ISABELLA
The dress felt heavier than it looked. Not physically — the fabric was light, smooth, almost weightless — but emotionally. Symbolic. Like wearing it meant stepping back into a role I hadn’t asked for but could no longer avoid. I know what I married into, but is it too much to ask for a few days to just breathe... and maybe enjoy some quiet time with my baby and Adrian?
The stylist wrapped it carefully in a garment bag, the midnight‑blue fabric hidden behind layers of protective plastic. Bianca carried the shoes. Tobias carried the boxes of accessories the stylist insisted I needed.
I carried the weight of the day.
The boutique doors closed behind us, and the cool afternoon air brushed against my skin. The sky was a muted gray, the kind that promised rain but never delivered.
