Chapter 131
131
~Elara’s POV
Darlon guided me to the fitting area, his hand resting lightly on my lower back, his presence comforting and grounding. As I stepped into the gown, the fabric hugging me in all the right places, I felt a mix of pride and nervousness. This wasn’t just a dress; it was a symbol of everything I had worked for, of all the late nights, the endless designs, and the hope that tomorrow would show the world what we had built.
“You look amazing,” Darlon whispered, his hand brushing my arm lightly. “Absolutely stunning. They won’t even know what hit them p>
I laughed softly, though my heart fluttered. “I hope so,” I said, adjusting the gown slightly. “I just… I want it to be perfect p>
“It will be,” he said firmly. “Because it has you in it. And nothing is more perfect than that p>
The designer adjusted the hem, fussing with the shoulders, checking the flow of the fabric as I turned slowly on the platform. “It fits beautifully, Luna. And the detailing will shine under the stage lights. No adjustments needed unless you want a personal touch p>
I looked back at Darlon, feeling the warmth of his presence and the depth of his support. “I… I think this is perfect,” I said, finally, feeling a mix of relief and excitement.
Darlon’s hand found mine again. “Then tomorrow, my love, we show them all. And you… You will be the star p>
I smiled, feeling a mix of nerves, excitement, and gratitude. “I’m ready,” I said softly. “Let’s go home and get some rest. Tomorrow is a big day p>
Darlon leaned down, brushing a kiss against my temple. “Yes, my love. Tomorrow, you shine, and I will be right there beside you p>
We stepped out of the boutique, the city lights sparkling around us, and Fridolf opened the car door. Darlon offered me his arm as I slid inside, and we drove home in quiet anticipation, the gown safe and ready for the big day ahead.
The morning sun filtered softly through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the bed. I blinked awake slowly, the familiar warmth of Darlon’s presence beside me grounding me in a way I hadn’t realized I needed. He stirred slightly as I moved, muttering something soft and sleep-heavy, but when he saw I was awake, his eyes brightened.
“Good morning, my love,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “Today is the big day p>
I sighed, a mix of excitement and nerves twisting in my stomach. “Yes, the big day I murmured, rubbing my face as if that would make the butterflies settle.
Before I could get out of bed properly, there was a gentle knock at the door. “Luna Elara?” a soft voice called. “The designer has arrived with the gown p>
Darlon’s smile grew wider, his hand still resting lightly on my shoulder. “Shall we get you ready, my love?” he asked, and I could hear the underlying excitement in his voice.
I nodded, trying to keep my voice steady. “Yes, we should p>
Moments later, the designer arrived, carrying the carefully wrapped gown in a protective cover. The sight of it, just seeing the fabric carefully folded, made my chest tighten with anticipation. The designer bowed politely, setting it down on the edge of the bed.
“It is ready, Luna Elara,” he said softly, his eyes gleaming with pride. “We have made sure every stitch, every seam, every detail will fit you perfectly. And I wish you success on today’s event p>
I glanced at Darlon, who gave me an encouraging nod. “You’ll look amazing,” he said, brushing a kiss against my temple. “And you don’t need to worry about a single thing. I’ll be there with you the whole time p>
I swallowed, feeling the nervous flutter in my stomach intensify. “I hope I don’t mess it up,” I whispered, almost to myself.
“You won’t,” Darlon replied firmly, tugging me gently from the bed so I could sit. “Because everything is prepared. You’ve done your part. Now all you have to do is shine. I promise, my love, everything else is taken care of p>
The designer unwrapped the gown carefully and held it up. “If you will step forward, Luna Elara, we can start p>
I took a deep breath and stepped into the gown, feeling the soft fabric glide over my skin. The moment it settled around me, I realized just how perfect it was. The cut flattered the curves of my changing body, the shimmer of the fabric caught the light without being too overwhelming, and every detail spoke of elegance and confidence.
Darlon’s eyes softened as he stepped closer. “See? It’s already perfect on you,” he murmured, brushing his hand gently across the small of my back. “I could get lost just looking at you p>
I felt my cheeks heat up, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Stop saying things like that… I’ll get even more nervous,” I said, though my heart was racing.
“Nonsense,” he said, leaning closer, his forehead resting lightly against mine. “A little nerves make you even more beautiful p>
Just then, the makeup artist arrived, carrying a small kit of brushes, powders, and colors carefully arranged. “Alpha, Luna,” she said, giving a polite bow, “I am here to make sure everything is ready for your big entrance. I’ll start with your makeup so it complements the gown perfectly p>
I sighed and settled into the chair, Darlon holding my hand as the artist worked. “I can’t believe it’s finally here,” I murmured, feeling a small tremor of excitement in my voice. “It feels like we’ve been preparing forever p>
Darlon squeezed my hand. “And all that preparation is about to pay off. You’ll see, my love. Just relax and let everyone else handle the work. All you have to do is walk with me on that stage p>
I blinked at him, trying to steady my nerves. “Just walk… hand in hand with you p>
“Yes,” he said, smiling. “Everything else is taken care of. Janae has the team in place, and David is making sure the hall is perfect, the models, the lighting, the invitations; they’ve done it all. You just need to be yourself, my love p>
A small laugh escaped me, though it was nervous. “I can’t just be myself. What if something goes wrong? What if p>
Darlon pressed his finger gently to my lips. “No ’what ifs,’ my love. Today, you shine. That’s it. Everything else? Gone. Don’t worry, don’t think, just… be Elara. That’s all I need p>
I let out a small breath, trying to let his words sink in. “Okay… I’ll try,” I said softly, watching as the makeup artist started with a light foundation and delicate touches that enhanced my features without looking too heavy.
Darlon stayed close, brushing stray hairs back, occasionally whispering small reassurances or making gentle jokes to keep me smiling. “You know,” he said, leaning in slightly, “even pregnant, even tired, even nervous, you are the stunning person in the world p>
I laughed softly, though my chest tightened with emotion. “You always know what to say p>
“And I always will,” he murmured, brushing a kiss across my cheek.
He smiled softly, holding my hand. “Of course, my love. Every detail matters today. You need to feel confident, comfortable, and stunning. These are just the finishing touches p>