la

e tin in

casually accepting whatever she put i

anym

," I said

ling me gently deeper into the boutique li

nd was

mine and felt n

-

we're so glad t

the private fitting room , mirrors on eve

them and f

d them naturally, effortlessly, like a beautiful photograph of

s swept the room and

nne's hand warmly, smiling between her and Ronan.

ng her collarbone like the mistake genui

ped fo

," I

of si

urned to Ronan with her smile fully intact and

ere and sa

other cut in briskly. "Ronan, what

n?" I

briefly. "Well i

he nearest gown along the rail. "And my card payin

her voice catching with what

d towar

as unimpressed. My father stood beside her with his arms crossed, u

n had go

ed Ronan was successful. Tha

ost s

that. Let her have t

ture husband's money is my money." I glanced at Ron

mething unreadable moved across his

ress she likes," he said

lling a gown free and holding it toward me with a bright

d at th

sed it im

d how much I had let her steer my choices in almost everything.

ven past me

iked this dress. It wasn'

d, already turning to Ronan with a warm sm

and nodded. "Alright

had a

I wanted

le

voice low and careful. "Come on

ked a

thing while she reminded me where I came from. His

nore

said it clearly, without heat.

eyes widened and her fingers tightened aroun

look. She wa

she said softly, her voice carryin

ely. Both of them. Expressions

"And please put that dre

ou today?" My mother'

d to fa

oss my face befor

ugh the fitting roo

d very

s my cheek. The consultant ha

disappeared and then she was at my m

d softly. "We'

. Straightened. S

my hand. Turned away from my mother's anger, my

to find

eyes on

hing me. Not with anger. Not with embarrassme

watch

it and kep

mirror an

nd sat bright against my pale ch

d at the res

ytail. Simple shirt and trousers. Flat s

was no single moment I could point to. Just years of making myself smaller and quieter and

nced

hen the dress

lowly and reached ou

The kind of dress that didn't

from the tight bodice down to the flared hem, elegant yet unapologetic. It looked like it belong

red on the cool,

years, I didn't feel

the woman who w

-

an

cting s

her mother's voice, ignoring Viv

to me. "I'm so s

fine,"

nne said softly, her eyes filling. "I didn't ex

"It's not a big deal. Just

thing flickered across her fa

where Isla had disapp

she tried to appear - I had always known that. But she was easi

oo quiet in ways that

r today was different

arm lightly and I

arm and soft. Everyth

what

didn't

lso tast