[Jun, I’ll be te. See you there.]

  Jun received this message from Liam after arriving at the boutique. Once she knew he would be te again, she kept her phone away, walking towards the fitting room.

  Today, they were pnning to meet at this boutique to choose their wedding attire. Since Liam’s proposal, they haven’t been able to get together. Their busy schedules caused them to reschedule the appointment several times.

  An hour went by, Liam was still nowhere to be seen. There were no messages and calls, as if he had vanished.

  Jun gnced at her silent phone before lifting her head to see her reflection in the mirror. She wore a breathtakingly beautiful white silk dress, with small diamonds woven delicately around her waist and chest, but she could hardly appreciate it.

  Because right now, the person she wanted to dress up for was not present.

  Noticing her disappointment, the sales clerks quickly rushed to comfort her.

  “Madam, don’t worry. No fiancé would pass up on the opportunity to see their gorgeous fiancée, especially when you looked so stunning. Perhaps he is stuck in traffic. He will definitely be here soon.”

  With their encouragement, Jun’s downcast eyes brightened. “Thank you all for your kind words. In the meantime, I’ll continue picking out dresses until he comes.”

  “Of course, we’re more than happy to assist you.”

  As Jun wore her fifth dress, Liam showed up at st. His tie was crooked; his hair was messy. Unlike his usual polished appearance, he appeared somewhat untidy.

  “Jun,” Liam sighed, “Sorry, I’m te.”

  The moment Jun stepped out to greet him, Liam’s expression turned ugly, his eyes narrowed in disapproval. He instantly disliked what he saw. Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he demanded, “Change it. It doesn’t suit her.”

  The sales clerks stood there in silence, speechless. After much deliberation, they had helped Jun pick the perfect dress, one that complemented her sharp features and lean figure. Unfortunately, someone didn’t like it.

  In Liam’s eyes, he found Jun’s red dress gaudy. Not only did it fail to complement her wavy brown hair and eyes, but it also made her seem overly alluring for his liking.

  Simply unsuitable.

  Naturally, Liam wouldn’t divulge any of his thoughts. Instead, he made up his mind to choose it for her. After all, his proposal was only out of obligation and his desire to please his mother, so an extravagant dress was unnecessary.

  Liam’s gaze swept over the white dresses, then he casually pointed to one. He said, “Get this for her.”

  The sales clerks looked at one another before they reluctantly agreed.

  Jun became silent, her smile fading away. As if a decision had been made in her mind, she said, “I won’t wear it.”

  Liam was in the middle of picking out accessories for the dress when he suddenly paused, then he continued, thinking he had misheard.

  And Jun repeated her words. This time, her voice held a firmness that left no room for doubt.

  Liam finally stopped flipping through the catalogue and gred at Jun, his voice sharp as he questioned, “Jun, what kind of ridiculous tantrum are you having now?”

  Jun pursed her lips. Being aware of Liam’s particur preferences regarding her fashion sense, Jun Lee had always meticulously chosen her outfits to please him. Every day, she would put on the contact lenses she didn’t like, curl her naturally straight hair, and wore the clothes she didn’t enjoy. And on a special day like their wedding, Jun Lee would also wish to have her say in the matter as well.

  But why couldn’t Liam understand?

  Jun closed her eyes, letting out a quiet sigh. When she slowly opened her eyes to meet Liam’s gaze, a shiver ran down his spine, as if he could feel the intensity of her gaze.

  “I want to pick my own dress. Choose the style I like and wear the colour I love.”

  But Liam was not amused by her answer. “Why? It doesn’t suit you at all.”

  “But I like it. I want it.”

  “Jun, you’re not being very understanding. I need you to listen.”

  “But it’s our wedding, isn’t it? My opinion matters too.”

  Once Jun refuted him, she felt Liam’s furious gaze burning into her, the silence heavy with unspoken emotion.

  When the jarring ring of a phone interrupted their silent confrontation, without a second thought, Liam reached for his pocket and accepted the call. He gnced at Jun and said, “We’ll talk about this ter.”

  Liam was about to answer the call outside when Jun quickly pulled his sleeve, stopping him from leaving. Yet because he was too preoccupied with his thoughts, he shrugged her off, causing her to stumble and almost fall. He didn’t look back as he went out of the boutique, answering the call in a gentle tone.

  Stunned by his action, Jun appeared dazed for a moment. The person who was on the phone expressed their distress, simir to that of a lover. She looked down, masking the shrewdness in her eyes.

  The sales clerk around Jun witnessed her fiancé’s indifferent attitude and couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. The way she lit up while she picked out dresses according to her taste made it obvious how much her opinion meant to her in all her choices.

  And yet, he only cared about himself.

  At no point did he take her preferences into account, as if their wedding only revolved solely around him.

  While Jun was being consoled, Liam suddenly returned. He barged through the door in rge strides, grabbing his coat on the couch. Without his realisation, his expression turned stern, hiding the underlying anxiety in his heart. Cutting his words short, he said, “I got to go first.”

  But Jun wasn’t about to let him leave without an expnation. Feigning concern, she asked, “What happened?”

  In a hurry, Liam brushed her off harshly.

  “That’s none of your business.”

  Jun immediately froze, taken aback by his cold tone.

  “Anyway, do what I tell you. This is for your own good, Jun.” Once he said that, Liam left without looking back. He vanished just as quickly as he appeared.

  Jun watched his figure gradually disappear into the distance before looking away. Her eyes revealed a hint of sadness, but her lips curled into an ironic smile.

  Everyone thought she was extremely saddened by her fiance’s attitude, but only she knew in her heart that she was calm.

  Not only did Liam take Jun Lee for granted, he repeatedly disregarded her feelings, trampling over her love. By concealing the truth and lying to her, he had already betrayed her trust. Since he showed no respect for her, it would only be fair if she did the same.

  How unfortunate.

  …

  After Jun went back into the fitting room, Xavier finally stepped out of his car. For hours, he sat here, watching her from afar. Despite knowing it was wrong, he couldn’t help but keep an eye on her.

  Ever since that day, he was haunted by guilt and couldn’t stop thinking about her. He couldn’t tell if it was her beautiful smile, her mocking tone, or her honest words, but something in him felt different, questioning his rationality.

  When he saw Jun being treated coldly by Liam, he felt an urge to confront him. It was supposed to be a joyful day for them to choose their wedding attire, so why was Liam acting this way?

  Did he not love Jun?

  But he was in no position to ask them this.

  He was simply a friend. All he could do was to stand at their side, wishing for their happiness. But… could he?

  For the first time, Xavier felt like he didn’t understand himself.

  In the end, before he could sort out his feelings, his feet were already leading him towards the boutique. Stepping inside, he was greeted with many unpleasant murmurs. Many were sympathetic, but some were openly critical. Regardless, he remained unfazed.

  Having made up his mind, Xavier moved towards Jun’s fitting room. He patiently waited outside. As soon as she stepped out, he approached her.

  Jun saw Xavier, and quickly hid the sadness in her eyes, repcing it with a calm expression, but little did she know that her act only made Xavier feel his heart ache for her.

  Jun didn’t give Xavier a pleasant look as she asked, “What is Mr Grey doing here?” She had already changed back into her clothes and was preparing to leave.

  “I was passing by when I saw you,” Xavier said, using an excuse he had thought up beforehand.

  Pretending to not understand, Jun acted oblivious and pressed further. “Oh? And then? What are you really here for?”

  Xavier thought long and hard about what to say and ultimately told the truth. He kept a cool demeanour, but his tone was surprisingly gentle. “…You looked like you could use some help, so I thought I would step in and help you.”

  “What for?” Jun said, “You’re not obligated to do anything for me anymore.”

  “I know, but I don’t care. I want to help you.”

  Once Xavier uttered that, he knew it was too te to take them back. Taking in a deep breath, he chose to not say anything else while he waited for her answer. He looked intently at Jun, hoping for a positive reply.

  Surprised by his unexpected honesty, Jun became silent. Who knew this cunning man would have a change of heart so soon?

  After a prolonged silence, Jun finally spoke. With a faint smile, she slowly said, “…In that case, I must thank you, Mr Grey.”

  However, instead of acknowledging her thanks, Xavier suddenly said, “Call me Xavier.”

  “Considering I’m helping you out, it’s only reasonable for me to request this, don’t you think?” Xavier’s face was serious as he spoke. Only now did he notice how distant Jun sounded when she addressed him, and it bothered him.

  Jun’s gaze lingered on Xavier, a hint of amusement in them, before she looked away. Without saying a word, she walked back into the fitting room. Just as the door was about to close, she stopped and gnced back at him again.

  “Xavier,” Jun said softly, “Let’s not waste any more time. Pick the right dress for me.”

  Xavier stood there, speechless, then his face broke into a faint smile, his heart brimming with joy. Even as the doors were closed, he couldn’t stop smiling. Once he calmed down, he noticed the puzzled sales clerks around him and quickly instructed them to assist Jun.

  As Xavier sat on the couch waiting for her, a small flutter of anticipation unconsciously grew within him. Since just now, he had been observing her through the windows, captivated by her stunning beauty.

  Would he be utterly mesmerised when she stood directly in front of him?

  Xavier chuckled inwardly as an image of a beautiful red gown with intricate embroidery, gold threads and flowing silk appeared in his mind. For some reason, he just knew that dress would be perfect for her, something she would like.

  …

  After they were done, they made their way to Xavier’s car.

  Xavier and Jun walked next to each other, an arm’s length apart. She didn’t inform her chauffeur earlier to pick her up, so he offered her a ride home.

  As Xavier focused on driving, Jun absentmindedly looked out the window, lost in thought. Unbeknownst to her, from the moment she got in his car, there were many questions he wanted to ask, yet he always stopped himself at the st second.

  In the end, the trip to Jun’s home was completely silent. Not a single word was exchanged.

  Jun was ready to get out of the car, but the door was locked, and the driver had no intention of unlocking it. Confused, she looked back, only to find Xavier quietly staring at her. The silence stretched on and on, until she couldn’t resist asking him, “Do you need something from me?”

  He didn’t respond to her question. Instead, he unexpectedly asked, “Can I still make it up to you?”

  “Yes, you can, but… why should you?”

  “Because I owe you.” Xavier honestly said, “I want to help you.”

  Hearing that, Jun’s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard, but soon her expression turned gentle. She ughed. “Is that so?”

  At that moment, Xavier was taken aback by the sight of Jun’s sincere smile. Not only was her smile incredibly warm, but it was also undeniably captivating. Anyone who saw it would know that she was genuinely happy.

  Xavier suddenly found he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her.

  Sadly, Jun didn’t realise his flushed face was a result of her smile. When she noticed Xavier was being oddly silent again, she gave him a doubtful gnce as she asked, “Are you okay?”

  Immediately, her words brought Xavier back to his senses.

  Without a doubt, Xavier felt embarrassed that she had caught him staring. He hastily searched for an excuse, but before he could utter a word, Jun handed him her handkerchief.

  She said, “I’ll get you some water and medicine from my house. Stay here until I return.”

  Seeing the seriousness in her eyes, he was reminded of the genuine care and concern she had shown towards Lily. And before he knew it, he found himself nodding.

  Since he agreed, Jun quickly unlocked the door and left.

  Meanwhile, Xavier gnced at the rearview mirror and saw that he was soaked in sweat. No wonder she thought he was ill.

  Since when did he lose his cool like this?

  Xavier let out a sigh as he clutched the handkerchief tightly.

  When Jun returned with a bottle of water and medicine, she immediately urged him to take it. Xavier listened, and only when his condition seemed to improve did she let him off. Giving him one st check, she said “thank you” and left.

  But even after she was gone, Xavier didn’t feel any better.

  The lingering scent of roses remained all over his car, just like the intense emotions riled up in his heart.