Chapter 41
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Kaia froze when she heard that. “What do you mean?” she asked, puzzled.
Usually, people from dress shops came to take measurements. It was strange for Tobias to be the one doing it.
If she hadn’t known him so well, she might’ve thought he was trying to take advantage of her.
Noticing her suspicious look, Tobias explained, “I really am here to take your measurements. The Moreno family dinner is coming up, and since you’re my fiancée now, everyone’s going to be looking at you.
“Your dress has to be perfect. If it’s not, people will laugh, and I don’t want that to happen.
“I found a top–notch dressmaker from Zeplana–Bruce Coffey. He’s going to make your dress. But he’s picky about measurements, so I have to do it myself.”
Kaia’s eyes widened when she heard the name.
Bruce was a giant in the high–end fashion world. He’d designed dresses for royalty and world leaders. He’d even started a whole new style of dressmaking. The man was a legend.
And Kaia knew him personally. Back when she started K&B, she and Bruce had talked a lot about design. His work was one of the few that could compete with K&B’s.
Kaia respected his skills, but it still made her curious.
Bruce was old and had an odd personality. He only worked by hand and hadn’t taken on public orders in years. He never worked off long–distance measurements.
She could not figure out how Tobias convinced him to bend his own rules.
Still, Kaia didn’t want Tobias to know she was familiar with Bruce, so she just nodded and said, “Come in.”
Tobias let out a quiet breath, relieved she hadn’t turned him away.
Once inside, Kaia said without a hint of shyness, “Hang on. I’ll change into something easier for measuring.”
With her own experience in clothing design, she knew the fewer layers, the more accurate the
measurements.
She came back wearing a thin slip dress.
The moment she stepped out, Tobias’s
gaze darkened.
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The pearl–white silk clung to her just enough to show her elegant collarbone and long neck. With her hair tied up, her figure stood out even more–tiny waist, graceful curves, and smooth skin that almost glowed. She looked like she’d walked out of a painting.
She walked straight to Tobias and held out her arms. “Go ahead.”
As she moved closer, Tobias caught a faint, fresh scent. He knew she didn’t wear perfume–this was just her.
That thought made his throat dry. Taking a slow breath, he stood up and said, “Bruce’s measuring process is tricky. Some of it might feel a little strange. If you get uncomfortable, just say so.”
“Alright,” Kaia said, understanding.
Bruce’s method wasn’t just about size–he measured how the body moved, different angles, even personality traits.
It was half fashion, half science. Psychology and biology were part of it, and only someone smart and steady like Tobias could pull it off in one sitting.
He started measuring, moving quickly but precisely. His hands were steady, which meant he’d practiced before.
When he finished the basics, he set the tape down and said seriously, “Now, you need to hug me. It’s part of the
of the process.”
As soon as he said it, his ears went red. Inside, he cursed Bruce’s strange requirements. He felt like a
creep.
But Kaia didn’t even blink–she just stepped in and wrapped her arms around him.
Her thin slip pressed against him, her hair brushing his jaw with its warm, soft scent.
From this close, Tobias could see the curve of her ear, the perfect smoothness of her skin. His face burned.
Kaia hugged tighter, locking her arms around his waist.
When Tobias stayed still too long, she tilted her head and asked, “What are you waiting for? Hug me back.”
If he didn’t, the measurements wouldn’t be accurate–this was the only way to do Bruce’s remote
method.
Bruce liked to see how formal dresses looked in romantic situations. A hug was perfect for that.
Tobias finally tightened his arms around her.
She felt so small in his arms, like she might disappear if he wasn’t careful. She was far too thin. The
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heat in him faded, replaced by a quiet ache in his chest.
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Everything else seemed to fade away as he breathed her in. For a moment, he forgot why they were even standing there.
But Kaia remembered. After silently counting to three minutes, she let go without hesitation.
Tobias’s hands twitched like he wanted to pull her back, but he stopped himself.
Kaia went to change. When she came back and saw him still there, she asked, “Is there more to measure?”
“No, that’s all. The dress will be ready on time,” he said, keeping his face calm even though his heart was racing. He gave her a small nod and left.
As soon as he was gone, Kaia called Bruce.
“What did the Moreno family give you to make you agree to do a remote dress?” she asked bluntly when he answered.
Bruce’s scratchy old voice sounded amused. “How’d you know, you sharp little thing? They gave me an incredible piece of antique fabric–perfect condition, still usable.
“It’s from hundreds of years ago. The thread and dye don’t exist anymore, and the pattern… It’s like something God himself designed. I couldn’t say no.”
Fabric like that was worth a fortune. Tobias must’ve paid a huge price to get it.
Kaia’s eyes lit up. She smiled. “I have an idea. Let’s design this one together-”
Soon, the day of the Moreno family’s annual dinner came.
The party hadn’t officially started yet, but guests were already pouring in.
It was the kind of event where one met powerful people. Just being invited made them feel important.
On the vast lawn outside Moreno Manor, guests mingled in small groups.
Kaia came downstairs, and a servant told her the refreshments were set up on the lawn.
When she stepped outside in her plain everyday clothes, people noticed right away.
This was the Moreno family’s party–even for an afternoon snack before the main event, everyone else was dressed to the nines.
Kaia looked out of place among the well–dressed crowd. Here and there, she caught the flicker of
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eyes heavy with scorn.
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She ignored them, grabbed some food, and was about to sit when a sharp, mocking voice rang out behind her.
“Kaia, how could you show up in those cheap clothes? Aren’t you embarrassed? You’re making the Moreno family look bad.”
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Chapter 42
