Enduring the Storm for a New Spring

I've spent the day trying on bridal gowns with my fiance, Philip Dillon. Just as I'm about to pay for the wedding gown that I really want, another woman suddenly snatches it out of my hands.

"Sorry, but I had my sights set on this gown first!"

I frown instantly at her words. That's when one of my friends suddenly pats me on the shoulder before murmuring to me, "Hang on. Let your fiance deal with this situation. He already placed an order on this wedding gown when it was first released, so he must be specifically waiting for you to come here and pick it out."

I turn to look at Philip instinctively. As expected, I see him approaching the woman… only to help her stuff the gown's hem, which is sticking out, back into the gown's bag.

"Since someone else has already set her sights on the gown, then I suppose we don't have any other choice."

Philip then pinches me on the cheek, the smile on his face tender yet casual.

"My Elyse is the most gracious woman I've ever known. It's not like this is the one and only gown for you, right?"

I just stare at the woman's smug look, feeling very dazed.

Instead of responding to Philip, I just shoot a small smile at my friend, who looked pretty awkward on my behalf.

"It's fine. I don't want the wedding gown anymore."

It's true that the gown isn't the one and only gown for me. Similarly, it's not like Philip is the one and only man for me in life as well.

Elyse's First-Person POV

In the awkward silence, one of my friends quickly stepped in to ease the tension. "Maybe I misheard. There are plenty of other styles over there. Let's go try those."

Everyone chimed in, agreeing with her.

My fiance, Philip Dillon, gave a light chuckle, then lowered his head to look at his phone again.

The mood quickly warmed up, as if the earlier tension had never existed.

The sales associate enthusiastically explained the proper care for the wedding dress to the woman from earlier.

She smiled brightly as she listened, but her eyes kept flicking over to Philip. Then, she lowered her head to her phone and typed something.

Right after that, a notification sound came from Philip's phone. But instead of checking his phone, he looked up and briefly glanced at me.

Only when he saw that I wasn't looking did he look down to reply to the message with a faint smile.

Not long after the woman left, Philip raised his phone and addressed us. "Elyse, I have a meeting in a bit. I need to go now."

I didn't reply. I just walked into the fitting room.

Just before I pulled the curtain shut, I caught a glimpse of Philip talking briefly with the woman as he stepped out of the store.

A moment later, a message from my best friend, Brenna Peck, popped up. "Why didn't you pick the wedding dress you liked before?"

I explained the situation to her honestly. After reading it, she immediately called me. She sounded furious as she asked, "Her again? Jane Zamora?"

Jane Zamora was Philip's new assistant.

Today was the first time I'd met her in person, but I'd heard about her before.

At the engagement party two weeks ago, everything went smoothly, from the program to the guests and the details.

But there was one thing missing. My parents weren't listed among the invitees.

I was furious and hurt, and I demanded that Philip fire Jane, who was in charge of the guest list.

But he just wrapped his arm around my shoulders and said, "It's her first time handling this. Cut her some slack. She was only trying to help. Be more forgiving."

Brenna's voice snapped me back to the moment. "I'm telling you, that woman's up to something! The wedding should be about you two, but she keeps sticking her nose in it. And Philip—"

My friends were calling for me from outside. I told Brenna we'd talk later before stepping out from behind the curtain.

We spent the rest of the evening trying on wedding dresses, and finally, I found one I was happy with.

Philip happened to return just then, and my friends immediately swarmed him, demanding to get his opinion.

He glanced at the dress and gave a small smile. "It looks good."

Then, he turned his attention back to his phone, like the woman in front of him wasn't his fiancee but just another random person.

Once the sales associate finished packaging the dress, Philip finally put his phone away.

He instinctively moved to grab the bag, but I stepped aside. "I got it. You'll just get it dirty."

Philip chuckled softly and ruffled my hair. "You're being so careful."