Page 226 of Before Dawn

“You look amazing!” I said, hugging her gently. “Ready to find the perfect dress?”

She beamed. “Absolutely. This is so surreal. I’m nervous.”

The designer, Cara, a poised British woman with short black curls, approached with a warm smile. “Welcome, ladies. Shall we get started?”

She led us into a private fitting room, where twenty dresses—each sketched by Nina Moretti in Italy—were displayed. “We’ll go through these to find the styles that suit you best,” Cara explained, scrolling through designs on her tablet.

Azzaria’s eyes widened. “When Dillon said there were dresses waiting, I didn’t expect twenty,” she muttered, a hint of irritation in her voice.

I squeezed her arm. “Breathe, Azzy. Dillon just wants the best for you.”

“I know, buttwenty?”

Cara stepped in with a reassuring smile. “This process is about finding the dress that speaks to you. The one that makes you feel unstoppable. Your groom just wants everything to be perfect and stress-free for you.”

Azzaria sighed and spent the next forty-five minutes sorting the sketches into three piles—no way, maybe,anddefinite yes.

Cara’s eyes lit up as she took the final selections. “These are perfect. We’ll have the dresses sent over for your fitting.”

Azzaria’s eyes sparkled with tears. “Thank you, Cara. Also, I have no idea how much more my belly will grow. I’m carrying twins.”

“Mr. Xander mentioned that. We’ll take care of the alterations.”

Azzaria smiled, touched by Dillon’s thoughtfulness.

“You’re going to be the most beautiful bride,” I whispered, my throat tight with emotion. “It’s such an honor to be your maid of honor.”

Azzaria turned, her smile radiant. “I couldn’t imagine anyone else by my side.”

We hugged carefully before she went to change. When she returned, we chatted, her hand tenderly caressing her tiny bump.

“How are the other parts of wedding planning going?”

“It’s been a lot, but it’s good,” she shared. “The wedding is going to be magical. I wanted to do it all myself, but pregnancy is kicking my ass, so Dillon hired Celeste Gray.”

I raised my eyebrows in disbelief, leaning forward.“Celeste Gray that designed and planned the Livingston wedding?”

Azzy laughed, nodding. “I was just as shocked too, but Dillon will not be stopped. Once he gets an idea in his head, there’s no turning back. I think he’s secretly enjoying all this wedding stuff more than I am!”

Her smile was soft, but you could tell there was an undercurrent of excitement.

“Your wedding’s gonna be perfect!” I exclaimed, already picturing the romantic setting.

She sighed happily. “I’m sorry I’ve been so busy and not really there.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I reassured her. “Life takes us to different places but no matter what, you’re my best friend in every lifetime and that will never change.”

Azzaria’s eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she leaned over to hug me tightly. “In every lifetime, Abigail.”

Mikkel

After an hour of intense negotiations with Javier Cortez, the deal was sealed—Luxe Transports now belonged to Elite Rides. Another “competitor” absorbed, another victory secured. As always, Arnoldo had outdone himself, drafting a clause so airtight that any breach would cost them double the sale price. Ruthless. Perfect.

We did the press rounds—photo ops, interviews. The headlines rolled in, the city buzzing with the news, but none of it held my attention. The only thing that mattered was the clock ticking down to Abigail’s doctor’s appointment. I barely let the cameras flash one last time before I was out the door.

She wasn’t sick, but after witnessing how her period drained her—crippling back pain, abdominal cramps, and relentless headaches—I couldn’t just stand by. I urged her to see a gynecologist, hoping she’d find a way to ease the pain. To make her feel safer, I had Ronan’s team vet the top specialists in the country, then brought them into my conference room on her day off, letting her choose.

Back at the office, the day blurred into investor follow-ups, a GQ feature, finalizing year-end hiring, and approving Christmas bonuses. But my mind was elsewhere. Sitting at my desk, I attempted to fold paper roses which was frustrating as hell, but I kept at it.

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