#Chapter 210: The Dress

Ella’s POV “It’s okay to enjoy things like this, you know. It’s okay to be happy, even when you don’t feel like it.” Anya, astute as always, glanced at me over the mountain of fabric samples and baskets of beads. Her eyes met mine, filled with the same hope and happiness that I wished I could feel. “That obvious, huh?” I sighed and set aside the swatch of cream-colored fabric I’d been running between my fingers and put it in the “no” pile. It was too rough for my tastes. Anya tilted her head and reached for another swatch of champagne silk. “You look sad. Haunted. Not at all like the blushing bride you’re about to be.” I wished I could tell her exactly what had me feeling so haunted—I wished I could tell her about the curse, about Alexander’s illness, about Liam’s coma that had been caused by me. I wanted to tell her about all of it. I wanted to open up and seek comfort in a friend. But I couldn’t. And if I could, well, then there would be nothing to