Chapter 3

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Rowena quickly stepped in to smooth things over. "How about… I cook dinner instead?" "No!" Benedict instinctively refused. "You were raised in comfort. How could you be around grease and smoke?" His protectiveness caught Rowena off guard for a moment. Then, she smiled shyly. Minerva, watching their affectionate exchange, gave a tight smile. Ignoring them completely, she said flatly, "Well, I'm not cooking," and turned to head upstairs. In the end, Benedict brought Rowena to a restaurant for dinner without her. He didn't seem to notice anything was wrong. Or maybe he did notice but simply didn't care. After all, he was so certain of Minerva's love, so sure she would never leave. He probably thought she was just upset about being left alone at city hall earlier today. So the next day, in a rare show of effort, he canceled his meetings and took her dress shopping for the wedding. The entire bridal boutique was cleared out for it. Every staff member was present to serve Minerva and Minerva alone. When the curtain was drawn back and she stepped out in her gown, the entire room fell silent. The dress was pure white, with delicate floral vines spiraling from the shoulders downward. Tiny crystal roses adorned each vine, catching the light and giving the gown a shimmering three-dimensional texture. Bathed in soft golden light, Minerva looked like a goddess walking on air. The staff were stunned, their eyes filled with awe. Even Rowena, standing to the side, couldn't hide the flash of jealousy in her gaze. She slowly walked over, her eyes sweeping over the gown before she gasped in admiration. "Minerva, this dress is stunning. I almost want to try it on myself." Minerva turned to her with a faint smile. "Then go ahead. Try it on." No one had ever seen a bride offer her wedding dress to someone else. One of the staff members quickly stepped forward, alarmed. "Miss, that's bad luck." Minerva didn't flinch. She seemed unconcerned with superstition. Instead, she turned her gaze to Benedict. When she stepped out in the dress, he hadn't reacted. His expression remained calm and unreadable. But the moment he heard that Rowena might try it on, his throat bobbed, and something flickered in his eyes—longing. Minerva knew exactly what that meant. In his heart, he had already accepted that he could never marry the woman he loved. Still, he longed to see Rowena in a wedding dress, even if it wasn't meant for her. So, the curtain opened once more, and Rowena stepped out, wearing the same dress Minerva had worn. "Minerva, this dress is gorgeous. It just doesn't look right on me. It's a bit big and doesn't fit well," she said, frowning at her reflection in the mirror. Minerva smiled slightly, then turned to the staff. "Adjust the size. Make it fit her," she said. The words hung in the air. A moment later, both Rowena and Benedict, whose eyes had never left Rowena, snapped out of their daze. "What do you mean by that?"