Chapter 117

Aurora POV

Dominic’s been gone for three days now.

Not just gone but completely unreachable except for the occasional one-line text that says he’s fine and “will be back soon.”

Other than that, there are no calls and no explanations. Not even a hint of when he’ll eventually be back.

Whatever’s going on with his family must be bad.

Not even the twins know what it is and that says everything. If Dominic’s keeping Marco and Luca in the dark, it has to be serious. I’ve stopped asking them for updates because all I get in return are shrugged shoulders and vague assurances that “he’ll come back when it’s handled”.

Whatever that means…

So, with no Dominic and far too much time to sit around thinking about things I can’t control, I start to feel the walls of the penthouse pressing in on me. Every minute stretches longer than it should despite me trying to occupy my time.

It also doesn’t help that I’m eager to talk to him about what I experienced while touring that university campus.

Ugh, I need to get out for here for a while…

The idea comes to me suddenly while I’m staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city skyline: if Dominic’s not here to talk about the campus tour, maybe I should focus on something else we’ve been putting off… like wedding planning.

Specifically, my dress.

The last time had gone poorly so why not have a do-over? A real one where I can actually enjoy the experience and not let me stupid step-sister and step-mother ruin the entire process.

I mention it to the twins over breakfast, half expecting them to shoot it down but to my surprise, Luca’s face lights up.

“Finally. An assignment that does not involve us sitting on our asses collecting dust.” he says, leaning back in his chair.

Marco smirks, sipping his coffee. “And we can tell Dominic we are accomplishing something useful for once. He will be thrilled.”

Perfect. They’re in.

To my surprise Luca adds, almost casually, “Why don’t you bring Gianna? Make it a whole ‘bridal party’ thing. Isn’t that how you Americans do it?”

My heart tugs at the suggestion.

Actually, I’d love that.

While it’s still been a little strange between Gianna and me since everything happened in Mexico, we have been keeping in contact more regularly. She’s been so supportive about my school journey so far. I want her with me for this too, more than anything.

The only problem is… I’m not sure Stefano will agree to letting her out of the house.

But I have to try anyway.

The phone call with Stefano is exactly as exhausting as I expect it to be.

“You’re asking me to let her go shopping? In public? After she was kidnapped and nearly sold off? Aurora, you can’t think I’m actually going to agree to that. You may be like a second daughter to me but even you know that’s too far.”

I nearly sigh. “I know it’s a lot to ask considering it hasn’t even been a month since we got back but this is the only opportunity I have to dress shop. The wedding is soon and I really want her, as my maid of honor, to be there.”

“I don’t trust it, Aurora. I really don’t.”

“Dominic is sending me with his best guards. No one’s touching her with those two around. Trust me.”

He grumbles something about how that’s “debatable” but I can hear the hesitation in his tone. I press my advantage.

“Please, Stefano? For me?”

There’s a long pause.

When he speaks again, his voice is softer. “You’ve always been trouble, you know that? But… fine. I’ll allow you to take her for one day. Straight there and back. No pit stops.”

I smile despite myself.

He’s always had a soft spot for me, even if he pretends otherwise sometimes.

Luca and Marco drive me to a boutique downtown. Gianna shows up an hour later, looking more herself than I’ve seen her in weeks. She hugs me tightly before stepping back and allowing me to lead us through the doors. She stops right at the threshold to take in the space.

“This place is gorgeous,” she says, wide-eyed. “Like something out of a movie.”

“Right? I looked it up online to see what they had. Wait until you see the dresses,” I grin.

The twins immediately make themselves comfortable in the lounge area, Marco flipping through a magazine he’s definitely not reading, Luca scrolling on his phone, while Gianna and I disappear into a sea of silk and lace.

We start with a few dresses for me pulled right off the front rack. The boutique staff pull a few options for me and I vanish into a fitting room while Gianna slips into her maid of honor gown in the dressing room right next to mine.

The moment I step into the first wedding dress, my throat tightens.

It’s real now.

The fabric pools at my feet, beautiful with satin and lace and I can see myself, truly see myself, walking toward Dominic in this.

Gianna comes into my dressing room behind me, fingers fumbling with the zipper as she laughs and pulls it up for me. “Oh, wow. You’re gonna make him pass out.”

I’m about to tease her back when the door to the fitting room pushes open without warning.

I whirl around and freeze.

Standing there, framed in the doorway like some twisted fashion editorial, is Camilla.

Her expression is unreadable, but her eyes are sharp enough to cut glass.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I breathe.