?Chapter 1469:

    Yet hearing him mention her now stirred something in Corrine—a quiet longing she hadn’t expected.

    The edges of her memories of her mother had begun to blur, and now she feared they might vanish altogether.

    Carl’s eyes drifted toward the window. Outside, the night loomed dark and wide. His face shifted—nostalgic, yet conflicted. “What is there to say about her? She fell in love with someone she should not have. And it cost her everything. That was the path she chose.”

    The words were simple, but they struck like cold rain. Corrine felt her brow tighten.

    There it was—in the pause between his sentences—the bitter taste of resentment. He had not forgiven Kiley.

    Now she understood why he had treated Dewey with such sharp disdain. It all tied back to the past.

    The car rolled forward in silence, eventually pulling up to the mansion. Later, Corrine stepped into her room, dropped her bag, and reached for her phone as it buzzed to life. A message from Rachel lit up the screen. “I’m going to the bridal shop tomorrow to try on wedding dresses. Mind joining me?”

    Corrine hesitated. Her eyes lingered on the text before she typed a single word: “Sure.”

    The next morning, she dressed early and met up with Rachel, heading to the bridal boutique together.

    Rachel was trying on a high-end custom gown designed by Galia Lahav. With Jules constantly tied up in meetings, Rachel had no choice but to go alone. Yet with Corrine beside her, she seemed at ease—lighter, even excited.

    As Rachel slipped into the changing room, Corrine sat quietly in the plush VIP lounge, her thoughts wandering.

    Step into new worlds at g ? lnσ ν?? ?s?conn

    “Miss, if you see something you like, feel free to try it on,” the store clerk said with a cheerful smile. “We just received new arrivals from this year’s runway. I think they would look absolutely stunning on you.”

    As a wedding dress designer herself, Corrine had long grown ustomed to extravagant cuts and dreamy fabrics. It took more than sequins andce to impress her.

    But then, the clerk handed her a catalog—and something made her pause.

    Her eyes fell on a gown that took her breath away for a fleeting second. She had not expected that. The design was striking—elegance stitched into every detail. The mermaid silhouette…

    The mermaid silhouette curved with precision, thece artfullyyered, and the beadwork subtle enough to avoid garishness, yet bold enough to catch the light just right.

    Her fingertips brushed over the printed image, as if trying to feel the fabric through the page. Something stirred in her chest, but she quickly suppressed it, sealing it away. “I do not need one for now. Thanks.”

    .

    .

    .