hapter 294
+25 BONUS
Chapter 294
My throat tightens. “I’d like that.”
She smiles, wiping away a tear that has escaped despite her best efforts. “Speaking of moments to come… any chance I might get to see you in a wedding gown soon?”
I feel my cheeks flush. “Mom!”
“What?” she asks innocently. “You and Arthur have been back together for a while now. You share a child. It’s not an unreasonable question.”
I bite my lip, unable to suppress a small smile. “We haven’t really lked about it. But… I hope so. I hope he asks soon.” I think back to all the tiny hints, wondering if I’m just reading into them, but I hope that’s not the case.
My mother’s face softens. “He will. That man is head over heels for you. Anyone with eyes can see it.”
The thought warms me from the inside out. Arthur and I have been through so much together, and despite everything–or perhaps because of it–our bond has only grown stronger. The idea of making it official, of becoming his wife, makes my heart race excitedly.
A knock at the door interrupts our moment. Before either of us can respond, the door swings open, and Veronica steps in.
“Aunt Maeve, I heard there was a dress emergency-” She stops short when she sees me, her eyes widening slightly. “Oh You’ve already solved it, I see.”
“Veronica,” my mother greets her with a smile. “Yes, we had a bit of a disaster, but we managed to find a solution.”
Veronica steps further into the room, looking me up and down. She’s wearing an exquisite crimson designer gown. I try not to think about how it looks eerily similar to the one I saw in my dream. Minus the blood, of course.
“That dress is stunning on you, Iris,” she says. “It brings out your eyes.”
Despite myself, I feel a flicker of pleasure at the compliment. “Thank you.”
She reaches into her purse and pulls out a small velvet box. “I brought these, just in case you needed something to cheer you up after the dress fiasco.”
She holds the box out to me, and I take it with some surprise. Inside is an enormous pair of diamond earrings–large teardrop- shaped stones that catch the light and throw rainbows against the wall.
“Veronica, I can’t accept these,” I say, stunned. “They must be worth a fortune.”
She waves her hand dismissively. “They’re just something I picked up on a whim. They’d look beautiful with that dress, don’t you think?”
A whim. Six–figure diamonds on a whim.
I glance at my mother, who gives a small nod of encouragement, “Try them on,” she suggests.
Hesitantly, I remove the earrings and slip on Veronica’s gift. The diamonds dangle just below my earlobes, heavy but luxurious. When I look in the mirror again, I have to admit they complete the look perfectly.
“See?” Veronica says, smiling. “They were meant for you.”
I’m touched by the gesture, but there’s still that nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach–the one I always get ar Veronica. It’s like jealousy mixed with distrust, although I have no real reason to feel either emotion. Veronica has been nothing but kind to me, despite what the papers say about our supposed “feud.”
She’s my cousin. Everyone loves her. We’re partnering for this gala to help children across Ordan. She just gave me an extraordinarily expensive gift for no reason other than simple kindness.
So why do I still feel so odd around her?
Chapter 294
I push the feeling away, forcing a simile. “Thank you, Veronica. Thi
“You’re welcome, cousin,” she says, then glides out of the room w
