nd I asked her about the ball. "Stepmother, can I go to th

occasions, you are not of noble birth li

ation was addressed to our

tably, "You don't even have anything nice t

h us, that's final!" She said

could not see my prince again. I we

squerade ball. My stepmother, Lady Clarissa, Belle, and Lindsay were imm

ts over the years, our home had grown quiet and empty. The space that had once been mine was taken over by

preserved in the attic, had become my source of comfort and a tangible connection to the mother I had lost at a young age. The dresses

thtaking garment, rich with history and tradition, and beside it, her glass slippers sparkled with timeless b

uld allow me to come wi

hite ball gown. The gown appeared to be a vision of celestial beauty, a masterpiec

ul collarbones. The intricate silver and crystal beadwork, meticulously hand-embroidered onto the bodice, glistened like

irt, I noticed, was a voluminous cascade of layers, giving the gown a sense of regal grandeur. I couldn't he

felt like a radiant goddess. The beads on the bodice caught the light, sparkling and glistening with every movement. The gown created a breathtaking image,

ed my mother's wedding dress in my room in the attic, I think Lady Clar

speaks gently to my ear, "Ella, ther

d in a shallow voice. "W

ropping. "I've been worried, dear. Your mother's weddi

me?" I whispered to her. She nodded and said, "Your father, Mr. Oliver, intended

e the significance of these heirlooms, not just as beautiful item

may not have the same revere

ven sell these preciou

must do. "I won't let that happen. I'll

armly at me, a glimme

, dear. Your paren

termination, vowing to pr

, Mrs. Shirley. Your supp

r to me, Ella. I'll al

hance to see the prince again, but the though

el in lavishness. It was a golden opportunity for my stepmother and stepsisters to shine in the royal

t glistened like stars in the night sky. While incredibly beautiful, these gowns come with a price tag that further strains our dw

extravagant lifestyle had pushed our family to the brink of financial ruin. T

crashing upon me. I had no inkling of the dark secr

sed to feed my beloved pet, Fluffy. I called his name, expecting his usual enthu

r cruelty, approached me with a wicked grin. "Looking for your pre

udden uneasiness in my