her grip on my arm. "Hey, don't let that ruin your day, okay? Tonight is about you, not them. Jake's the past. You're moving forward. And you're going to look amazing doing it."

I nodded, but the knot in my chest didn't loosen. Seeing Celine like that brought back all the hurt I'd been trying to bury. But Sophie was right. I couldn't let them have any more control over my life.

We walked in silence for a few minutes, Sophie giving me space to process. Finally, she nudged me gently. "You okay?"

I forced a small smile. "Yeah. I'm okay. I just... it still stings, you know?"

"I know," she said softly. "But you're stronger than this. You'll get through it. And if you ever need a reminder of how amazing you are, just look at that dress. You're going to turn heads tonight, trust me."

Her words were comforting, even if I wasn't entirely convinced. But as we left the mall, shopping bags in hand, I made a silent promise to myself. Tonight, I was going to let go of Jake-if only for a few hours. I owed it to myself to move on, to find happiness again, even if it was just a taste. Maybe, just maybe, the perfect dress and a night out with Sophie were exactly what I needed to start.