Page 128 of Poison Vows

“No, I’m just overwhelmed. It’s so wonderful to meet you!” I say with a plastered smile that I hope is genuine and joyful. “Your ‘04 Fall Collection at the House of Hermès was incredibly innovative!”

“Dios mio, you remember that collection?” Aurelio gasps and I squeal, nodding my head.

“It broke the mold for architectural headwear! How can anyone forget?”

Aurelio smiles so wide, appreciation glowing in his eyes.

“You are now my favorite!” he suddenly declares. “Now, let’s make your shotgun wedding the most memorable!”

And just like that, Aurelio, the assistants, and all the other women in the room rush into a flurry of fashion talk and activity.

I try on each dress, happily modeling them in front of the team in the room.

They all give each dress a ten and we have a hard time deciding on the perfect one.

Anecdotes of horrifying wedding stories are shared by the assistants and we all burst out laughing.

“Can’t I wear all eight?” I ask teasingly and everyone gasps.

“So you trip and break your neck from the weight? None of us can afford that liability,grazie.”

Everyone laughs, including me, but deep inside, I feel so crushed, overwhelmed, fighting my migraine and pain while trying to shake off my worry.

What happened to Emmett and where is he?

Beneath my fake smile and cheeriness, I’m angry.

If I trace that anger, it’ll lead to something I don’t want to think about right now, so I do my best to bury all that mess.

He disappeared without a word, so what’s the point of being angry with him?

I hide all these emotions and thoughts well. Pretending, after all, is my craft. I can do it even at death’s door.

When the hair stylist steps in and starts trying different styles for my hair to match the dress, I sit there, animatedly chiming in.

We all agree on a half-up do without straightening my natural curls and coils.

After, several head pieces and veils are brought in.

I didn’t design any of these, but they all go well with each of the dresses, so we try them on after my hair is done.

I finally settle on a dress.

I choose the eighth dress, which is the last dress I sketched a few years ago.

My memories of that time are a complicated mix, just like how I feel now.

It was Christmastime. Astraea and Alex King had invited the lot of us to a cabin in the snowy mountains of Colorado.

At first, everything was hopeful, peaceful, happier, more optimistic and calmer.

But like a light switch, the trip ended with me being severely heartbroken.

Emmett had kissed my forehead and gently told me he didn’t feel the same way for me. couldn’t sleep.

In my agony and tears, I sketched the design of this dress. Since everything has come to this, I’ll wear it now.

Over an hour and a half later, my makeup and hair are expertly done.

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