Chapter 18–A Real Bride

Natasha’s POV

The private room was warmer, more intimate. The lights here were brighter. 

I asked to see the custom pieces. 

I watched as dresses were brought into the room one after the other, voices overlapping. 

Ananya and Patricia debated over what would look best on me. Ananya hadn’t said a word about her own dress. 

Tristan stood in the corner, one hand tucked into his pocket, his phone pressed against his ear.

I just stood there, taking everything in. 

“Natasha.” Adelina’s voice cut through me. “Come, child.”

I walked to where she was seated. I sat next to her. 

She looked at me for a second longer before taking my hands into hers. 

“Tristan told me everything,” she said, her gaze still on me. “About how your father had approached him and everything that led to this wedding.”

“I may not understand how you’re feeling,” she continued. “None of these might make sense now, but child, the things we do for the ones we care about…” she paused slightly on the last word. “And something good might come from it.”

Something good like finally getting my life back once this nightmare is over? 

The silence stretched between us. 

I exhaled deeply. “I hear you, Adelina.”

“Tash!” Ananya’s voice cut cleanly. “Look at this dress! Come try it on.”

I hadn’t tried on a single dress yet. 

I rose slowly and took the dress from Ananya before walking to the space behind the curtain. 

I slipped into the dress without hesitation. I struggled with the zipper, but it finally slid up. 

I stepped out a moment later. Patricia saw me first. “This is beautiful, Natasha.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me, including Tristan’s. 

His eyes raked down my body, lingering just a second too long. “We’ll talk later,” he said quietly, slipping his phone into his pocket.

Ananya pressed her fingers lightly on her chin, studying me. “I don’t know about that, Tricia. It looks—”

“Bland,” Tristan said flatly. 

“Exactly!” Ananya agreed.

The saleswoman quickly held out a few more dresses. “Here, try these.”

I took the dresses from her and disappeared behind the curtain again  

With each dress I tried on, Ananya and Patricia argued, while Tristan somehow still had an opinion on all of them.

So much for choosing what I wore for my wedding. 

Adelina laughed. A soft sound. “At least let the bride decide what she wants.”

Finally. Someone who gets it. 

Patricia shot Tristan a look. “What are you even doing here?” she said. “Don’t you have somewhere else to be? This is ladies’ business.”

“And don’t you think you should be in class now?” Tristan fired back. 

“Well… I don’t have a class today. I decided to come with Abuela,” she said. “You, on the other hand, have no business being here.”

“My business here is to keep an eye on you and Abuela.”

Patricia scoffed. “What are we? Five?”

I watched them go back and forth, wondering if they were always like this around each other. 

Ananya giggled quietly beside me. 

My relationship with Victoria never evolved over the years. We were always fighting over something. 

“If you two keep this up, we might never leave this place.” Adelina’s voice was soft but firm. “Tristan, Patricia is right. You shouldn’t be here. Don’t you know it’s bad luck for the couple to see each other before the wedding?”

Tristan dragged his hand over his face. “Come on, Abuela. You still believe that? Besides, the wedding is in three days, not tomorrow.”

My heart skipped a little as he said three days. 

The look Adelina gave him made him reconsider. He raised his hands in surrender. “Fine! The driver will be waiting for you outside. Daniel and I need to be somewhere anyway.”

He pulled his phone from his pocket, dialing a number. “Daniel. Arrange a car for Abuela and Patricia before we head out.” 

There was a brief pause. “Very well then.” He ended the call.

He moved to Adelina, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. “I’ll get out of your hair now. Love you.”

Then turned to Patricia, straightening her hair slightly before tucking a few strands behind her ear. “Take care of Abuela. And don’t hesitate to call me when something comes up, okay?”

“Sure, Tristan,” Patricia said. 

He faced me slowly. “I should be on my way now. I’ll talk to you soon. 

I nodded once. “Hmm.”

He turned to Ananya. “Nice meeting you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” Ananya said shamelessly. 

He headed out without looking back. 

Silence filled the room. 

“So,” Ananya said, breaking the silence. “Where were we?”

The saleswoman had brought more dresses. “I think you’d like these.”

My hand moved through the dresses before my eyes settled on one particular gown. 

I pulled the dress carefully from the rack, my fingers lingering on the fabric for a second longer than necessary. 

It looked weightless beneath the boutique lights. Lace curled delicately across the gown. 

“This is really beautiful,” Adelina said. 

I didn’t say anything. I just stepped behind the curtain with the dress clutched against me. 

The moment I slipped it on, I understood why my eyes had stopped on it. “A little help here.” I called out. 

The saleswoman came in. “What is it, ma’am?”

“I need you to lace it up.”

“Sure,” she said as she worked through the laces at the back, making sure they stayed firm. 

The satin hugged my body too perfectly, sculpting every curve before flowing downward into a soft train behind me. Lace traced along the sides and hips, blooming into delicate floral patterns against my skin. 

The neckline dipped dangerously low to my waist, framed by sheer fabric and embroidered flowers that climbed toward my throat like petals wrapped around my neck. 

It was bold. Almost Dangerous. 

The dress looked like it was meant for someone who knew exactly what she wanted. 

I stared at myself in the mirror longer than I intended. I traced my fingers down my hips.

If I was doing this wedding, the least I could do was look breathtaking while doing it.

Wow,” the saleswoman mouthed behind me. 

I offered a small smile before coming out. 

The minute they all saw me, Ananya gasped. Patricia’s hands flew to her mouth. “This… this right here… is the one,” Ananya said. “It was meant for you.” 

“That I concur. I’m glad we’re on the same page with this.” Patricia said, nodding her head vigorously. 

Adelina studied me closely. “What do you think, Natasha? Do you like it? It’s the only thing that matters now.”

I giggled softly. “Yes Adelina, yes. I love it. It’s beautiful!" 

That’s the only thing that matters,” Adelina said calmly. 

And for the first time since I stepped into the boutique, I looked like… a real bride.