“When you take the gown off tonight, I hope you at least acknowledge the good it’s done. You are free to donate it and do what you like with the coin.” He started to walk away, then stopped. His hands curled into fists, and after another long pause, he finally turned back to me. “Just to be clear, I didn’t so much as kiss any of the suitors tonight. I was too busy thinking of how distractingly beautiful you are in that gods-forsaken dress to indulge anyone else’s desires.” The confession looked like it cost him dearly. While I struggled to come up with a response through the maelstrom of
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