I was about to ascend the stairs when I heard Peter, our butler, greeting someone at the entrance with an unusual amount of respect. His voice carried a tone of awe I had rarely heard before.
Curiosity got the better of me. I turned on my heel and glanced toward the doorway.
My breath caught. Donatella? I whispered under my breath, my eyes widening in shock.
"Hi, Aurora! Come on, give me a hug," she said warmly, opening her arms.
Without hesitation, I rushed forward and embraced her tightly.
"Miss Donatella Versace… wow, what a surprise!" I said, still in disbelief.
"Yes, it is," she replied with a graceful smile. "I'm here personally to deliver your gown."
"You designed it?" I asked, my jaw nearly dropping.
"Of course I did," she said proudly. "But I can't stay long. I have somewhere important to be. I've already spoken to your mother and enjoyed a few snacks."
She started to turn away, but then added with a playful smirk, "Please… absolutely slay when you wear it. I took my time designing it for you, my princess."
"I promise I will," I replied sincerely.
"Good. Goodbye, darling," she said, leaving with the elegance of royalty.
"Tricha!" I called.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Hang the dress in my closet. I'll look at it later—I need to make an important call."
I handed the garment bag to her and made my way to the library, my mind still reeling from what had just happened.
I immediately dialed Angel.
"Bestie, you won't believe this—Donatella herself just delivered my gown!"
"You don't say!" Angel gasped. "But… Aurora, why is your dad putting so much effort into this party? It's almost as if… he's marrying you off."
"Don't be ridiculous," I said with a small laugh. "I was just joking earlier, remember?"
"Still… something feels strange."
"I know," I admitted quietly. "And to top it off—Bobbi Brown is in my house right now. She's been hired for the entire day. Tell me that isn't weird."
"Bobbi?!" Angel practically screamed into the phone. "Oh, bestie, I'm coming early. If Bobbi's doing makeup, I'm not missing out."
"Of course you can come! It'll make this whole thing less boring for me. I'll be expecting you."
Hanging up, I headed straight for my bedroom, eager to see the masterpiece Miss Donatella had created.
The moment I unzipped the bag, my mouth fell open. "Oh my…" I whispered. The gown was exquisite—like something pulled straight from a dream. The turquoise fabric shimmered under the light, and I knew instantly it would make my eyes glow even more. Every bead, every delicate stitch, was perfection.
I couldn't wait to slide into it. My fingers itched to touch every detail, my heart racing at the thought of tomorrow night.
Time flew without me noticing, and before I knew it, it was already 5 p.m. Bobbi Brown herself—and her entire entourage—were in my room, working their magic on me. With her skill, I already knew I was in safe hands.
When they finally stepped back, I heard Angel gasp behind me.
"Oh my God… what did you do to her, Bobbi? Just… look at her!"
I blinked my eyes open and caught my own reflection in the mirror. I barely recognized myself.
"Are you sure I'm the one sitting here?" I said in awe. "Bobbi, you've done it again—this is beyond beautiful."
"You're right," Angel said, still in shock. "I'll get your gown."
She carefully helped me into the dress, and for a moment she just stared at me, her mouth open as if she wanted to say something.
"I know, Angel," I cut in with a smile. "The dress is… breathtaking."
It was a sleeveless gown, the neckline tastefully revealing just a hint of cleavage. The bodice hugged me in all the right places, showcasing my curves like the work of art Donatella had intended. The fabric pooled elegantly at my feet, making me feel as though I had stepped straight into a fairy tale.
And yet… somewhere deep inside, the unease remained.