Ella POV The memory of Alexander's lips against mine lingered even the next morning as I stepped into the bridal boutique. I tried to push the thought aside, focusing on the task at hand as my mother and I entered the boutique where Diana was already waiting for us. This was a place I’d only ever seen in fashion magazines, a shop I never thought I’d step foot in. It had been entirely out of my budget the first time around, and to be honest, it still was. But I shouldn’t have been surprised—it was exactly the kind of place Alexander would choose to send us to. First, the castle as our venue, and now this. It was clear Alexander wasn’t just planning a wedding; he was sending a message—not only to David but to anyone who might have dared to question his position. I was gratefu

