rows of bespoke wedding gowns, each on

den and Paulina were closer than ev

stealing the air from her lungs, and all

before a shrill voice cut acros

seen you since you vanished from med school years ago. Who would've imagined we'd run into you in a p

Bennett and Zoe Pa

ipsed theirs without effort, and t

d filled the halls with smug littl

fitting, they spotted Irene and drifted over with

closer with a bright, polite smile. "Ms. Burton,

ereal. The sleek fabric cinched her narrow waist, and the sh

felt herself instinctively tryin

her. "Ladies, you seem familiar with Ms. Burton," she said cool

ter for a heartbeat, surpri

en's face as he cast Irene a l

burst into loud laughter. "Buying a wed

ese gowns cost? The plain ones start at over a hundred grand. If she could afford th

rically, pinning Irene in

ding near Paulina alrea

n before he snapped in a cold, controlled voice, "Miss Payne has a point. You work for me, an

u must, but don't fool yourself. Go home. Don't let you

.. Everything today pressed against Irene's br

eir mockery, her fingers curling tight ins

ed forward, ready to jump in-only for Irene to lift her head with a compo

the world, blinked in surprise at the sud

had left. "You're absolutely right, Mr. Smith. My paycheck couldn't dream of buying a weddin

nally cracked inside her. Today, she had hit

twitch in annoyance before he recov

athetically reaching for some way to match Paulina,

n incredibly bright future ahead o

ant smile and said, "Ms. Burton choosing a wedding dress on the same day as me-now that's a rare coincidence

btle glance toward Madalyn an

ered her toward the priciest section of the boutique, practically

ny farther, Kallie's voice c

startled, and Irene instinc

folding her arms with a sharp, confident tilt of her chin. "Her dress w

disbelief bubbling into laughter-r

t but edged with intent. "Then Ms. Burton is q

ful lilt as she fixed Irene w

cheeks, her fingers curli

ould effortlessly cover the cost of an o

ece, though-that belonge

up appearances-made her stomach twist; she could practically pi

discomfort, Paulina's eyes li

dea of watching Irene posture for a dress she cou