Chapter 153: The Dress That Was Always Meant to Be

Chapter 153: The Dress That Was Always Meant to Be
Sophia’s POV

The moment I stepped into the boutique, I felt it.

That tug.

That sense of déjà vu, of something unfinished, waiting to be completed.

Because fuck—

I hadn’t expected to find it still here.

Hadn’t dared to hope.

But as soon as I glanced across the room, there it was.

The dress.

My dress.

Hanging there like it had been waiting for me all this time.

"Oh my God," Claire whispered, following my gaze. "It’s still here."

"It’s still here," I repeated, my heart pounding, my feet already moving toward it.

The boutique assistant smiled, stepping forward. "You have a good eye. That dress is one of a kind. A vintage designer piece, last of its collection. It’s never been worn, never been altered. It’s waiting for the right person."

My throat tightened.

Because fuck—

It felt like fate.

Like this dress had been waiting for me just as much as I had been waiting for it.

"Try it on," Leah urged, her excitement practically vibrating off of her.

I nodded, unable to find my voice.

The assistant led me to the fitting room, carefully unzipping the garment bag, revealing every intricate detail.

The soft champagne hue.

The delicate lacework.

The way it flowed like something out of a dream.

And fuck—

When I stepped into it, when the fabric slid over my skin, hugging me in all the right places, settling perfectly around me—

I knew.

I knew this was it.

I turned to face the mirror.

And fuck—

For the first time, I saw it.

Not just the dress.

Not just the details, the way it fit, the way it moved when I breathed.

I saw my future.

I saw myself walking down the aisle, toward Travis, toward forever.

And I felt it.

The absolute, unshakable certainty that this was the dress I would marry him in.

"Well?" Claire called from outside. "Are you going to make us wait all day?"

I took a deep breath, smoothing my hands over the fabric one last time before stepping out.

The second I did—

Silence.

And then—

"Holy shit," Leah breathed.

Claire’s eyes went wide, her hand covering her mouth.

And then—

I turned toward Travis’s mother.

She was watching me carefully, her eyes filled with something soft, knowing, and just a little bit glassy.

"It’s perfect," she murmured. "It was always meant to be yours."

And fuck—

That was all I needed to hear.

I turned back to the assistant. "I’ll take it."

The woman smiled, like she already knew what my answer would be. "Excellent choice."

I exhaled, finally letting myself believe that this was real.

That I was standing here, in a wedding dress, choosing my future.

And fuck—

It had never felt more right.

Once my dress was safely purchased and packed away, it was time for the others to find theirs.

Leah and Claire, my two bridesmaids—

Both of them, predictably, had very different opinions on what they wanted.

"Okay, listen," Claire started, holding up a dress with an exaggerated sweetheart neckline. "This is stunning."

Leah made a face, shoving a different dress toward her. "No. This is stunning."

"Leah, that’s literally a ball gown. Are you trying to outshine the bride?"

"Excuse me," Leah said flatly, "I would never. But if I happen to look amazing, is that really my fault?"

I laughed, shaking my head. "The only rule is that the dresses match in color. You guys can pick whatever styles you want."

Both of them paused, glancing at each other.

Then—

"Royal blue," they said at the same time.

It took a solid hour of them trying on different styles, but eventually, both of them found the dresses that made them light up.

Leah, true to form, went for something sleek and structured, with sharp lines and an elegant neckline.

Claire, on the other hand, chose something softer, with flowing fabric and delicate beadwork.

And together?

They looked like absolute royalty.

Next was Travis’s mother.

"I don’t need anything fancy," she said, browsing through the racks.

"You’re the mother of the groom," I reminded her. "That means you get to look as stunning as possible."

She gave me a knowing smile, then pulled out a dress that was effortlessly elegant, understated but beautiful.

"This one," she said simply.

And fuck—

It was perfect.

Just like everything else today.

After our shopping trip, we headed to a quiet little restaurant, settling into our seats with drinks in hand.

And then—

The gifts started.

"We have a little tradition to uphold," Travis’s mother said, smiling as she reached into her bag. "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue."

I blinked, my throat tightening slightly. "You… really don’t have to—"

"Oh, hush," Leah cut in. "It’s happening, and you’re going to love it."

And fuck—

She was right.

The first gift came from Travis’s mother.

A delicate gold bracelet, vintage but timeless.

"Something old," she said softly. "This belonged to my grandmother. Now, it belongs to you."

I swallowed hard, blinking back the unexpected emotion.

"Thank you," I whispered.

The next gift came from Claire.

A pair of crystal earrings, new, sparkling in the light.

"Something new," she said with a smirk. "Because every bride deserves to shine."

I laughed, shaking my head. "You guys are too much."

The third gift came from Leah.

A handkerchief, embroidered with tiny floral patterns.

"Something borrowed," she said, grinning. "And no, I don’t expect you to actually use it. Just hold onto it. It’s supposed to bring good luck."

I rolled my eyes, but fuck—

I couldn’t stop the smile tugging at my lips.

The last gift was from all of them.

A small blue ribbon, meant to be sewn into the inside of my dress.

"Something blue," they all said in unison.

And that was it.

That was the moment it all hit me.

Because fuck—

I wasn’t just marrying Travis.

I was gaining a family.

And for the first time in my life—

I finally had everything I had ever wanted.