Chapter 215
Chapter 215
Sarah’s POV
The first light of dawn woke me from a fitful sleep.
My body craved more rest, but the moment I remembered Elena’s damaged wedding dress waiting for my attention, I forced myself upright.
Not wanting to disturb Aria, who was still curled up beneath the covers beside me, I slipped from the bed as quietly as possible.
Her peaceful breathing continued undisturbed as I tiptoed to our small kitchenette to prepare breakfast.
By the time Aria stumbled out of her room, rubbing sleep from her eyes, I had arranged a modest feast on our little table–scrambled eggs, toast with jam, and freshly squeezed orange juice.
“Morning, sleepyhead,” I said, my heart warming at the sight of her tousled hair and drowsy expression.
No matter what chaos swirled around us, Aria remained my anchor, my reason for pushing forward every day despite everything I’d lost.
“Mom,” she mumbled, dropping into a chair and immediately reaching for the orange juice. “You didn’t sleep well.”
It wasn’t a question. My daughter had always been unnervingly perceptive about my emotional state–a trait she certainly hadn’t inherited from me.
“Just thinking about Elena’s wedding,” I replied, not entirely lying. “It’s getting close now.”
Aria nodded, accepting my explanation without probing further.
As she ate, I watched her covertly, marveling at how much of Alexander I could see in her feature the same
ast. determined set of her jaw, the thoughtful way she approached even simple tasks like butteri
My precious miracle.
The doctors had told me pregnancy would be impossible after what Alpha Foster had done to me, yet here she was. Living proof that sometimes, life found a way to heal what seemed permanently broken.
A knock at the door interrupted our quiet breakfast.
Checking the peephole, I saw a familiar face–the young woman from the bridal boutique.
“Ms. Winters?” she asked as soon as I opened the door, her expression polite but tinged with urgency.
“I’m so sorry to bother you this early, but I wanted to check in… How’s the progress on Elena’s wedding gown?”
For a moment, I hesitated–then remembered the dress still hanging untouched in my room, the garment bag exactly where I’d left it.
“I haven’t started yet,” I admitted. “But I’ve examined the damage. It’s manageable. I’ll begin working on it today and make sure it’s finished well before the wedding.”
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Chapter 215
She let out a breath, glancing over her shoulder as if to make sure no one had followed her.
+25 BONUS
“To be honest, our manager’s been asking about the dress nonstop. She’s worried Alpha David will make a fuss if anything goes wrong.”
She lowered her voice slightly. “And since Elena’s so close to you… well, I figured you wouldn’t mind me checking in. Just trying to keep the heat off both of us.”
“I understand,” I said, my tone even. “Tell your manager it’ll be done by next week. She won’t have anything to complain about.”
She nodded, visibly reassured. “Thank you. I’ll let her know. We really appreciate this.”
Once she’d left, I returned to the bedroom and carefully unzipped the garment bag, laying the dress out on the bed.
The torn seam was still there, delicate lace and beadwork waiting patiently for my attention.
Aria, having just finished her breakfast, climbed up beside me on the mattress, peering curiously at the fabric.
“It’s so pretty,” she whispered, reaching out, then pulling her hand back as if afraid to damage it. “Are you going to fix it now? Can I watch?”
“Of course,” I said with a small smile, reaching for my sewing kit. “Come sit with me.”
I spread the dress carefully across the bedspread, examining the damage more closely.
The tear ran right along the bodice’s neckline, where the intricate beadwork met the delicate Chantilly lace. It would be painstaking work to repair it without leaving any visible evidence of the damage.
“See how the beads catch the light?” I showed Aria, turning the fabric slightly. “Each one has to be perfectly placed or the whole effect is ruined.”
As I threaded my needle, I felt the familiar calm that always came with detailed handwork. There was something meditative about the process–the tiny, precise movements required my complete focus, leaving no room for the darker thoughts that often plagued me.
“Can I touch the beads now?” Aria asked, her voice hushed with reverence,
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Chapter 216
