t lighting cast a warm glow over rows of stunning dres

down the moment Calliope ste

te dress from earlier, there was not even a flicker of excitement o

took her daughter's hand, worry flickering in her eyes. "What's wr

s, sweetie. Men always put work first. I'll call him, remind him what

nto her purse

ed her, pressing her fingers to her mother'

wn displayed nearby, a sharp, almost imperceptible twinge of pain fl

a small chuckle, thinking he

just saying that out of spite. The wedding's only two days away - how can you not try the dress on? If Lucien can't ma

said, lifting her eyes to meet her mother's ga

oze, eyes widening in disbelief. "Calliope! Do you eve

ust jump to breaking off the engagement over one squabble. Everyone can s

thoughtful

lently, a bitter taste rising

r seven whole years last time around. All that love and tende

supposed to be her "perfect wedding" in her past life made Calliope feel like

history repeat

tightly, her voice trembling despite her effort to steady it.

nto her voice as it got louder, "Calliope, just talk to me. Did somet

esterday her daughter had looked genuinely h

ncé-great background, successful, good-looking, and more importantl

with business recently, it was Lucien wh

ve. In many ways, it was tied to the

rn in her mother's eyes, Calliope fe

he'd been reborn and knew Lucien would ruin her l

elieve that. She'd just t

h, hesitated, then settled on a simple-but firm-reply: "It doesn't matter why. Mom, just trust me this o

sity in her daughter's eyes-a look she'd never seen before. "Calliope, are you

he tension. Calliope's phone vibrated on th

t ice-cold i

had to postpone trying on wedding outfits because of some urgent wo

r had actually

e picked up the phone and hit the speaker

th a bit of guilt, "I'm sorry, but I don't think I can make it