CHAPTER 3：THE DRESS HAS A STAIN

CHAPTER 3

GWENDOLYN'S POV

I opened my eyes to a bright morning sun. Blinking a few times, I sat up and looked around for Carlos, but he was nowhere to be found. Though he was rough around the edges, I felt safe with him and his presence next to me had given me comfort in an otherwise troubling time. I rubbed my eyes and stretched my arms before suddenly remembering what happened the night before. I woke up with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The room was unfamiliar, and for a moment, I couldn't remember where I was. Then, as my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I saw Carol standing at the far end of the room with his head bent down in a direct

In that moment, all the fear and uncertainty from the previous night came flooding back. I had been so naive to think that everything would be okay. Now, I was alone with a man I didn't know, in a place I didn't recognize.

Carefully, I got out of bed and tiptoed past Alpha Drago, not wanting to disturb him. As soon as I was out of the bedroom, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I needed to clear my head and figure out what to do next. I walked in the direction of the washroom door. Upon entering, I was greeted by the view of the washroom, As I thought back to the way Anastasia and my stepmother had treated me, my heart ached with pain. I could almost feel the bruises on my face and arms from all the times they had hurt me. But more than that, I felt a deep sense of betrayal. They had used me as a proxy bride so they could save face, without even considering how it would impact me.

I stood up and walked around the small cabin, taking in my surroundings. I had never been in a place like this before - it was so different from the extravagant mansion I had grown up in. But there was a certain charm to it, and I found myself drawn to the rustic simplicity of it all.

As I washed my face in a basin of cool water, I couldn't help but think about my mother. She was the reason why I had agreed to this in the first place. My real mother was a kind-hearted woman who had always put others before herself. When I was young, she fell ill with a lung disease that was progressively getting worse. We couldn't afford the treatment she needed, and eventually, she became bedridden. It was then that my stepmother came into our lives, with all her greed and selfishness.

My stepmother had married my father for his wealth, and when she realized that he had a daughter from his previous marriage, she treated me like a burden. It was only a matter of time before she seized the opportunity to get rid of me by offering me up as a proxy bride.

I let out a sigh and shook my head, trying to clear my mind. I needed to focus on what was ahead of me, and I couldn't let the past drag me down. I walked out of the washroom to see Alpha Drago outside, exercising with professional movements and postures. His large figure was intimidating, but I couldn't help but admire his strength and discipline.

"Good morning," he said, taking a break from his routine. "Did you sleep well?"

I nodded, still feeling a bit intimidated by him. "Do you want breakfast?" I asked, not sure what else to say.

"No." He shook his head, and I made my way to the kitchen, which was nothing special. It was simple and poor, but it had everything I needed to cook a basic breakfast. As I worked, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment. This was not the life I had imagined for myself. I had always dreamed of a grand wedding, with a handsome and successful husband. Instead, I was stuck in this makeshift home, with a man who was reticent and seemed to have no real interest in me.

But as we sat down to eat, there were moments of flirtation - we talked and laughed, and I felt a flicker of hope. I wanted to know more about him, but he was guarded, and I didn't dare to pry too much. It was clear that we were already married, and I wanted to make the best of it - to build a life together that was worth living.

After we finished eating, I announced that I wanted to return the wedding dress - the one I had rented for the ceremony. To my surprise, Alpha Drago was taken aback. "You rented a wedding dress?" he asked, sounding incredulous. "I didn't know...I thought it was a modest wedding, but I didn't realize it was to this extent."

I felt a sense of embarrassment, realizing that I had never discussed my expectations with him. "I'm sorry," I said, feeling a little ashamed. "I just wanted everything to be perfect."

He gave me a small smile. "Don't be sorry," he said. "You didn't need to."

And that was it, I walked into the room and not quite long, I finished packing the gown in a bag. I walked out of the house and flagged down a taxi zooming past me. The driver looked at me with a keen gaze and finally said, "you can come in."

I alighted the car and in no time we were already at the store. I took a deep breath as I stepped out of the taxi and walked towards the wedding gown rental store. I had woken up with a sense of determination, ready to return the rented dress so I could put the whole ordeal behind her. But as I approached the store, I felt a knot form in my stomach. What would the staff say to me? Would they be as cruel and degrading as my stepmother and Anastasia had been?

As I entered the store, I immediately felt a sense of unease. The staff looked at me with disdain, and I could hear them whispering behind my back. But I held my head high, determined to do what needed to be done.

"I'm here to return the wedding dress," I said, trying to sound confident.

The staff member behind the counter sneered at her. "Oh, you mean the gown you couldn't afford to buy?" She said, her tone dripping with disdain. "I hope you took better care of it than you did yourself."

I felt my face flush with embarrassment and anger. How dare this woman speak to me like that? I am a lady, and I deserve to be treated with respect. But I held her tongue, not wanting to escalate the situation.

Instead, I handed over the dress and the key to the locker she had rented it from. The staff member inspected it with a critical eye, tutting and shaking her head.

"This dress has a stain!" The staff member beamed with eyes steaming fire. At that instant, I knew I was in hot trouble. How would I pay for the dress?