Chapter 500 Replacing the Protagonist
Angela's expression darkened. "I'm sorry, Ms. Harrison, but I cannot accommodate that request."
Lavinia felt instantly humiliated. No one had ever shown her such disrespect before—this was a first. To be repeatedly refused over a simple dress!
Just then, Lucas arrived. He sensed the tension immediately upon entering.
He and Lavinia weren't particularly close before this, and they still weren't. He hadn't expected her to invite him here to order wedding attire, but she hadn't given him any chance to decline.
Angela recognized Lucas from previous encounters and knew he was from the Tudor family. His former sensitive position made him notable.
"Welcome, Mr. Tudor. How may I assist you today?" Angela turned directly to Lucas, ignoring Lavinia's murderous glare.
"Ms. Phillips, I'm here to accompany Lavinia in ordering some clothes," Lucas replied respectfully. He understood Angela's influence as LY's store manager—her connections rivaled his own. The clientele who could order custom pieces from LY were exclusively wealthy and powerful. He couldn't afford to offend her, but neither could he risk alienating Lavinia, a member of the Harrison family.
Angela was surprised to discover Lavinia and Lucas were together.
"I see," she said with sudden understanding.
She continued professionally, "As neither of you are new customers, you're surely familiar with LY's policies. Custom orders require advance appointments, after which we send someone to take your measurements."
Lucas paused, having forgotten this detail.
Lavinia responded sharply, "While rules don't bend, people should."
Angela met her gaze evenly. "True, but certain procedures exist for a reason. Without them, success is impossible."
"Ms. Harrison, LY has a long-established reputation. Countless people commission our custom pieces. Regardless of anyone's status or influence, we follow our protocols uniformly." She added, "Unless, of course, you can convince our owner to make an exception. If they approve, we could make a one-time accommodation."
Lavinia was speechless. How could she possibly contact LY's mysterious owner?
"You..." Lavinia began, raising her hand in anger when a voice interrupted, "Quite lively in here, isn't it?"
Victoria entered, holding Alexander's hand. She had originally arranged to have her wedding gown delivered to Serenity Grove Manor for a fitting, but after an unexpected hospital visit, she'd asked Dylan to reschedule for an in-store fitting. She'd spotted a familiar license plate in the parking lot and suspected Lucas might be inside. She saw no reason to avoid him, though finding Lavinia there was unexpected.
Both Lavinia and Lucas were equally surprised to see Victoria and Alexander.
When Lucas saw Victoria, he noticed how much more beautiful she had become, her face animated with expressions instead of her former icy demeanor. The change was remarkable.
Clara's situation remained a painful thorn in his heart, while Victoria had unconsciously become his regret.
"Victoria, what brings you here?" Lucas instinctively greeted her, having not seen her for some time. He hadn't known she'd left Rihegde until Lavinia informed him.
Victoria merely glanced at Lucas without responding. Instead, she addressed Lavinia, "Ms. Harrison, what a coincidence to see you again so soon."
Lavinia's gaze fixed on Alexander. She was startled by Victoria's greeting.
"Yes, quite a coincidence," she replied, then turned to Alexander. "Alexander, how is your injury healing?"
Victoria didn't seem bothered by Lavinia's blatant attention toward her husband.
Angela, however, was surprised by Lavinia's familiar address to Alexander. Did Lavinia know their owner? Victoria clearly disliked Lavinia, and Lavinia's gaze toward Alexander seemed strange. Angela hadn't survived this long in her position without developing keen instincts.
Alexander ignored Lavinia's question entirely.
Victoria smoothly interjected, "Thank you for your concern about my husband, Ms. Harrison. He's fine." She paused, eyes twinkling with amusement. "I understand congratulations are in order. I hear you and Mr. Tudor have a wedding approaching?"
Lavinia and Lucas exchanged startled glances. How did she know? They hadn't announced it publicly.
Victoria pretended not to notice their surprise and continued, "I must say, you make a handsome couple—a talented gentleman and a graceful lady. A perfect match, really."
Her excessive compliments left them both bewildered, unable to detect any hidden meaning in her words, though something about Victoria's praise felt oddly disconcerting.
"Are you here to order wedding attire?" Victoria continued, not allowing them to interject. "You have excellent taste. LY's custom wedding gowns are truly one-of-a-kind. Since we're old acquaintances, I'll arrange a discount as an early wedding gift."
Lavinia's expression darkened further. What did that mean? Did Victoria own LY?
Victoria immediately answered her unspoken question.
"Angela, please make arrangements for Mr. Tudor and Ms. Harrison," she instructed.
Angela nodded. "Certainly, Mrs. Howard."
She continued, "Mrs. Howard, Mr. Howard, your wedding attire is ready. Let me have someone take you to try them on and note any necessary alterations. We'll have everything perfect before the ceremony."
Lavinia's mind reeled, and Lucas's expression changed dramatically.
Victoria smiled, "Please excuse us. Take your time selecting."
She then led Alexander upstairs to the second floor.
Angela, having little interest in attending to Lavinia personally, called over an associate. "Hestia Sharp, please assist Ms. Harrison and Mr. Tudor. Mrs. Howard has authorized a 25% discount on all Ms. Harrison's purchases."
As Angela turned to leave, Lavinia stopped her. "Wait."
Angela faced her with a professional smile. "Is there something else, Ms. Harrison?"
"Victoria is LY's owner?" she asked darkly.
"In a manner of speaking. Mrs. Howard is the owner's wife."
Lavinia fell silent.
Angela studied her before adding, "Regarding the wedding gown you admired earlier, there's another reason it's not for sale. Mr. Howard designed it personally for Mrs. Howard—it's one-of-a-kind and priceless."
Lavinia paled.
A wedding gown designed by Alexander himself? The romance of it was undeniable.
Yet everything should have been hers—she had met Alexander first.
Lucas was equally surprised that the head of the Howard family would design wedding gowns.
Upstairs, Victoria gazed at the wedding dress in the fitting room, enchanted. It was the most beautiful gown she had ever seen.
From inside the fitting room, she asked, "Angela, who designed this gown?"
She was eager to meet the designer whose style so perfectly matched her aesthetic and preferences.
The gown featured layers of delicate tulle with exquisite embroidery—a closer look revealed intricate roses.
After helping Victoria with the back zipper, Angela smiled mysteriously. "Mrs. Howard, you'll meet him soon."
She signaled an attendant to pull back the curtain, revealing a massive floor-length mirror.
Angela and the attendant gazed at Victoria in the pristine white gown, looking breathtakingly beautiful. The dress showcased her elegant neck, delicate collarbones, and smooth shoulders, complementing her perfect features.
She looked angelic—graceful and radiant, impossible to look away from.
This was merely a fitting without any styling, yet she looked stunning. Angela couldn't imagine how Victoria would look on her wedding day with full bridal styling—she would astonish everyone.
Victoria stared at her reflection, momentarily entranced.
Wedding gowns hold an irresistible power over every woman, representing their most beautiful dream, regardless of age or vanity.
"Mrs. Howard, this gown exists as if it were made for you alone," Angela said sincerely.
On anyone else, it wouldn't achieve the same sophisticated effect.
"Yes, I love it," Victoria replied.
In that moment, she was even more eager to meet the designer.
After trying on the dress, Victoria changed back inside the fitting room. She didn't emerge to show Alexander, preferring to maintain an element of surprise.
"Mrs. Howard, the waist needs slight adjustment. We'll modify it in the coming days and have it perfect before the ceremony," Angela explained.
"Thank you for your efforts," Victoria replied.
Alexander, who had been waiting outside, finally saw her emerge but without the gown he'd hoped to glimpse.
"Is something wrong? Doesn't it fit?" he asked with slight concern as he approached.
Victoria wrapped her arms around his strong waist, leaning back slightly.
Alexander immediately supported her back to prevent her from falling.
Looking up at him, she said, "No, it's beautiful, but I want to keep some mystery for you until our wedding day."
Hearing this, Alexander laughed softly.
He tapped her forehead gently with his finger. "Mischievous."
Her lips curved into a happy smile. "I learned it from you."
She rose on tiptoes to kiss his lips briefly.
When she had put on the wedding gown moments ago, she had felt an inexplicable flutter in her heart.
Now, looking at Alexander, she understood that feeling.
She loved him deeply, and suddenly realized this wasn't a dream.
She had found the man she loved, who loved her in return.
Meanwhile, the couple downstairs hadn't left and could see the second floor clearly.
Lavinia watched the embracing couple and Victoria's smile, her fists clenched tightly, her eyes cold with venom.
When no one was looking, her lips twisted into a malicious smile.
She would replace the bride in this wedding.
Three days before the wedding, Victoria was taken to Wind Sleep Villa.
According to local tradition, the bride and groom couldn't see each other before the wedding.
Neither believed in such customs, but they yielded to the elders' wishes and reluctantly separated.
Victoria's relationship with Esme remained strained, making it awkward to live under the same roof.
Fortunately, Thalia had returned from the church. She had heard about the Kennedy family's fate—her husband dead, her son imprisoned.
She had come to terms with it, having never held high expectations for Oliver and Simon.
"Grandmother, do you blame me?" Victoria asked, sitting on the sofa with her arm linked through Thalia's.
Thalia patted her hand and sighed. "Blame you for what? They brought this upon themselves. If anyone's to blame, it's my own inability to control them."
Thalia knew that neither Esme nor Victoria were responsible—it was her husband's and son's greed and ambition that had created this situation.
That they didn't blame her was already a blessing.
"I'm just grateful you still call me Grandmother."
"You're my only grandmother. You'll always be my grandmother and closest family," Victoria replied.
For Victoria, Thalia—despite having no blood relation—was perhaps more important than her biological parents.
Without Thalia's secret protection during her childhood, Victoria might never have grown into the person she was today or met the man she loved.
Though she hadn't experienced parental love, she had known a grandmother's affection.
Electra's eyes grew moist, though her face maintained its kindly smile. "My only wish is to see you marry someone who loves and cherishes you before I close my eyes forever. Then I can die without regrets."
"Grandmother, you'll live a long life. You must see your great-grandchildren born," Victoria said, nestling against Thalia like a child.
"Yes, I'll live longer to meet my great-grandchildren," Thalia laughed heartily.
Upstairs, Esme watched the grandmother and granddaughter embracing, feeling gratitude, guilt, and sadness.
During her time alone with Victoria, she had sensed her daughter's discomfort.
She knew that when she had abandoned Victoria with the Kennedy family, she had forfeited her role as a mother.
Nicholas stood nearby, his heart heavy with emotion. "Ms. Penrose, don't rush. Give Ms. Kennedy time. She'll come to terms with everything eventually."
Esme sighed softly.
She had stopped worrying about Victoria's forgiveness.
She only hoped her daughter would have a happier life than her own, with a loving family. That mattered more than anything else.
Just as Electra had said, seeing her married happily before she died would leave her without regrets.
The night before the wedding, Victoria couldn't sleep.
She lay in bed, wide awake, staring at the wedding decorations around her room, which only made her more restless.
Alexander was equally sleepless.
They were video calling each other.
"Darling, I'm nervous. What should I do?" she asked, frowning.
Despite being together for so long, and feeling fine until recently, tonight she felt inexplicably anxious—a feeling she couldn't describe, keeping her awake and increasingly excited.
"It's alright, I'm here. Tomorrow I'll bring you home. Get some rest tonight and try not to overthink, okay?" Alexander replied.
She pouted slightly and nodded.
After chatting a bit longer, she ended the call.
Still unable to sleep, she got up and went to find Lila in the guest room.
As maid of honor, Lila was staying at Wind Sleep Villa with Victoria for the night.
The others would arrive in the morning.
Lila was on the phone with Owen when Victoria entered without warning, startling her.
Clutching her chest, Lila took a deep breath. "You scared me!"
She looked at Victoria standing at the foot of the bed. "Darling, what's wrong?"
Victoria replied with a troubled expression. "I can't sleep."
Lila fell silent.
Wasn't Victoria the one who had insisted she wasn't nervous?
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