Page 127 of Poison Vows

“They were sent to us a few days ago, Young miss,” the designer answers. “We worked at full speed, bled, cried, no sleep, but it’s no bother. I’ve never been this inspired in my life!”

The joy in his eyes is sparkling.

These dresses were made from my sketches that I drew in secret over the years.

Every single one of them is a live, tangible creation of what I designed.

Holy God! How did this happen?

How did one of THE most sought-after wedding dressmakers in the world get these sketches?

“W-who… who gave you the designs?” I ask, my mind buzzing.

“Well, we can’t reveal our sources, but we did receive them in the strictest, most severe of confidence from the someone who rebuilt my life after my reputation and business tanked a few years ago.”

I remember the scandal. I was so heartbroken when he was shunned from the industry.

“You’re Aurelio de Gio Pignatelli,” I whisper, looking dumbstruck.

“That’s me,sì,” he says with a smile.

“I’ve always wanted to meet you…” I mutter like a fool.

I grew up without friends, especially the times I was away from Westbrook Blues.

Those were the loneliest years of my life… so, I spent them by myself, sketching different things and watching mindless television, including fashion shows before discovering C-dramas.

I’d watch the wedding dresses being modeled down the runaway and imagine what it would be like to be a designer.

Then I’d imagine how it feels to design my own wedding dress, the one I’d wear to marry Emmett.

And now… my most profound and sentimental sketches fell into the hands of my number one designer!

Earlier, Vaughn had picked three dresses for me from a generic lineup… but Ripley not only replaced those people and threw out those three dresses, he brought in my number one designer of all time who not only is dressing me but also brought my creations to life!

What is this?

But most of all, who did this?

A godawful sinking suspicion kicks in the pit of my stomach so suddenly that my knees weaken and heart drops.

Emmett Easton!

How could he do this?

He had time to get all this organized, ignore my messages and disappear?

Is this really what he wants? Me marrying his cousin?

"Oh God," I whisper to myself, more confused now than ever before.

For a moment, acute sadness washes over me, clinging to my skin and bones like a vise.

“Do… do you hate them?” Aurelio asks hesitantly.

“No, no… it’s not…” I trail off.

My life is truly pathetic but something as awesome as this doesn’t happen all the time.

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