By the time Emerald Pierce gathered herself, Kody Young had already calmed Alanna Lewis, who was clinging to his arm, casting a wary look at Emerald with a hint of jealousy in her eyes. Kody then turned his attention to the bridal shop staff, gesturing toward Emerald.
"My girlfriend loves that wedding dress she's wearing. I'd like to buy it," he announced.
Emerald paused her movement, smoothing the dress, her eyes glinting with a touch of sarcasm. The staff member, caught between discomfort and politeness, replied to Kody, "I'm sorry, sir, but that dress is a special custom order. We can't sell it to anyone else."
Kody frowned. "I'll pay double."
The staff member shook their head. "I'm really sorry, but it's not possible."
Alanna pouted, clearly displeased, and raised her voice to address Emerald directly. "Miss Pierce, you and Kody broke up half a year ago. I don't know how you found out we were coming to the bridal shop today, but showing up just to make your presence felt is embarrassing. I used to feel sorry for you being left behind, but this petty homewrecker act is really disappointing. I won’t make a scene; just take off that dress and give it to us as an apology."
Her tone was loaded with entitlement and the swagger of someone who's used to getting her way. Emerald simply countered with a firm, "Not happening."
Alanna's eyes widened in anger as she turned to Kody, her expression indignant. Kody, glancing at Emerald, his gaze mocking, said, "What do you need a wedding dress for? Trying to rub it in?"
Emerald faced the duo, her gaze growing colder. "Kody Young, you think too much of yourselves. The dress is mine. Obviously, it's for my wedding."
Kody’s expression hardened. He stepped forward, confronting Emerald with a cold, scrutinizing look. When he spoke, his voice was razor-sharp. "Marriage? Who'd marry you? Who's generous enough to want damaged goods after me? Does he know about the tragedy at your place? Or are you planning to pull another stunt in your wedding dress, ready to jump again?"
Emerald, shocked, stared at him, then swiftly raised her hand and slapped him hard. Her chest surged with anger, and she fumed, "Kody Young, you jerk!"
Seeing her tears of fury, Kody’s demeanor shifted to one of regret. "Emerald, I..."
Before he could finish, Alanna rushed over, shoving Emerald. "Emerald Pierce, what Kody said is true. You've got no shame clinging to him. Who do you think you are to hit someone?"
Emerald, caught off guard by Alanna’s shove, stumbled backward. Her already injured back struck the corner of a couch, and she cried out in pain as she slid to the floor, her face turning ghostly pale. Kody's expression changed instantly, and he instinctively moved to help her, but Alanna held onto his arm, sobbing frantically, "Kody, I didn’t mean to. I didn’t push her that hard."
Kody regained his composure, clenching his fists at his sides, his gaze turning icy. He held Alanna close, looking down at Emerald's pallid face with a chilling tone. "Emerald Pierce, stop the act. You survived a fall from six stories high; a little stumble is nothing."
Alanna chimed in, "Yeah, Emerald, I’ll let you have the wedding dress. I barely pushed you, don't blame me. Kody's right, your place is haunted by a dead child, and I wouldn’t want that bad luck anyway."
Emerald felt like she was being stabbed repeatedly. The icy words cut deeply into her heart, leaving her shivering. She trembled uncontrollably before everything went black, and she lost consciousness.
In her hazy vision, she saw Kody's panicked face rushing toward her.
