Page 25 of Of Vows and Betrayal

We both chuckle, and it feels nice, but it also attracts Sophia’s attention, and the venomous smile playing on her lips predicts poison.

“You have to let me pick,” she says, tossing a dress at me. “With your taste, you need all the help you can get.”

Before I can respond, Javier steps in, his voice steady. “Ophelia has her own style,” he says firmly, a comforting shield against Sophia’s barbs.

Sophia’s eyes widen. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Javier says, stepping closer. “Ophelia’s style is her own. If you can’t be respectful, maybe find someone else to shop with.”

Sophia’s face flushes with anger, but she quickly masks it with a tight smile. “Well, I see someone is quite protective.” I don’t like the speculation in her tone at all.

“It’s alright, Javier. She’s right; Sophia is so skilled—see how good she manages to look despite all her flaws.”

Her face turns purple, but she focuses on me, forgetting Javier’s protectiveness.

“Well, you may want to wear something flowy with those hips,” she attacks back, extending me another dress.

I take the dresses from her, biting my tongue to keep from snapping back. One is a pale-pink chiffon with delicate lace accents, making me feel like a child playing dress-up. The other is a sleek, black satin number with a high slit, sophisticated but alien to me.

I retreat to the changing room, grateful for a momentary escape. I try on the pink dress first. I grimace in the mirror; it feels childish. When I step out to show Sophia, she barely glances at me.

“It’s cute,” she says dismissively. “But not for Francesca’s party.”

I glance at Javier, whose grimace matches mine. I nod and retreat to try the black dress. It’s stunning but feels like a costume. I step out again, feeling exposed.

Sophia smirks. “Not bad; you look almost civilized… Almost.”

Javier’s eyes dart to her, disapproval clear on his face.

I shake my head, determined to find something that suits me.

Finally, I pull out a royal-blue dress from the rack. It’s a fitted bodice with an off-the-shoulder neckline and a flowing A-line skirt that stops just below my knees. The color is rich and vibrant, and the material feels luxurious against my skin.

I step out, and for the first time, I feel a bit of confidence. Javier’s reaction is immediate. His eyes widen, and awe crosses his face. His expression tells me everything I need to know.

Sophia looks up, freezes, then sneers. “No, it’s too bright—too childish.” Jealousy flashes in her eyes.

I turn to the mirror, taking in the dress. It feels right. “This is the one,” I say, meeting Javier’s gaze in the reflection. He smiles, his eyes warm with genuine admiration, sending a thrill through me.

Sophia rolls her eyes. “At least it’s designer. I’ve done all I can.” I ignore her. I love the dress and how Javier looks at me in it. It’s dangerous, but I can’t resist the pull toward him. It’s something that makes me dread more and more the potential of dating someone within thefamiglia.

Once I exit the changing room, she sighs again. “Okay, we’re done.”

“Aren’t you buying anything?”

“In here?” Her mouth pulls down with disdain. “No, that’s bottom of the range, but I didn’t want to scare you and take you into my kind of store.”

Bottom of the range? That dress I’m holding has a seven-hundred-dollar price tag. But I once more shrug it off.

“Okay, let’s go get you shoes and accessories now. I need to meet my friends.”

I nod and now realize that she’s forced to be here just as much as I am, and it somehow makes me feel a little better… shared misery and all that.

“We don’t need accessories.”

“My father said you needed the whole outfit, so that’s what you’ll get,” she responds with a dismissive wave.

After getting the shoes, we walk down the mall tothe accessories store. I stop at a smoothie stand, suddenly craving some sugary goodness.

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