Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Chapter 173
If you’d told me two months ago that I’d be attending the dress fitting for Lara Ellington’s wedding–not as a guest, but as the maid of honor–I’d have laughed in your face.
Now? I just try not to puke in the Uber.
My palms are sweaty against the thin fabric of my blouse, and I keep smoothing the hem even though it’s already perfectly tucked.
The streets blur past in a summer haze as I replay Lara’s words over and over: “We do it smart. We do it right.”
Right. That’s what this is. Smart.
Even if it feels like my intestines are trying to strangle my other organs.
Alice in Ivory is housed in a pristine white building with tall windows and gold lettering on the door. It looks like a bridal dream- delicate, polished, perfect.
Add it to the list of perfect places someone like me has no business being in.
Inside, the scent of vanilla and peonies lingers in the air, like innocence and illusion. I spot Lara immediately, looking elegant and gorgeous as usual in soft beige slacks and a structured corset top.
She beams when she sees me and waves me over.
“April!” she chirps like nothing’s wrong, like we’re just here to try on overpriced gowns and sip rosé.
I walk over, hugging her tightly. “You look stunning.”
“And you look like a woman on a mission,” she whispers near my ear.
I smirk. “You’re not wrong.”
Around us, chatter buzzes–nervous laughter, clinking hangers, rustling silk. Most of the bridal party is already here.
Lara managed to arrange it so that the rest of the girls from the competition are part of the bridal train. That way, my presence wouldn’t raise eyebrows. Smart.
So far, the easy part is going well.
Except for one tiny detail in the form of the two people I least want to see in the world right now.
And I can already feel one of their gazes burning into the back of my neck like a sunburn.
Valerie.
She’s in head–to–toe white–not bridal, but close. A silk wrap dress that hugs her curves and sky–high stilettos that ensure she towers over everybody else.
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21:04 Wed, Oct 15
Chapter 173
Her lips are curled into a sneer, her eyes fixed on me like I’m a cockroach that just won’t die.
And standing beside her, straight–backed in a navy suit, is Nathan.
My heart stutters.
20
He hasn’t changed. If anything, he’s more devastating than I remember–and fuck, all I’ve done is remember.
The angles of his face are sharper. His hair is slicked back, but a little undone at the edges. His eyes–those beautiful emerald eyes–lock with mine for a single second, and it’s enough to drown me.
God, I hate how badly I still feel it–that ache.
All I want to do is rush across the room and throw myself in his arms and forget these last couple of weeks.
“It’s over.”
Valerie slides her hand into the crook of his elbow, knowing I’m watching. She leans in to whisper something, lips brushing the shell of his ear.
Nathan doesn’t smile.
But he tears his gaze away from mine.
Lara gently tugs my hand. “April,” she says softly. “You okay?”
I turn away, forcing air to enter my constricting lungs. “Peachy,” I lie.
The stylists begin organizing those of us–bridesmaids and groomsmen (a group of young men I don’t know)—who have arrived into
groups.
Lara flits around like she’s actually planning a wedding, cooing over necklines and muttering about waistlines, but I can see the steel in her spine. She’s watching everything–especially the door.
Waiting for Lucas.
When he finally arrives, every hair on my skin rises.
Lucas Ashford walks into the boutique like he owns it. And I wouldn’t even be surprised if the Ashfords do own it.
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21:04 Wed, Oct 15
Winning the Heir Who Bullied Me
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
