In Andrew's eyes, Julia was undeniably attractive. Still, when she stood beside Rosalyn, her presence seemed to fade slightly.
Andrew suddenly reached for Rosalyn's hand and held it up while looking at the dress on her. "Does it feel a little tight? Maybe you should cut back on food before the wedding. I'll join you on a diet."
He seemed extremely pleased with the wedding dress on Rosalyn.
Rosalyn's brows tightened for a brief moment. When she lifted her head, her gaze met Julia's across the room.
Julia carried herself with a cool and distant air. Her expression revealed almost nothing. Her eyes slowly swept through the room before landing on Rosalyn.
Even though Rosalyn looked more striking in comparison, Julia didn't show the slightest embarrassment. Instead, she lifted her brow with a trace of disdain. "Have you seen my fiancé anywhere?"
Rosalyn pressed her lips together and shook her head quietly.
Before the silence could settle, Andrew spoke up. "I actually saw Mr. Harvey here earlier. I thought he came to find you."
"Oh..." Julia's gaze shifted back to Rosalyn, this time studying her more closely. "You look familiar. Have we met before?"
The memory of the previous night surfaced in Julia's mind. The lighting in that hotel room had been dim. She hadn't bothered to look closely at the woman tangled up with Nathan in the photos at the time. But now, as she stared at Rosalyn, recognition dawned. The woman who had been involved with her fiancé last night was the same woman currently trying on a wedding dress that looked almost like hers.
Andrew let out an easy laugh. "Mrs. Harvey, this is my fiancée, Rosalyn. She used to stay in Okemont for a while to study dance. Maybe you crossed paths back then."
A cold laugh slipped from Julia's lips. She clearly had no interest in hearing about the lives of ordinary people. "Nathan and I haven't held our wedding yet," she said flatly. "Just call me Miss Sutton."
After that, Julia turned slightly and gestured toward the sales assistant nearby. "Bring me my handbag."
Within a few brief exchanges, Julia had already taken out her phone and called Nathan.
The call connected, yet the line remained silent.
A faint crease appeared between Julia's brows. She didn't complain about the missed call. Instead, she looked toward the sales assistant and said flatly, "This dress doesn't suit me. I don't want it."
Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked straight into the dressing room.
Andrew leaned to Rosalyn and murmured, "Honestly, you look far better in that dress than she does. To me, you're the most beautiful one here."
His words should have comforted her, yet Rosalyn felt something tighten in her throat.
During the drive home, regret crept in. Rosalyn wished she had told Andrew about her past from the beginning. If she had, she wouldn't feel this uneasy now.
Meanwhile, Andrew seemed to be in good spirits. He chatted happily about their future wedding and occasionally reached over to hold her hand with warmth.
"Oh right, I almost forgot to tell you," Andrew said suddenly. "The contract has been finalized. Harvey Group will send the first payment soon." He lifted two fingers with a smile. "Twenty million. That amount is enough to help my company get through this crisis. It's a huge relief for us. But there's an supplementary agreement to sign."
The words made her heart sink. "Supplementary agreement?"
Three years spent beside Nathan had shown her exactly how he handled business. Could this supplementary agreement hide some kind of trap?
"Don't worry. I've already looked through it carefully. It's just a normal risk control clause. Nothing unusual," he said reassuringly.
Rosalyn opened her mouth as if to respond. Before she could speak, Andrew leaned in and kissed her without warning.
Normally, she would have responded. But this time, her lips stayed tense.
A shiver ran through her body. She quickly pulled away and wriggled out of Andrew's arms. Nathan's smug smile suddenly appeared in her mind.
Feeling uneasy, Rosalyn lowered her eyes and spoke quietly. "Andrew, I'm a little tired."
"Sorry for not being considerate enough. After all that trying on the wedding dress, you really need a rest." He didn't mind her rejection.
Once home, Rosalyn almost fell asleep immediately and didn't wake until the afternoon had passed.
When she finally reached for her phone, several messages from her friend Eleanor Collins appeared on the screen.
"That jerk just announced the wedding news."
"Isn't he worried about karma after showing off like that?"
"If he comes bothering you again, just send him the photos and remind him he's already taken."
Rosalyn opened the newly released pictures. Seeing them made her mind feel slightly clearer. Nathan and Julia stood together in the photos like a perfect match. Their families were equal in status, and their appearances suited each other. When their wedding day arrived, there was no doubt the entire city would be talking about them.
What Rosalyn couldn't understand was this. Nathan already had everything. So why did he still insist on dragging her back into his life?
A sharp headache throbbed in her temples. After staring at the messages for a while, she quietly deleted the entire chat.
The following morning, Rosalyn went to the TV station for an appointment.
A group of children from an arts institution in her hometown had come to Okemont to participate in a dance competition.
The organizer of the event invited Rosalyn to serve as an honorary guidance counselor during the final round.
After watching the children perform at the TV station, Rosalyn eventually agreed.
She had just stepped outside the building when her phone rang. Nathan's name appeared on the screen.
Remembering the wedding announcement released the night before, Rosalyn hoped he had finally decided to leave her alone. With a hint of nervousness, she answered the call.
Nathan's voice came through the phone instantly. "Tomorrow night, there's a banquet celebrating your fiancé's project with the Harvey Group. If you don't confess to him before the banquet starts, then everyone attending will hear about your past."
Rosalyn's thoughts scattered, and she stepped into the street without noticing the traffic. A car screeched to a stop inches from her.
The driver leaned out the window and shouted angrily, "Are you trying to die out here?"
Rosalyn barely reacted. Her eyes stayed unfocused as she raised the phone in her trembling hand. "I already told you I'd handle it. Stop pushing me!"
Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call and moved away slowly, as though every step weighed heavily on her.
The phone started ringing again.
A surge of anger rose in her chest as she assumed it was Nathan again. She glanced at the screen, only to see Andrew's name.
The moment she answered, his excited voice burst through the line. "You won't believe it. Mr. Harvey says he's impressed with our company. He wants to celebrate the partnership by hosting a ball. You have to come with me. This deal wouldn't have gone through so smoothly without you."
Her brows tightened slightly. "I didn't do anything helpful."
Unease left her throat dry.
"That's not true. You've brought me only luck since we became an item. You're the one who made this happen. I'm sending some money right now. Ask Eleanor to help you pick a dress for the ball."
Rosalyn didn't even notice when the call ended. Her thoughts churned in complete confusion. Deep down, she felt herself at fault and owed him an apology.
