“I am so glad you invited me for your wedding dress shopping,” Patricia said when Audriana came out of the fitting room wearing a white silver-studded lace mermaid gown that hugged her in the right place.
“That dress is fine though, turn around,” her Mum said analyzing the material, and she did as she was told.
“It’s no problem Mum, after all, I am your daughter” was Audriana’s reply.
“Oh my, I am so glad you are marrying my son and that you both are in love… no offense sweety you guys looked ready to kill each other the first time you met.” Patricia comments and drops the cup of tea they were offered on the saucer. “You look beautiful, baby girl,” Audriana blushed.
“Even I was surprised, after witnessing what happened that night, I still can’t register the fact they are in love” Moana adds, shaking her head in disapproval at how the back of the dress was opened.
It was a beautiful dress but she knew even if she said it was perfect Audriana will argue she isn’t comfortable showing skin.
“Go change sweety” Moana touched her shoulder and turned her to the dressing room.
“Okay, Mum” she turned and headed for the fitting room.
“This should be good,” Sofia said, helping Audriana along with a staff member at the wedding gown store her Mum owns.
It was an armless cinderella dress that had diamonds studded on it with a sweetheart neckline decorated with silver trimmings giving her a princess look.
The staff that helped her with testing her dress, who goes by the name Aline, looked at Audriana after she zipped her up with a smile.
“You look beautiful ma’am” she complimented.
Audriana tore her gaze from herself in the mirror to Aline flashing her a grin.
“Thank you, Aline, and please call me Audriana” she turned and looked over her shoulder to have a good look at the dress from behind.
It did look good, the back didn’t show much skin, meaning it was not too low and she seemed a bit pleased with it but scrunched her brows in thought.
“This dress looks great ” she turned back to face the mirror “don’t you think this is too much? Something less dramatic will be okay,” Audriana asked.
“You made the dress look great ma– I mean Audriana, I like it on you but if you want something else then that’s fine… you have a great body and all the dress you’ve tested so far fits you perfectly” Aline compliments. “Not that I am saying this isn’t good but the previous one you wore looks more sexy and great and…” she widened her eyes and placed her hand over her mouth looking from Audriana to Sofia.
“Ignore me I am such a blabbermouth” she bowed her head and they could see the pink stain on her cheeks. “You’re good to go ma’am” she leaves the doorway so they can pass.
“Oh no, Aline, I loved that you voiced out your opinion,” Audriana said “don’t feel ashamed okay, I was just surprised because you didn’t talk all through today, thank you for telling me what you think”
Aline looked up at her and smiled “thank you Audriana, your groom is so lucky” she said and that wiped the smile off Audriana and Sofia’s face, she noticed and her smile fell also “did I say something bad? I am s-”
“No Aline, you didn’t… yeah he is really lucky,” Sofia said. “Okay now let’s go show them”
She ushered Audriana outside, helping her with the gown.
“So?” she twirled with the help of Sofia.
“This looks perfect Loveth” her Mum compliments.
“Oh my Audriana” Patricia stood to walk up to her, she had a smile on her face and tears brimmed her eyes. She wiped them and hugged Audriana.
“I never believed I would be able to see my daughter wear her wedding dress and even help her with the shopping” the tears came rolling and Audriana wiped the ones Patricia couldn’t.
“Please don’t cry Mum, I am happy you all are happy, this union will… be great,” she said, pausing in the middle.
“I hope so,” she brought out her handkerchief and cleaned her eyes of any tears, and looked back to Audriana “Look baby girl… I know my son more than anyone, okay? I know how his behavior could hurt people’s feelings even before what happened with Cade happened. It seems like that added to it.” she held her hand in hers. “Please, promise me something”
Audriana furrowed her brows and nodded for her to continue.
“Go ahead, Mum”
“I know Dimitri won’t intentionally hurt anyone, but please promise me that if this gets worse you will tell me and we will call this wedding or whatever union off,” Patricia asked. “I know he is my only son and he is a bit of a mess and at the same time I do not want to push him on someone to face his wrath, he will get better… my husband told me you will be able to shape him and I know you could but you can’t forcefully change someone if he/she isn’t willing to change… but please promise me, if he doesn’t change and he gets worse, we will call this off,” she said.
Audriana just frowned a little at this Patricia said. She knew Dimitri is a womanizing jerk but didn’t know his situation was this bad.
‘Did his brother’s death make him this way or he is just like that? What exactly is everyone saying? Why really happened was it his brother’s death that made him this way or is there something else?’ different questions clouded her head as she tried to think of something. The other day, Emily was going to tell her something but was interrupted by Caleb’s call.
Is there more to this? Even Sofia seems to know but is not sure if she would open up. Sofia acts as she detests him but she knows she cares about him deep down. She remembered the night she told Sofia about her marriage to Dimitri. Sofia was on the phone talking about being worried about ‘him’ and when she knew about Max she thought it would be Max then since they are kind of dating.
Why she agreed to this union was because she wanted to save Bernard Tech from going bankrupt but now she is hearing this… she is so tempted to tell Patricia to call off the wedding since she has always wanted to marry the love of her life but something in her was curious to know what exactly is the matter.
They were going to be together and even though she doesn’t know what lies ahead of them she wants to at least try to know him better. The media labeled him to be ruthless and a frantic womanizer, his family although loves him but sees him as a broken person that needs to be reshaped.
But what exactly is he? Is he what they labeled him to be? Or is there someone in there that needs to be let out? She was curious and was determined to know.
‘Even if he hurts you countless times?’ her inner mind asks.
‘Even if he hurts me countless times’, was her reply.
What if he was who they labeled him to be? What if he isn’t a good person? What if he breaks you and makes you as broken as he is? What if there isn’t someone in there like you think there is? What if…
She shook her head and closed her eyes trying to wipe off the ‘what ifs’ playing in her head. Maybe she shouldn’t think too much about this and just go with whatever is happening.
I wouldn’t mean anything if–
“Audriana?” Patricia and Moana held her hand, tearing her away from her thoughts.
She looked at them and cleared her throat.
“Are you okay? You seem so much in thought” Patricia asked worriedly.
“Dear, if you don’t want this we ca-”
“No Mum” she interrupts what her Mum was going to say. “I am totally fine with this, it’s okay… we are growing and this union will make us stronger” she held both hands and gave them a light squeeze.
Patricia and Moana let out sighs of relief and hugged her.
“I am glad you are okay with this, welcome to the family” Patricia smiled brightly and kissed both cheeks.
“Thank you, Mum,”
“Are you guys done? I left to give you some time” Sofia said, appearing from the fitting room wearing a wedding dress. “This fits so well” she twirls and they all laugh. “What? She is my bestie and we should be doing this together… not on the wedding day… that’s overboard” she cringed a bit and Audriana punched her a bit.
“So are you picking this dress?” Moana asked “It’s your wedding baby girl, so whatever you want, take it”
“Well, I do have a choice”
“What is it?” Sofia asked.
“You’ll see, let’s pack up. I still need to see the caterers by 4 pm. ” She rushed back to the room, took the dress off, and wore her trousers and shirt.
When they were changing back to their clothes they heard talking from outside but thought it was maybe the owner of the store talking to them. She spoke to the sales girl that assisted her while they packed up, then a knock came on the door followed by Moana’s voice.
“Sweety come out Dimitri is here to take you to the cater” she froze and exchanged looks with Sofia.
“Dimitri? As in Dimitri Lorenzo, oh my GOD… sorry Audri don’t take this personal but I have a deep crush on Dimitri” Aline gasped “He is so hot”
“Seriously?” Sofia asked.
“Sorry, I was just excited… I will be leaving” she bowed her head and packed the boxes the dresses were in and left the room.
“He is here,” Sofia said.
“I know”