Alora had barely stepped outside when she saw Victoria's sleek car pull up in front of the house. She wasn’t exactly prepared for the day ahead, but she knew she had no choice. Victoria had insisted on taking her out for wedding dress shopping, a task that had left Alora feeling nervous and overwhelmed.
As the door opened, Victoria stepped out, her elegance effortlessly on display. “Come on, darling,” she said, her tone light but determined. “We’ve got a lot of shopping to do today.”
Alora chuckled nervously. “Isn’t it a little early for wedding dresses?”
Victoria arched an eyebrow. “Nonsense. It’s never too early, especially when you’re marrying someone like Dante. Every detail has to be perfect.”
Marco appeared next, emerging from the passenger side with his signature calm aura. His eyes met Alora’s briefly, offering a quiet nod of acknowledgment. It was clear he was just along for the ride, likely here to keep Victoria in check. Franklin, who seemed slightly out of place among them, was sitting in the backseat, giving Alora a friendly wave.
Franklin’s presence made Alora smile. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Franklin.”
“I didn’t either,” he replied with a playful shrug. “But when Victoria insists, you don’t argue.”
The dynamic between Franklin, Victoria, and Marco wasn’t the closest, but there was a silent understanding among them for today’s mission. Victoria was the expert, Marco was the silent observer, and Franklin was here to keep things light.
---
Victoria had spared no expense in selecting the wedding boutique. The moment they stepped inside, Alora felt the weight of the upcoming marriage pressing down on her. The boutique was filled with luxurious gowns, all delicate lace, intricate beading, and fabric so fine it looked like it could melt at the touch.
“This is... a lot,” Alora whispered under her breath as she gazed at the rows of gowns.
Victoria was in her element, marching forward with purpose. “Trust me, this is nothing. You’re about to marry into one of the most powerful families in Italy. Your dress has to make a statement.”
Marco, who had been standing off to the side, shot a glance at Alora. “No pressure,” he said dryly, though the corner of his mouth twitched in amusement.
Alora let out a nervous laugh. “Thanks for that.”
They were ushered into the back of the boutique where racks of gowns awaited. Victoria immediately began sorting through them, her sharp eyes scanning the intricate details of each dress.
“I think this would look stunning on you,” she said, holding up an ivory gown with delicate lace trailing down the sleeves.
Alora blinked. “It’s... beautiful.”
“Go on, try it,” Victoria encouraged, practically shoving her toward the dressing room. “We have a long day ahead of us, and we’ll find the perfect one.”
While Alora was in the dressing room, Franklin leaned over to Marco. “Are we really supposed to sit here and wait this whole time?”
Marco shrugged. “You could always sneak out, but Victoria will hunt you down.”
Franklin chuckled but stayed in his seat, flipping through a magazine for distraction. “I guess that’s my fate for today then.”
---
Dress after dress, Alora stepped out to show them, each one met with differing opinions. Franklin offered humorous commentary, making Alora laugh as she struggled to walk in one particularly tight gown. Marco, true to form, remained quiet, occasionally nodding when something seemed to catch his eye. Victoria, however, was relentless.
“Alora, this is the one,” Victoria said at one point, holding up a gown with sparkling beading that seemed to shimmer in the light.
“I don’t know,” Alora said, her voice hesitant as she glanced at herself in the mirror. The gown was undeniably gorgeous, but something about it didn’t feel right.
Franklin tilted his head. “It’s missing something. Maybe a cape?”
Victoria glared at him, but Alora couldn’t help but laugh. “A cape, really?”
Franklin grinned. “Why not? You’ll look like a superhero bride.”
As they continued, the mood shifted, and Alora began to feel the weight of her decision once again. These were dresses for a wedding she wasn’t sure she could fully commit to. Every glance in the mirror reminded her of the life she was about to step into, the mission she had to complete, and the inevitable heartbreak she’d leave behind when her task was done.
Victoria must have sensed her hesitation. “What’s wrong?” she asked, her voice softer now. “You’ve been distracted.”
Alora forced a smile. “It’s just... overwhelming. All of this is happening so fast.”
Victoria gave her a knowing look but didn’t push further. “Don’t worry, Alora. Everything will fall into place. It always does.”
Marco and Franklin exchanged a glance, both of them sensing that there was more going on beneath the surface than just wedding dress jitters.
---
After hours of trying on dresses, the day began to wind down. Alora had found a few gowns she liked, but nothing had felt quite right yet. Victoria, however, was determined. “We’ll come back next week,” she said firmly. “By then, we’ll have found the perfect dress.”
Alora nodded, exhaustion settling in. “Thanks for today, Victoria. I appreciate it.”
Victoria smiled. “Of course. We’re family now.”
---
As they wrapped up their shopping trip, Alora couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her chest. Victoria was thrilled, already planning the next steps for the wedding, while Franklin kept making light-hearted jokes to keep everyone entertained.
Marco had been quiet for most of the trip, but Alora caught him glancing at her a few times as if he knew something was weighing on her mind. However, his gaze always returned to a casual, unreadable expression before she could decipher what it meant.
On the way back to the house, the chatter in the car was filled with excitement. Victoria was already on the phone with someone, discussing arrangements for the wedding, while Franklin kept flipping through photos of Alora in the different dresses, throwing out random suggestions that made her laugh despite herself.
But behind the laughter, a storm brewed inside Alora. As she stared out of the window, watching the Italian countryside roll by, the weight of her secret pressed heavier on her. She wasn’t just trying on dresses for a wedding—she was preparing for a future she didn’t know if she could truly follow through on.
Victoria’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. “You’re going to make the most beautiful bride, Alora. Dante’s going to lose his mind when he sees you in that dress.”
Alora smiled weakly. “Yeah… I hope so.”
But as the car drove on, her heart pounded with doubt. Could she really marry Dante, knowing that the mission would tear them apart in the end? And what if things went too far before she could finish what she started?
The answers seemed further away than ever.
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I hope you loved this chapter, I decided to bring Franklin back for those who missed him, so we can have his funny comments too. I hope this was a breather from the tension that's going on.
This was a pretty long chapter let's see how this plays out.
Thank you!
Love y'all 💗
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Deceptive Hearts
RomanceAlora Hayes is no stranger to deceit. Raised by a family of thieves, she's learned that survival comes at a cost. But when a dangerous deal forces her to infiltrate the powerful Santoro family, the stakes have never been higher. Her mission? Marry D...
