Chapter 209: Chapter 210

Chapter 0210 Chapter 0210 “He certainly would,” I agreed.

A text notification chimed on my phone, and Alexander’s name lit up the screen. I opened the message immediately.

Alexander: She had fun. Thank you.

Me: You’re welcome.

Alexander: Do you really love the dress you chose today?

Me: It’s very nice.

Alexander: I’m a little concerned. After what happened with the venue, I worry Amanda might try to copy your dress again.

The thought made my stomach twist, though it had crossed my mind before.

Me: But what can we do?

Alexander: Use the dress as a reference and have a custom gown made.

Me: We don’t have time.

Alexander: Leave that to me. I’ll arrange everything if you agree to it.

“What is it?” my mother asked, noticing the frown on my face. “You look worried.”

“Everything’s fine,” I said quickly, though my voice betrayed a hint of hesitation. “Alexander is just worried that Amanda might try to copy the dress. He thinks I should get it customized.”

“That’s not a bad idea,” she replied.

“But there isn’t time,” I argued.

“If Alexander is suggesting it, he probably has a way to pull it off,” she pointed out.

Her confidence in him made me pause. Maybe she was right. If anyone could make the impossible happen, it was Alexander.

Me: What made you think of this suddenly?

Alexander: Look at the news.

My heart dropped. I stared at his words, a sense of dread building in my chest. “What have they done now?” I muttered, exiting the text thread and opening the news app Right there on the front page was an article about Amanda and David’s wedding. I clicked on it, the headline glaring at me like a taunt.

“Oh dear,” my mother said, leaning over my shoulder to read along.

“We’re so excited to have booked the most exclusive venue in the capital,” she read aloud. Her voice tightened with disbelief.

“The venue that you chose?”

“Yes,” I admitted with a sigh. “But we’ve already found a solution. I wanted to surprise you with it.”

My mother’s expression darkened as she focused back on the article. “She’s publicly bragging about stealing your 1/2 {* $25 BONUS Chaolet 0210 wedding venue.”

A sharp, angry look crossed her face as she continued reading.

“When asked about sharing a wedding date with rival Ella Rowan,” she read aloud, “the bride–to–be responded, ” Oh, I hadn’t even noticed.““”

I clenched my fists, the audacity of Amanda’s words striking me like a slap.

“She stole your venue and your date?” my mother scoffed, her voice dripping with disbelief. “Of course, Alexander is concerned she’ll copy your dress as well. The woman really has no shame. Has she always copied you like this?”

“Not that I ever noticed,” I said, shaking my head. “But that’s because she was too busy bullying me and making me seem like an immature brat. I never should have taken her advice.”

My mother’s silence drew my attention. She stared at me mutely, her gaze heavy enough that I looked away from the phone.

There was anger in her expression, yes, but beneath it lay a flicker of sadness that made my chest ache. “Is that what changed?”

she asked softly after a pause. “Is that why you’ve started dressing differently? Acting the way you have? Because you felt like people were bullying you?”

An unexpected wave of emotion hit me and tears jumped to my eyes. Amanda had manipulated me so well in the original timeline that I hadn’t even realized it until the moment she murdered me. Now, seeing my mother’s anger at the truth, I felt the betrayal all over again.

My mother pulled me into her arms and I leaned against her heavily as I cried.