Eric froze, startled. “Alright! I won’t,” he said quickly, raising both hands in surrender. “Whatever you say.”

Without sparing him a glance, Hadley slid into the car, her movements precise and controlled.

Eric lingered for a beat, staring at her. A knot tightened in his chest. For the first time, he had the unsettling feeling that Hadley… didn’t want to marry him at all.

They arrived at the bridal boutique just on time.

The designer wasn’t alone.

His entire creative team was present—stylists, assistants, even a fabric specialist—all gathered for this exclusive appointment.

“Miss Pearson,” the designer greeted warmly, offering a professional smile. “Before we begin, I need to understand your preferences.” He began listing questions with practiced precision. “Are there any silhouettes or styles you gravitate toward? Anything you absolutely dislike? Specific elements you want incorporated—or avoided?”

Then, with a glance at Eric, he added, “Mr. Scott mentioned this dress will be custom-designed just for you—completely one of a kind. Which means your input is essential, Miss Pearson.”

Hadley’s brows furrowed slightly. She remained quiet, her gaze distant.

“Hadley?” Eric glanced at her uneasily.

Why wasn’t she responding?

Was she getting cold feet? Did she not want this dress… or the wedding entirely at all?

“What?” Hadley blinked, finally acknowledging him. Then she turned back to the designer. “I’m sorry… I’m not really sure how to answer that. I don’t think I have any strong likes or dislikes. Nothing particular comes to mind.”

“That’s perfectly alright,” the designer replied, unfazed. “That’s more common than you’d think.” He offered a reassuring smile. “Let’s try a different approach. Tell me about your everyday style. What kind of clothes make you feel most like yourself? And beyond fashion—your favorite jewelry, food, hobbies, books, movies… anything you love or feel drawn to.”

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He continued, “All of those details help paint a picture of your personal aesthetic. The more I learn about you, the more the design will reflect who you are.”

“I understand,” Hadley said softly. A gentle smile formed on her lips, her tone lightening. “I’d be happy to talk about those things…”

“Perfect.” The designer tapped notes into his tablet. “No need to rush. The more detail you give, the more tailored the design will be.”

Eric stood silently beside Hadley, watching as she spoke with ease.

She sounded just like a bride excited for her big day.

Maybe he’d been overthinking things. Her earlier coldness—her refusal to let him touch her—it wasn’t rejection. It was just a phase.

And phases were known to pass, so that wasn’t so bad.

As long as she stayed by his side, everything else would sort itself out. He could wait. He could win her back.

With a soft smile, Eric watched her, comforted by her calm, graceful demeanor. The source of th?s content is FιndＮovel.net

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