The ladies working at the boutique were left in a stupor though their expressions remained the same. They weren't allowed to gossip about their clients but they still whispered about it in the break room.
They would discuss which bride had a monster in law and which one cheated at their bachelorette party but this juicy gossip was the icing on the cake. Two sisters with different mothers hate each other and now their daughters are getting married. If they also knew that these cousins had the same father they might have fainted on the spot.
Quinn didn't want to start a fight in the reception area just now thus she had her hand clenched tightly leaving behind marks on her palm. She slowly released her palm and asked, "Mum are you okay?" as soon as the private room door was closed.
Amalie was not upset at all. Her mother was the kindest person she knew and because of her father, she managed to leave that line of work and started her own dance studio which was handed down to her when she passed. Unlike some who would feel embarrassed or ashamed, she was proud of her mother.
When Camilie spread rumours around school about her mother being a prostitute and stopping men at the red light district which is an outright lie, Amalie still held her head high. She lost a lot of friends back then. Those disingenuous and superficial relationships wouldn't last anyway so she didn't care.
When her father found out he came to school and grabbed Camilie out of class in front of everybody. He loved both of his daughters equally and if the situation was reversed he would have done the same to Amalie but Camilie didn't see that. She thought Amalie was more favoured than her and used the same words her mother taught her.
"Your slutty mother is probably sleeping with dad to get you what you want so don't act so smug," she would say but looking at it now Amalie couldn't help but laugh.
"I am fine. What insult haven't I heard from her? I feel nothing for her so why should I be sad," she said and Quinn felt relieved.
"Let's drink some prosecco and celebrate," said Kaya opening the bottle carefully.
"Mmm, you should try the cheese platter. It's so good. I love blue cheese," said Doris trying to lighten the atmosphere.
The door was suddenly pushed open and a short woman with green eyes and a tempered hair cut with curls came in. When she saw Quinn she called out like they were familiar,
"Quinn darling come to give this auntie a hug."
Quinn, "..."
She got up and hugged the woman that smelt like new fabric and fresh linens. When they separated she explained, "Your future husband saved my life really. I was a prostitute from trafficking and when he saved me he ask... what is your talent, your dream and I say design. With no Leif there is no Lian and no saffron collection," she said with a north easterner accent.
Skylire bridal boutique wasn't as high end as it was now back then. There were still rich clients but the moment the Saffron collection was introduced, every rich bride in town would come here.
"You don't dislike auntie do you?" she said but Quinn shook her head no. Her mother had taught her better than that thus she never cared where they were from as long as they had a good heart.
"Then auntie is happy. Now let's make you prettiest bride in whole world, okay?" said Lian but Quinn who had never associated herself with the word pretty remained rooted on the spot in nervousness.
"Can't I wear a suit like the girls on your magazine cover," she said thinking a suit would be reasonable and ease her guilt.
"No no no Leif say no suit then no suit. You are future Mrs Carnell so you need to wear gorgeous dress," said Lian now understanding why Leif emphasised not to be soft hearted. When Quinn put on that face who could refuse her?
"Mum," she said and Lian pulled her away saying,
"No mum can't save you now. I will make you a pretty sassy princess," said Lian and she did as promised.
Quinn was turned into a princess alright, a princess on display. She had never changed clothes so many times in her entire life. Words like suck it in, smile, twirl and you have nice junk in the trunk were all she could hear the entire two hours. How did she feel when she looked in the mirror?
She felt pretty but Lian was dissatisfied with her reaction. The tears and sparks she was looking for hadn't appeared in Quinn's eyes yet.
That is until she was helped into an embellished beauty with a nude illusion giving off modern queen vibes. Quinn was programmed not to like sparkles but at this moment her heart was stirred and her eyes were as bright as pearls shining underneath the bright moonlight and her tears just began flowing uncontrollably.
"Yes yes... yes this is what I want. You cry like this. Beautiful beautiful," said Lian proud of her masterpiece. She almost thought that she would fail. Quinn was a very nonchalant bride who didn't even seem to care much about what she wore down the aisle.
If she was given the power to do it herself she might have picked the first thing she saw.
When she came out her mother also felt the difference. Her baby who was conditioned to hate pretty things by that bastard actually wore sparkly things and cried for that matter. "Oh my baby you look gorgeous," said Amalie while crying her eyes out.
It seemed this session was a success and Quinn's torment will come to an end. Well, at least one bride was happy.
On the second floor, things weren't going so well. The fact that Quinn was in the VVIP section of the boutique was enough to put Camailie in a terrible mood. She was very much dissatisfied and couldn't help herself.
"Why can't you call Marcellus and ask him to set up a consultation with Lian," she said and Ivy was so annoyed but she didn't show it on her face,
"Auntie, you don't know how difficult it is to get a personal consultation with Lian. Even Marcellus no matter how powerful he is, he can't get Lian to do anything."