Chapter 4
Upon turning around, Enola saw Chloe and Robert, both looking surprised to see her. There was also a group of Chloe’s close friends trailing behind them.
She lowered her gaze and explained, “I’m getting married soon. I ordered my wedding dress here earlier, so I came to pick it up today.”
“You’re really getting married? I thought you were joking,” Chloe said, still visibly shocked.
Robert’s expression darkened beside her, and his voice was laced with displeasure. “That’s because it is a joke. Who could she possibly be marrying, and where would she even get married?”
Feeling helpless, Enola lowered her eyes and repeated, “It’s real…”
But before she could finish, Robert’s sharp voice cut her off, “Lying once is enough. What’s the point of repeating the same lie over and over again?”
She couldn’t understand why he was reacting so strongly to her wedding, nor did she feel the need to explain any further. Just as she was about to leave and ask the store assistant to pack the dress, Chloe’s eyes landed on the gown she was wearing. Admiration flashed across her face.
“If this really is just a joke, Ennie, can you give me this dress? I just love the design.”
Enola froze for a moment before instinctively shaking her head.
Robert’s expression instantly darkened as he frowned. “You don’t even need a wedding dress. Since Chlo likes it, just give it to her.”
Pressing her lips together, Enola stood her ground without the slightest intention of giving in.
Seeing the growing storm in Robert’s eyes, Chloe quickly stepped in to smooth things over. “Alright, now. That’s enough. Why don’t you wait outside for me? Let me talk to Ennie alone. It’s easier for us ladies to settle things between ourselves.”
Robert hesitated for a moment before finally turning to leave.
As Chloe strolled toward her with a smile, memories of the bullying Enola had suffered in school suddenly surfaced. Alarms blared in her mind, and she instinctively tried to feel. However, a sharp yank on her hair stopped her in place before she could take a step.
The next second, the sound of slaps rang out one after another.
A burning pain spread across her cheek, momentarily making her feel like she had been thrown back to her high school days, when she had been helpless against her tormentors. Then, forced to look up, she could only see Chloe’s twisted grin as her vision blurred with tears.
“Strip that dress off her!” Chloe’s group of girls swarmed toward Enola at her command.
A wave of fear and trauma surged through Enola. Her breathing turned ragged, and her entire body trembled as she curled in on herself, desperately trying to shield her clothes. Even so, how could she possibly fight off so many people alone?
The wedding dress was forcibly ripped from her body. A chill seeped into her bones, but even in her humiliation, it still wasn’t enough for Chloe.
As if suddenly remembering something, Chloe pulled out her phone and began taking pictures, mumbling to herself with amusement, “A moment this scandalous has to be documented, don’t you all think?”
“D-Don’t…” Enola’s voice trembled as she pleaded, but it only made Chloe even more excited as she snapped the pictures with greater enthusiasm.
The torment continued until a sudden ringtone pierced the air, abruptly interrupting Chloe’s twisted fun.
Seeing Robert’s name on the screen, Chloe immediately answered it. Her voice turned sickeningly sweet as she said, “Robert, what’s wrong?”
“Did she agree?” his deep voice came through the line.
Chloe glanced at Enola, and a smug smile spread across her face. “Of course, don’t worry. Ennie is easy to talk to. After some persuading, she agreed to let me have the dress.”
Still on the phone, she led her group of friends out of the store, and their laughter faded as they disappeared.
Only when they were completely gone did Enola finally steady herself. She turned to the shop assistant, who had been hiding on the sidelines, and asked for clothes to change into.
She didn’t go straight home after leaving the bridal boutique. Instead, she took the store’s security footage straight to the police and filed a report.
What she didn’t expect was that the moment she arrived back at her apartment, she received a message from the police station informing her that the case had already been withdrawn. Her heart sank. She immediately called them back.
“Ms. Crawford, a man claiming to be your guardian just came in. He said it was all a misunderstanding, so we closed the case.”
Enola was in disbelief when they mentioned Robert. It wasn’t until the officer on the other end confirmed it multiple times that she finally accepted the truth. She simply let out a bitter laugh after hanging up.
It wasn’t long before Robert stormed into her room, and the first thing out of his mouth was an accusation. “Did you seriously call the police over a wedding dress?”
“Yeah, Ennie. You told me yourself that I could have it, so why did you suddenly change your mind?” Chloe chimed in from behind him. Her expression was filled with feigned innocence.
Enola ignored her completely and fixed her gaze on Robert. She said to him in a shaky voice, “Over a wedding dress? Robbie, have you seen the security footage? Do you know how she took that dress from me?”
His expression was full of impatience, and his response was like a blade stabbing straight through her chest.
“I don’t need to see it. If you want to stay here, you need to get along with Chloe.”
His words crushed the last bit of hope she had.
Of course, Chloe was his fiancée now. Naturally, everything revolved around her. How foolish Enola had been to think—even for a second—that he would take her side.
Her eyes turned red, and she shook her head with a self-deprecating smile. “There’s no need. I won’t be staying here, and I don’t need to get along with her. I’m getting married soon.”
Without sparing another glance at Robert’s darkened expression, she turned and walked away, leaving his reprimands behind.
…
That night, Enola tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. As the night deepened, she became thirsty, and she groggily got up to get a drink.
After finishing her water, she made her way back to the room. When she was finally ready to lie down, she realized something felt off.
She immediately jolted awake. She glanced around the unfamiliar surroundings, making her pause in confusion. It took her a long moment to realize that she had entered the wrong room.
It was not just any room. It was the one Robert had never allowed her to step into.
Panic surged through her, and she turned to leave in a hurry. However, something on the wall caught her eye just as she moved. It was a rosary bracelet.
Her breath hitched. A cold wave of shock crashed over her, leaving her frozen in place.
Why was this rosary bracelet here?
