The drive to the boutique was tense, with Clara sitting comfortably in the back seat, her laughter filling the car as Daniel responded to her jokes with a smile that hadn’t graced his face in months. I stayed silent, my gaze fixed out the window.
When we arrived, the boutique manager greeted us warmly, her professional demeanor slipping the moment she spotted Clara with her hand resting lightly on Daniel’s shoulder.
“Good evening, sir, ma’am,” the manager said, her voice cheerfully forced. “What section would you like to start with? We’ve got some beautiful pieces for wife”
Daniel didn’t correct her, and Clara didn’t bother hiding her smirk. My chest tightened, but I forced a polite smile as if the words hadn’t pierced me.
“Oh, I’m not his wife,” Clara said casually, leaning into Daniel. “I’m just here to help him find something nice. He has such great taste, don’t you think?” She giggled, squeezing his shoulder lightly before moving past him to the nearest rack of clothes.
I stood there, rooted to the spot, as they moved together, laughing and chatting, clearly in their own world.
The boutique was bright and airy, mirrors lining the walls with soft classical music playing in the background. Clara’s energy filled the space as she pulled dress after dress from the racks, holding each up for Daniel’s approval. I stood there, fighting the growing knot in my stomach.
“What about this one?” Clara asked, holding up a soft pink dress with intricate lace detailing.
Daniel nodded. “That’s nice. You’d look great in that,” he said, barely glancing at me.
I could feel the weight of the air around me. He didn’t even look at me. My presence was nothing.
Clara disappeared into the fitting room first, and I didn’t have to wait long before she emerged, twirling in a sleek off-the-shoulder gown that clung to her figure. Daniel’s breath hitched, his gaze following her every move. He didn’t hide his admiration, and for a moment, I felt like I had been forgotten.
“This one’s stunning,” Clara said, smiling at him as she spun. “What do you think?”
Daniel’s voice softened, almost reverent. “You look… beautiful.”
Beautiful. The word lingered, and I felt my stomach twist. He had said that to her.
Clara beamed, clearly pleased by his reaction. “You’re too sweet,” she teased, her tone playful. “But don’t forget why we’re here.” She shot me a glance, a sly smirk forming on her lips. “Emma, why aren’t you trying anything on?”
That was the question, wasn’t it? Why wasn’t I trying anything on?
Daniel blinked, finally snapping out of whatever trance Clara had put him in. “Yeah, Emma,” he said, his tone now flat. “Why don’t you pick something? This is supposed to be about you too, right?”
I forced a tight smile. “I’ll look around,” I replied, walking toward the nearest rack with little care. I grabbed the first dress I saw, a simple one, not too flashy, and headed to the fitting room.
Inside, I stood in front of the mirror for a moment, staring at my reflection. I didn’t care about the dress. It wasn’t about the dress. It was about the fact that Daniel hadn’t even noticed me.
I changed quickly and stepped out, my gaze lingering on Daniel and Clara. They were so wrapped up in each other that they didn’t even notice me at first.
“Daniel,” Clara said, spinning in another gown, this time an elegant A-line dress with subtle sparkles. “What do you think of this one?”
Daniel’s eyes lit up, his admiration clear. “That’s… incredible. You look amazing, Clara.”
My stomach churned. He didn’t even look at me. His attention was entirely on her. And when he finally glanced at me, his expression was empty.
Clara caught my expression in the mirror, her lips curling into a smug grin. “What do you think, Emma?” she asked, her voice dripping with mock sweetness. “You picked something so plain, though. But I guess that’s to be expected, right?”
Daniel chuckled softly, clearly agreeing. “I’m not surprised. You’re a little old-school, Emma. This dress just doesn’t suit you.”
The words hit me like a slap. Old-school. Plain. His words echoed, sharper than I expected.
Clara, sensing my discomfort, pretended to defend me. “Oh, come on. Don’t be too harsh, Daniel. She’s not a model like me, but she’s still your wife, right?” She gave me a mocking smile. “Maybe it’s just not her style.”
I bit my tongue, refusing to say a word. There was no point. This was a game to them. I was just the background noise.
But then Clara wasn’t done. “You can’t compare Emma’s stature to mine. You know I’m a model, right? It’s just natural that some people don’t have the same… appeal.”
Her words cut deeper than I expected, but I swallowed the hurt. I’d had enough.
I wasn’t going to stay here and watch them continue to mock me.
Determined to take control, I picked out something else. This time, it was a bold, sexy black satin dress with a plunging neckline—a style I’d never dare wear before. But if Clara was going to flaunt herself, maybe it was time I did too.
When I stepped out of the fitting room, Daniel’s gaze snapped to me. His eyes widened, and for the first time today, his attention was on me.
I could see the shock in his eyes as he looked me up and down. I was the one he was looking at now.
“Wow,” Daniel breathed, completely caught off guard. “You look... amazing.”
His voice was hoarse, his eyes locking onto me like I was a stranger. For the first time in a long time, Daniel seemed to be seeing me.
Clara’s face twisted in irritation, and she shot him a glare. “My legs are aching, and I want to go home,” she said, clearly annoyed by the shift in attention.
But Daniel didn’t even glance at her. His eyes were still locked on me.
I’d never seen him like this before. I could feel the power shift, and for the first time, I had control of the situation.
