LEAH

    "What are we doing here, Alex?" I whisper, my voice barelying out, unable to believe what''s standing right in front of me.

    A bridal boutique.

    A real, shimmering bridal boutique.

    My fucking dream boutique where they sale the best and most expensive wedding gowns!

    The doors swing open as if they were expecting us.

    A woman in a sleek ck dress smiles warmly and gestures us inside.

    "Wee Mr. King, ma''am. We''ve been expecting you."

    Ma''am.

    Mrs King is the name but I have to y nice so I smile.

    "Thank you!".

    When we step In.... my breath stops!

    I stumble forward, my heart mming into my ribs so hard it hurts.

    I turn to Alex, blinking up at him, my mind spinning, almost scared to say the

    words out loud.

    "Alex, really... what is this?"

    He doesn''t smile.

    He doesn''t soften.

    He just looks at me with those icy green eyes and says, his voice low and serious,

    "To be my wife... you need a dress."He shrugs like it''s obvious, like it''s the most natural thing in the world.

    "Isn''t that what you''ve always wanted?"

    I can''t breathe.

    I''m finally going to be his wife!

    If I knew this was all it took I would have asked Athena to get pregnant faster!

    I should probably reduce on the trouble I cause her at the hospital. She did birth me a golden ticket after all.

    Tears rush to my eyes, blurring everything around me into a dream.

    It''s happening.

    It''s finally happening.

    All the years.

    All the sacrifices.

    All the suffering. Finally worth it.

    I clutch my hand to my mouth and nod, too choked up to speak.

    The assistant beams and ps her hands together, leading me deeper inside.

    Everything bes a blur, silks, pearls, diamonds, all for me to choose.

    They treat me like a queen.

    I try on dress after dress, each more beautiful than thest.

    But when I find the "one" I know.

    A soft mermaid, stitched with tiny crystals that catch the light with every step.

    Long sleeves and buttons down the back.

    Elegant.

    Timeless.

    Expensive.

    Fit for a Queen I am.

    I don''t even bother to ask for the price because I know he''s got all the money in the world!

    I twirl in front of the giant mirror, tears sliding silently down my cheeks.

    Mum and Dad will be thrilled.

    This is a beautiful surprise!

    When I turn to Alex, he''s standing there, hands in his pockets, watching me.

    I don''t even try to hide the way my heart is bursting open.

    "Well?" I ask,ughing shakily. "Do I look like a woman about to be Mrs. King-"

    His lips twitch.

    Not a smile.

    Not even close.

    But I don''t care. Not right now

    This is mine.

    This moment is mine.

    After everything, I deserve this.

    I deserve him.

    And that face is one he has half the time. Maybe it''s his happy face!

    "I can see you''ve found the dress of your dreams," Alex says, cing his hands in his pockets.

    "Yes!" I smile excitedly as I walk to the reception.

    The assistant beams and smooths down the fabric with tender care as they wrap

    it up.

    "This gown," she says, almost whispering like its an ancient secret, "is ten million dors."

    I freeze.

    Ten...million...?

    My mouth dries up instantly.

    I spin toward Alex, a breathless

    much he''s buying me a ten million dor dress?

    But I mean, it''s Alexander King.

    He could sneeze out ten million and not notice.

    I''m about to thank him when he gestureszily at me.

    "You can pay for it," he says casually, like he''s asking me to buy a cup of coffee.

    I stare at him.

    Blinking once.

    Twice.

    And then Iugh awkwardly, a high-pitched, desperateugh.

    "Alex, don''t joke like that," I say, pressing a trembling hand to my chest.

    But his face doesn''t change.

    Cold.

    Detached.

    Dead serious.

    "I don''t tell jokes," he says simply.

    He steps closer, his presence like a sudden shadow over me.

    "And if you want to be my wife," he murmurs, his deep voice low enough that only I can hear, "you have to prove you''re not marrying me for my

    money."

    ?wnovel

    He reaches out and gently moves a strand of hair from my face, his fingers cold

    against my burning skin.

    "Buying your own dress," he says softly, "doesn''t seem like a bad start."

    I can''t breathe.

    I can''t breathe.

    Panic spikes through me so violently my knees almost buckle.

    Buy it?

    Me?

    Buy a ten-million-dor dress?

    I''m not even worth two million!

    Where the hell would I get that kind of money?!

    I force a brittleugh, trying to keep my voice light.

    "Of Caby," I say, my t

    tight it

    Gontent

    Alex''s smile doesn''t reach his eyes.

    He tilts his head slightly, studying me.

    "Or maybe..." he says, his voice dripping with cruel amusement, "you''re broke."

    His fingers trail lightly down my cheek, the touch almost tender if not for the de

    of mockery hidden underneath.

    "Unless you''ve been pretending all these years," he says, his voice so soft, so venomous it slices me in half.

    "Have you been pretending, Leah?"