Chapter 0207
Chapter 0207
Ella POV
By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I felt almost sick with anxiety over the conversation I’d have to have with Alexander.
I couldn’t even imagine one of my parents speaking about me with the level of suspicion that Diana showed toward Alexander. The thought alone was enough to leave me heartbroken on his behalf.
I knew I couldn’t bring it up immediately–not with Diana right beside me. But the longer I waited, the harder it would be to tell Alexander the truth. The weight of it pressed heavily on my chest as we stepped inside.
The hostess greeted us warmly and led us to our table, where Alexander was already waiting. He stood the moment he saw us, his face lighting up as he moved toward us.
“How did it go?” he asked, bending to kiss my cheek.
“Surprisingly well,” I replied, offering him a small smile despite the turmoil in my mind.
“So, you found a dress?” he asked, his tone hopeful.
“We did,” I nodded, grateful for a safe topic. “My mother took some photos so we can share them with the tailor. He can get to work on your suit.”
“Perfect,” Alexander said with a satisfied smile. “It seems like it’s all finally coming together.”
“And we have so much to celebrate,” Diana said warmly as she moved to hug Alexander.
I hid my reaction, though it bothered me how easily she could interact with him like this–so casually and affectionately–considering the way she spoke about him to others.
Alexander hugged her back, then turned to greet my mother before we all took our seats.
As I sat down, a thought struck me: perhaps my frustration with Diana’s behavior was so intense because I knew exactly how it felt to be betrayed by those who claimed to care for me.
Amanda and David had done the same thing–pretending to have my best interests at heart while scheming behind my back.
I didn’t want to believe Diana was capable of anything so severe. My past experiences had likely made me oversensitive to any hint of disloyalty.
That realization made it a little easier to push my anger aside as I settled into my seat, focusing on the polite conversation that had resumed around the table. But a small part of me still couldn’t ignore the knot in my
stomach.
“I’m curious about your dress,” Alexander said after a few minutes, his eyes alight with interest.
“Well, you’ll have to stay curious,” I replied with a teasing smile. “The dress is going to be a surprise.”
“Is it anything like the last dress you picked out?” he asked, smirking slightly. “The one I recommended to you?”
I rolled my eyes, recalling the memory of Alexander unexpectedly showing up at the bridal shop. He’d offered his unsolicited opinion on the form–fitting dress I was trying on, claiming it was perfect.
In the end, I’d bought the dress–not because of his suggestion, but because it truly was flattering on me. And, if I were honest, Amanda’s obvious jealousy over it had sealed the deal.
“No, not really,” I replied with a grin. “I think you’ll be quite surprised when you see it.”
+25 BONUS
Chapter 0207
“Maybe,” he said, leaning back. “But speaking of your original dress, I’ve been meaning to ask–why didn’t you end up wearing it at the wedding? Your grandmother’s dress was stunning on you, but…”
I took a sip of wine to gather my thoughts before answering “I didn’t end up wearing it because Amanda copied my dress.”
“So that was intentional,” Alexander said, shaking his head in disbelief. “I did notice the similarity.”
“Luckily, my mother’s dress was in good condition, and I knew it would fit Ella,” my mom chimed in, smiling fondly at the memory.
“I did think about wearing the dress this time,” I admitted. “But it seemed like bad luck.”
“Oh, absolutely,” Diana interjected, her face alight with mild horror. “You can’t reuse the dress from a failed marriage–it would doom the second one.”
Alexander’s sharp gaze snapped to Diana, but she only shrugged innocently. I ignored her comment entirely. My marriage to David wasn’t a “failure,” at least not in the way she implied.
