Page 12 of The Sheikh's Defiant Girlfriend

“It’s okay, dear, try another,” Fiddah suggested.

Sara walked back to the dressing room. Dress shopping was difficult enough for Sara, but she was having trouble navigating the wedding dresses with all the extra layers and fastenings. Lucky for her, there was a shop assistant to help her.

Amir:I want to see her.

Sara frowned as she read Amir’s message. There were three dots on the screen indicating that Amir was typing more, so she waited.

Amir:Soraya. Not my mother.

Sara smiled.

Sara:Then go see her. What’s holding you back?

She could not help but wonder if Tariq had experienced the same issues when he’d wanted to see her before they were together. Given how they’d started out—mutual dislike—she doubted it. She changed into another dress, this one twice as heavy as the first because of all the gold thread, and went out to show it to the others. Aaliyah was the only one who liked this one. So far, she had only tried on two dresses, and she was already sick of it. She hoped Leylah would wake up and cry, and then she could go breastfeed and stop with all this fuss.

She went back to show them the third dress. This time, it was a plain one.

Her mother frowned when she saw the dress. “Doesn’t do you justice.”

“I agree, it is too plain,” Mrs. Botros said. Sara could tell she was into more lavish dresses and the highest quality materials. Sara shrugged and walked over to the stroller to check on Leylah.

“She’s fine, dear. Don’t worry so much,” Fiddah said to Sara.

“She loves her daughter too much. She’s already an overprotective parent,” her mother teased.

Sara pouted and headed back to the dressing room. She heard her mother laughing with Fiddah. They both agreed Sara checked on Leylah too much. Sara wondered how much they had hovered over their firstborn children.

Amir:She made me promise not to just drop by wherever she is. It bothers her. You saw how she glared at me at the restaurant.

Sara could picture his face as she read his confession. It amused her.

Sara:Sometimes people can hide their feelings well, like Tariq!! You could be just casually walking by. Coincidentally.

These messages between them were getting her through the dress fitting. She walked out of the dressing room and started roaming around wearing only her T-shirt. The consultant hurried over.

“Miss, please! This is not appropriate! I must ask—”

Sara came to a halt, looked up, and saw a breathtaking dress. One that was exactly what she wanted. It was not too flashy or plain. The material was beautiful—shimmering white silk with gold embroidery in a curving V where the bodice met the A-line skirt. The sheer sleeves were decorated with the same pattern.

“This is the one.” She turned to the consultant. “I want to try this one.”

When Sara walked back out in the dress, they all gasped at the sight of her. Mrs. Botros had her hand on her heart. The dress was perfect. Sara knew it, and she could tell the other women thought so too. She stood there with an innocent expression, waiting for approval.

“Sara, you look gorgeous,” Aaliyah said as she stood up. She made circles around Sara to get a complete view of the dress.

“I agree,” Mrs. Botros said and gave Sara half a smile. Sara smiled back.

Her mother looked at her silently, and her eyes began to shimmer.

“Mum, please don’t get emotional,” Sara said. “If you cry, I will too.”

“I can’t help it,” her mother replied. Mrs. Matthews sighed deeply and fanned her face with her hand as if she could dry the tears before they fell. “My little girl is not so little anymore,” she said.

Fiddah nodded. “We should have trusted you to find the dress that would suit you, dear. Congratulations!”

Sara gave a breathless little laugh. “Thank God that’s over!”

The seamstress took her measurements for the alterations to the gown. The shoes weren’t hard to pick, and Sara found what she wanted quickly. They walked out of the boutique, and Aaliyah linked her arm through Sara’s. Mrs. Matthews was pushing the stroller.

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