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Saffron pointed to a frock and asked, “How’s this?” I shook my head.
We were at one of the city’s major stores, but I wanted to go to a cheaper one. Saffron objected.
I felt incredibly strange when the proprietor of the store knew who I was as Liam’s fiancée. I never thought I would be famous. But I was here.
“Come on, Sophie. Pick at least one dress.” Saffron was unhappy.
I ran my fingertips over the garments that were hanging there. “I don’t seem to like any of them.”
She said, “I have a better idea. Let’s call Uncle on video and let him decide.”
“Don’t call him! He must be busy.”
“Oh, don’t worry. He can spare some time for his fiancée.” She raised her eyebrows.
I hit her on the shoulder. “Shut up. I don’t want to bother him,” she said. “I’m getting tired now… you are not choosing—”
“That one,” I said, pointing to a mannequin in the corner that was wearing a light peach-colored dress with no sleeves and a floor-length skirt.
I looked closely at the outfit, but when I saw the price tag, I said no. “Uh…not this one. It’s too pricey.”
Saffron shook her head a little. “Oh, Sophie. Uncle is a billionaire! You can buy whatever you want; he won’t mind.”
“No, Saffron—”
“Can she try this dress?” Saffron yelled at the store owner and didn’t listen to me.
The owner smiled and approved, then requested one of her staff to help me put on the outfit.
Saffron gasped as I came out with that outfit. “Uncle is going to love you!”
I became red. “Thanks.”
Finally, we got the outfit because Saffron wouldn’t give up.
I was apprehensive about the party since Saturday came sooner than I thought it would.
I didn’t see Liam much all week. The only time I did was at dinner, and even then, not all the time. Not that I was upset about it.
Levi phoned the other day to ask what all the hoopla was about the engagement. I told him that it was all just a lie. And informed him about Blake since he knew him, too.
I asked him if he could come to the party, but he respectfully said no, stating he couldn’t take time off just now.
Liam may have heard me talking to Levi on the phone that day because he told me not to tell anyone that our engagement was phony.
“I justified him by saying, “He’s my best buddy.”
He rolled his eyes and said. “Trust is a weak thing. You can’t expect everyone to be able to handle it.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at what he said, but I didn’t say anything else since I didn’t want to dispute with him.
The makeup artist exclaimed, “All done,” as she finished putting the finishing touches on me.
I said, “Thank you,” and then I glanced in the mirror. I made careful to put on the engagement ring Liam gave me.
The makeup artist exited the room, leaving me alone and wearing the stilettos.
Someone banged on the door. “Yes?”
Liam enquired from the other side, “Are you ready?” “Y-yes…you can come in.”
Liam went inside through the slowly opening door. He was wearing a black suit and a bow tie.
He didn’t wear his glasses, and his hair and beard were both cut short.
I bit my lips as he looked me over from head to toe and opened his mouth a little. His eyes became a little bigger. My neck got hot, and my cheeks and the tips of my ears burned.
He blinked a few times to attempt to escape the spell he was under and then cleared his throat. A little bit of color showed up on his cheeks.
“Should we go?” he said, and I scowled. You jerk, at least say something nice about me.
“Yes…” he responded as I went forward. “We’ll have to hold hands and stuff, so the no-touching rule will have to go away for tonight.”
I thought about it for a second, and I couldn’t say no. Or it will make people suspicious.
“Only for tonight, as long as we’re at the party,” I said yes, and he nodded. “Very well.”
He waved his hand at me to go ahead, then locked the door and followed me out of the room.
When we left the home, a limousine was waiting for us. Liam unlocked the door for me, and I slid inside. He followed.
There was a partition between us and the driver so we could have some privacy, but we didn’t need it.
The car moved, and I glanced out the window, lost in my thoughts. I could feel his eyes boring into my head, but I chose to ignore them.
“You look beautiful, Sophie,” he said softly a minute later.
I turned my head quickly to look at him, and he gazed at me hard.
I was embarrassed by the praise and said. “At least you figured it out. I thought you were blind.”
His lips turned up into a grin. “I kind of got blinded by your beauty earlier,” he said with a smile.
I was even more embarrassed and turned my head away from him so he couldn’t see it. My lips made a big grin.
He responded, “Just let me know if you don’t feel well. We’ll leave earlier.”
And my heart stopped for a second.
“Isn’t it rude to leave before the guests?” I asked him.
He gave a shrug. “My fiancé is pregnant, so she’s more important than the guests.”
His comments made a tiny knot rise in my throat. He could be lying, but I didn’t care.
At that moment, I simply wanted to hug and kiss him.
When I didn’t say anything, he snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Are you okay?”
I bowed my head because I didn’t trust what I was saying and thought I would start sobbing. But nevertheless, I was able to whisper. “Thanks, Liam.”
He seemed to be bewildered. “For what?” “Just thank you. For everything.”
He grinned. “No. Thank you for not ending this child’s life and agreeing to have it. I’m sorry again for that day when I freaked out and said I didn’t care.”
“I already forgave you,” he said with a smile. “Thanks.”
I nodded, and the remainder of the voyage was quiet.
The car is parked in front of the banquet hall. Liam got out first and opened the door for me. He then offered me his hand to grasp.
I put my hand in his slowly, and my skin tingled. I got out of the car with my hand in his, and he kissed my hand softly. That’s when I knew that we were surrounded by photographers and that we had to put on a show for them.
He took his hand away from mine and put it around my waist instead. Then he leaned down and murmured in my ear. “Don’t listen to them.”
I nodded and went slowly down the red carpet next to him while a million questions were shouted at us.
Thank goodness the commotion stopped as soon as we got inside the hall and saw how gorgeous the decorations were.
Liam’s hand fell from my waist, and he moved away from me.
“Here you are!” I heard Alley say as she walked up to us with Nathan and Saffron next to her.
Alley said, “You look so beautiful, Sophie.”
“Me too, Alley,” I answered with a smile. I looked at Saffron, who was spinning about in her outfit to show Liam.
Next, Saffron came up to me as Nathan chatted to Liam.
Saffron exclaimed with excitement, “You know uncle said you look so beautiful that you almost took his breath away. I told you this dress would be perfect.”
I got red in the face. “Did he really say that?”
She nodded. “Yes. He did. Just don’t tell him.” “I won’t,” I said with a laugh.
I questioned Alley, “Isn’t Margaret here too?”
“Oh, she is. But right now, she’s with her husband and the guest,” Alley said. I hummed in response.
Liam walked up to me and said, “It’s time for the announcement.” “Already? We just got here.”
“I want to get over it fast.” “Okay…”
Alley wished me luck, and Liam put his hand on my lower back and led me to the stage.
We passed by Margaret on the way, and I smiled at her, and she smiled back.