bChapter /bb30 /b

b28/b] bA /bdress bfor /bbthe /bbrejection /bceremony

bNyssa /bbpov /b

“Miss, bplease /bbstop/bb. /bbGet /bsomething for yourself,” Serene pleaded, reaching out to stop me. Her bface /bwas flushed, disbelief clear in her bexpression/b.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. I knew why she was so btense/bb, /bbafter /bthe earlier dramab, /bwe had gone from bone /bstore to another, picking out clothes for her. I wasn’t sure how many outfits we had already chosen, but judging by the number of bbags /bthe sales bassistants /bbwere /bcarrying along with Drake, Darius’s gamma, who had volunteered to help, it was definitely a

lot.

–

“This is thest dress, I promise. Try it on, and when you’re done, we’ll get something to beat/bb,/bb” /bbI /bsaid with a grin.

–

Serene pouted, but I caught the way her beyes /bflickered toward the dress in my hand and for a brief moment, bI /bbsaw /bthe excitement in them.

This girl was really adorable. She was secretly thrilled about all the clothes, even if she didn’t want to show it bbecause /bbI /bhadn’t bought anything for myself.

“Go change, and in the meantime, I’ll check around to see if anything catches my eye,” I added.

As soon as the words left my mouth, I noticed Serene’s eyes almost roll but she stopped herself and mumbled under her breath,

“That’s what you said thest time.”

My grin widened at her words, and I pushed the dress into her hands.

“Go and change, Serene. I promise I’ll really look around and buy something.”

After some yful back and forth, Serene finally sighed dramatically and headed off to the fitting room.

A warm feeling bloomed in my chest as I watched her, and a sad smile tugged at my lips.

I couldn’t help but think about what would happen in the next two days.

Like in the first dream I had that morning, Serene had a role to fulfill, to walk into the scene where Kieran and Aria would be and I knew it would traumatize her.

But it was better than watching everyone die again.

I guessed this was my way of trying to make it up to her.

My eyes flickered to Darius, who sat stiffly on the couch like a statue. I rolled my eyes but froze when they met Drake’s gaze.

The man stood not far from me, many shopping bags clutched in his hands, and the corners of his lips curved into a small, polite smile before he lowered his head slightly in a bow.

I blinked, quickly cleared my throat, and returned his greeting before turning away.

My gaze wandered over the numerous clothes disyed, and I slowly walked around, trying bto /bbsee /bif there bwas /bsomething bI /bcould pick for myself – if only to bease /bSerene’s guilt a little.

bBut /bjust as bI /bwas babout /bbto /bbmove /bfurtherb, /bbI /bbfroze /bbwhen /bba /bbvoice /bspoke bbeside /bmeb. /b

b“/bYou must breally /blike the servant girlb,/bb” /bthe bvoice /bdrawled.

Turning around, I found Cassian standing bbeside /bbme/bb, /ba smirk tugging bat /bhis blips/b.

His bck /bhair bfell /bmessily bacross /bhis bface/bb, /bhis hands btucked /binto his pockets bas /bhe towered over bme/bb. /b

I lifted my bhead /band stared at bCassian/b, only to find him genuinely curiousb, /bone brow barched/b. When I didn’t answerb, /bhis grin widened and he said bcasually/b,

“I mean, bever /bbsince /bbyou /bcame bhere/bb, /byou’ve been buying clothes for her instead of yourself. And honestly, you don’t strike me bas /bthe generally nice type, not after the way you walked out on your ex and bbest /bfriend despite… you know, their situation.”

My eyes widened at his blunt words, and for a moment, my jaw nearly hit the ground. What? How many times had I even seen him- once? Twice?

He seemed to notice my expression because he reached up and scratched the back of his head a little awkwardly.

“Or am I wrong?” he asked.

A dry scoff escaped me, and I turned away, refocusing my attention on the dress in front of me before answering.

“You’re not wrong. I love Serene. She’s a good person.”

My hands brushed over the fabrics as I heard him hum thoughtfully.

“So your ex and best friend aren’t good people?” he asked, pausing for a brief moment before lowering his voice in a conspiratorial tone, like he was about to gossip. “Is it because they’re cheating together on you?”

I froze the moment those words left his mouth, and before I knew it, I started coughing, my face turning bright red. Still, I refused to turn and look at him – I could already sense the amused smirk ying on his lips without even needing to bsee /bit.

This man- why was he so blunt and weird? And how the hell did he know? He was the king’s beta, but he was so different from Darius. While Darius barely spoke more than two or three words at a time, this man seemed to love talking.

But maybe this wasn’t so bad. If he noticed, then maybe others would too.

“Really? You think they’re cheating?” I asked with a small smile, casually flipping through the dresses. “But how can they cheat when I’m no longer with Kieran?”

bI /bcould practically feel Cassian’s sparkling eyes on me as he leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper.

“That’s the thing. I don’t think they just started cheating now- it looks like they were already doing it when you were still with your ex. It’s painfully obvious from the way she ran and shielded him.”

My smile widened at his words, and I finally stopped walking, my eyes narrowing on a red dress that caught my attention.

The design was unlike any of the others I had seen. The dress had a vibrant, eye–catching color and intricate patterns, ba /bslim–fitted cut that hugged the body perfectly, and a daring V–line that dipped sharply from the side.

It was beautiful. It truly was the perfect dress to die in.

–

I reached out and picked it from the shelf, holding it up before turning to Cassian, who stood in front bof /bme. But this time, his bgaze /bwasn’t on me it was directed to the left, where Darius bsat/b.

“???

–

bI /bwatched as Cassian visibly gasped and took a step back, but I didn’t care what was going on.

Instead, I held the dress up to him and asked with ba /bsmile,

“Hey, what do you think about this dress? bIs /bit pretty enough to wear for the rejection ceremony?”

The moment the words left my mouth, Cassian’s gaze snapped from Darius to me, then down to the dress, his face a picture of disbelief.

My grin widened when he blurted out,

“W–what?”

I didn’t hesitate, my voice calm and steady as I asked again,

“Is this dress good enough for the rejection ceremony?”

Even if I was going to die, I was going to make sure my death made a statement.