Bought to be his Fake Wife

The Dress

GABRIELLE POV

Gabrielle woke up early that morning, knowing she had to accompany her future mother-in-law, the witch, to the dress shop.

Leo would drop them off to ensure he wouldn't be late. She didn’t want to cause drama or stress about the situation. She wore a sleek black tube dress, slipped into delicate high-heeled sandals, left her hair loose, applied light makeup, grabbed a small bag, and spritzed on some perfume, the one Leo had gifted her, nailing the scent perfectly.

As she opened the bedroom door, she came face to face with Letizia, who looked over her from head to toe with a disgusted expression. Gabrielle didn’t let it slide and crossed her arms, leaning against the door frame.

“Did you need something?” Gabrielle inquired, sounding a bit annoyed.

“Stupid girl, I just came to check if you’re ready. My son doesn't like delays," Letizia scolded, glancing at the clock and noting there were still ten minutes before the agreed time.

“Give me another excuse! You just wanted to make sure I was dressed appropriately for a sophisticated place. As you can see…” Gabrielle teased as she strolled around.

“Let’s go, and hurry up,” Gabrielle said, shutting the bedroom door behind her and walking away, leaving Letizia with a puzzled expression.

She went down the stairs slowly, careful not to trip and ruin her dress-fitting day with a purple bruise from falling off her heels.

Leo had mentioned they were heading to a Kleinfeld store in Italy, the fanciest wedding dress chain outside of Brazil. People from all over went to New York to get their dresses there, and now there was a*****e here. He wanted her to pick out the best one.

Mrs. Letizia followed behind her, not uttering a single word. It was clear she wasn’t a fan of the situation, but she couldn’t help but provoke, as usual. Her disapproval of Gabrielle as a daughter-in-law was crystal clear. For now, Gabrielle found this arrangement convenient for returning home. Letizia just had to tolerate her for a few months.

"Are you ready?" Leo asked as soon as they stepped into the spacious living room.

"Yes..." Gabrielle replied flatly.

“I'm starving, can I at least have a cup of coffee?” Gabrielle grumbled.

“The bride can't be fat,” Letizia smiled as she replied.

"That’s absurd, Mom," Leo scolded his mother.

"There's a croissant and cappuccino on the table. The servant has set them up for you, Gabrielle," Leo mentioned.

"Oh, thanks a lot..." Gabrielle said with a smile. “I thought I would end up starving.”

“Let's hurry,” Letizia said, passing by and intentionally bumping into Gabrielle's shoulder, causing her to almost fall into Leo's arms.

Leo held her to prevent her from falling to the ground, and their gazes locked. She suddenly realized his attractiveness. Please, Gabrielle, she thought, don’t even think about it.

"Be careful," Leo whispered, his breath brushing against her face.

She nodded and fixed her position as they headed to the dining room.

After having breakfast, they made their way to the car. Leo was going to be their driver for the day, leaving Carlos as their security guard. Carlos, who had both a driver’s license and a license to work as a private security guard, had a background in the armed forces.

“Give me a call on your way back. I'll pick you up,” Leo reminded them as he parked the car in front of the store.

“Of course, my son.” Letizia grinned and planted two kisses on her son’s cheek.

“Today is going to be a really long day," Letizia mentioned.

“Don't you dare tell me…” Gabrielle exclaimed as she swung open the car door. "Just don’t!"

As they walked into the store, Gabrielle was amazed by how stylish it was. She believed that only the wealthy could shop there, and if it wasn’t for Leo, she wouldn't have even considered entering. The place was so luxurious that she joked they should charge just to walk on the same sidewalk.

A woman in her forties walked over to them with a smile on her face, offering to help.

"Good morning, I’m Paola. Are you the bride?" she asked Gabrielle.

"Good morning," Gabrielle and Letizia responded simultaneously.

“Yes, it’s me. It's a pleasure to meet you. I’m Gabrielle, and that's my future mother-in-law,” Gabrielle replied.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Letizia.”

“I'll accompany you to the dress fitting. Have you thought about what you want?” Paola offered with a smile.

“A dazzling ball gown,” Letizia answered.

"I'm looking for something more elegant and alluring, not a ball gown or lace," Gabrielle expressed her dissatisfaction, rolling her eyes.

“A mermaid dress would be perfect to highlight her curves,” Paola recommended.

“I’m not comfortable with my son’s fiancée appearing like a prostitute,” Letizia said, causing Gabrielle to feel embarrassed.

“Look, Mrs. Letizia, I accepted that you will accompany me here, but this wedding is all about me, and I’ll be the one to choose my outfit," Gabrielle calmly responded, trying to avoid causing a scene in the store.

“Okay, feel free to take a seat on the couch. We can start trying on the dresses, and she'll come here to show you," Paola mentioned, pointing to the area where Letizia would stay.

They went into the dressing room, and Gabrielle undressed and tried on a silk dress. She told Paola what she wanted, and Paola brought her a few options. After trying them on, Gabrielle frowned, saying she didn’t like any of them.

She didn’t fancy any dress except for a princess dress that made her look larger than an elephant, dull, without shine or charm. Just as she was about to give up, Paola appeared in a stunning dress that left her speechless. She tried it on, and it was perfect as if it had been custom-made for her.

The mermaid dress adorned with shimmering stones, featuring long sleeves and a plunging neckline, perfectly showcased her curves. She approached the mirror where Mrs. Letizia stood, catching a glimpse of herself in the dress. Tears welled up in her eyes as she realized it was for a contractual marriage, yet she couldn’t help but feel stunning wearing the expensive and elegant attire. It was the perfect dress, the one that stole her heart completely.

Leo's mom remained silent, observing quietly. Gabrielle could tell she was pleased as well, but her pride prevented her from taking charge. Gabrielle returned to the dressing room and slipped into a daring beaded dress. This was the one she had picked for the reception, wanting it to be a surprise for everyone. She was about to join a mafia family, and she planned to make a grand entrance. She needed to change the course of this game and find some happiness during the months she would spend there.

Paola packed the dresses in boxes while Carlos loaded them into the car. He had already phoned Leo. They hopped into the car, but Leo remained silent, neither speaking to Gabrielle nor his mother. She sensed that something must have happened, hoping her intuition was mistaken and that it had nothing to do with Jianna.