Rejected: A love story-Chapter 149: Shocking news

Viktoria stood on the platform in front of the mirrors, and one of the attendants smoothed out the skirt of the dress she was wearing.

Anya looked up from where she had been sitting and blinked once.

"Oh."

Viktoria shifted a little toward the mirror, trying to see the back of the dress.

"That bad?"

"No," Anya said at once. "Not bad. Just... different."

Viktoria’s mother looked up then, finally taking her eyes away from the rack of dresses she had been studying.

"Turn around."

Viktoria sighed and turned slowly on the platform.

It was light, for a change, not heavy like most of the dresses she had tried on up until then, no heavy lace, no huge skirt that took up half the room. Just smooth silk that fell away in clean lines from her waist, and a fitted bodice that didn’t feel restrictive.

Viktoria’s mother studied her for a moment.

"It’s better than the last one."

Anya lifted her glass again. "You didn’t like the last one."

"I didn’t say that," her mother said softly. "I just said it wasn’t suitable for her."

Viktoria wrapped her arms around her waist as she continued to gaze into the mirror.

"I liked the second one," Anya said.

"That one was like something off a runway," her mother said.

Anya shrugged her shoulders. "Not a bad thing."

The attendant behind Viktoria adjusted the fabric once again, then stepped back to get a better look at the way the dress was falling.

"Would you like to see it with the veil, Miss?"

Viktoria hesitated for a moment, then looked over at her mother.

Her mother nodded her head almost imperceptibly. "Yes."

The attendant went back into the back room. Anya leaned back into the sofa and stretched her legs out in front of her.

"How many dresses has that been now?"

"Four," Viktoria said.

Anya groaned softly. "It feels like fifteen."

"You’re the one who wanted to come," Viktoria said.

Anya grinned. "And I’d do it again."

Her mother just shook her head slightly, but said nothing.

The attendant came back out a moment later carrying a veil that was folded over her arm..

She stepped on the platform and gently raised it. She then placed it on top of Viktoria’s head. She spread the fabric behind her.

Viktoria looked at herself again. The veil changed everything. The way the silk of the dress caught the light changed.

Anya bent forward a little. "Okay," she said softly. "That works."

Her mother did not say anything right away. She looked at Viktoria with the same look she had whenever she was considering something.

Finally, her mother said something.

"It’s elegant."

Anya glanced to the side. "That’s high praise coming from you."

Viktoria smiled faintly as she continued to look at her reflection.

"It feels... simple."

"Simple is not bad." Anya raised her glass again.

"Simple is good when the bride looks like that."

Viktoria rolled her eyes. "Stop."

"What?" Anya asked innocently.

"You’re being dramatic."

"I’m always dramatic."

The attendant stepped forward again. "Would you like to try another gown before making a decision?"

Viktoria looked at her reflection again. She then reached up to remove the veil from her head.

"Yes," she said. "Let’s try another one."

The attendants assisted her in stepping down from the platform, gathering her train behind her as she walked back towards the fitting room.

The interior was quiet and softly lit. Another dress was already hung nearby, waiting.

It took them a few minutes to assist her out of the first dress and into the next one. The zipper went up slowly as one of the attendants adjusted the fabric on her shoulders.

"This one is heavier," Viktoria said distractedly.

"Yes," the attendant said. "But the structure fits beautifully once it’s on."

When Viktoria came out again, Anya sat up at once.

"Oh wow." Her mother turned.

This dress was different from the first. It was fitted tightly around her waist and hips before flaring out near the hem. The neckline was elegant across her collarbones, and the embroidery was intricate on the bodice.

Anya was standing. "Okay, I love this one."

Her mother came closer, examining the details.

"Turn."

Viktoria turned again, trying not to trip over her train.

Anya adjusted her position slightly to get a look at the back of the dress.

"You look expensive," she said.

Viktoria laughed. "That’s not a description."

"It is now."

Her mother looked at the dress one more time.

"It’s beautiful," she said.

Anya crossed her arms. "That means she likes it."

"It means it’s beautiful," her mother said.

Viktoria gazed at her own reflection in the mirror.

"I don’t know," she said slowly.

Anya frowned. "Why?"

"It just feels a little... too much."

"Too much?" Anya repeated. "You’re literally marrying a billionaire."

Viktoria smiled. "That’s not the point."

Her mother nodded slightly. "She’s right."

Anya looked between the two of them. "You two are impossible."

The attendant stepped forward.

"We do have one more gown we thought you might like."

Viktoria glanced over. "Okay," she said. "One more."

The attendants helped her back into the fitting room.

When she emerged once more into the light of day, almost twenty minutes had elapsed.

The dress was different from all the others.

The soft satin was almost lightweight. The buttons made of pearl hung down the back. The skirt did not open out dramatically.

Anya blinked. "Oh."

Her mother was silent once more. Viktoria looked at her reflection. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

There was no sound for a moment or so. Then Anya nodded slowly.

"That’s the one."

Viktoria turned slightly.

"You made up your mind quickly."

Viktoria nodded. "I know what I’m seeing."

Her mother took a step forward, the look on her face had softened.

"Yes," she whispered. "That is beautiful."

Viktoria ran her hands over the material at her waist.

"It’s comfortable."

"That is important," Anya said.

Viktoria looked at her reflection. For a moment or so, she was imagining seeing the ceremony. The aisle, the music, Nikolai waiting at the front. The idea made her chest constrict slightly.

Anya saw the look on her face. "What?"

"Nothing."

"You made a face."

Viktoria shook her head. "I did not make a face."

Her mother sat back down again. "You like the dress."

"I do," Viktoria admitted.

Anya smiled. "Then it’s settled."

Viktoria stepped carefully off the platform again, as she did, the room felt strangely warm.She blinked once, as if the light was a little brighter than it had been previously.

One of the attendants began to make her way over to make an adjustment on the train.

"Would you like some water, Miss?"

Viktoria waved her hand a little.

"No, I’m fine."

She took a second step, then halted, and Anya noticed instantly.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing."

"You stopped walking."

"Yes."

"You look like you’re in a lot of pain."

Viktoria’s mother stood up instantly.

"Viktoria?"

"I’m fine," she said quickly.

Viktoria felt as if she were floating, as if she had gotten up too fast.

Anya placed her glass on the table.

"You don’t look fine."

Viktoria smiled weakly. "Maybe it’s the champagne."

Viktoria tried to reach for the chair beside her, but instead, she brushed against it with her hand.

Her mother jumped up and made a beeline for Viktoria.

"Sit down."

"I am," Viktoria said.

Viktoria blinked again, trying to make sense of what was going on.

The mirrors were blurring, and suddenly, she felt as if she were going to fall.

"Hey—"

Viktoria didn’t finish what she had said as she buckled her knees, unable to stop them from falling.

The last thing she heard was Anya saying her name.