The parade of wedding gowns had blurred into a relentless cascade of silk, lace, and tulle, each dress sapping my aesthetic sense until beauty felt like a distant echo. My limbs ached, heavy from hours of standing, twirling, and posing under the attendants’ scrutiny. At last, Nate took pity, his voice cutting through the haze with a merciful command. He signaled the two female attendants to record the handful of gowns that had transformed me into something radiant—dresses that clung to my curves, their elegance destined for the royal designer’s hands. I exhaled, a wave of relief washing over me, my body slumping slightly as the weight of the day lifted.
I fumbled for my phone, its screen alight with a deluge of notifications that overwhelmed my tired eyes. Willow’s messages dominated, a f
