Emma spun around briskly, but before she could get a good look at herself, the man lounging on the sofa nearby let out a lazy comment.
"Not good enough. Change it. It's lifeless..."
"No way, Liam. Take a proper look. I think it's stunning. What do you say, Charlotte?" Emma snapped, stung by his sharp tongue.
"I think it's beautiful too, ma'am," Charlotte said cautiously, glancing at Liam.
"Mrs. Williams, perhaps we could try another style. There are plenty you haven't tried yet," the sales assistant, Jessica, said with an awkward smile.
After all, this wedding gown was an original design by a renowned Italian couturier. And Liam had the nerve to call it lifeless?
Five minutes later.
Emma emerged from the fitting room in a simple white A-line dress.
The reaction was almost identical to before. Charlotte and Jessica nodded in agreement, showering her with compliments.
Liam barely glanced up from his magazine. "Too revealing. And the design is far too plain. Change it."
Emma was speechless.
Revealing? Showing her shoulders was revealing now?
Was Liam from the eighteenth century?
The next few fittings followed the same pattern. It seemed Liam's talent for being a smug, sharp-tongued critic had been fully unleashed. His commanding presence made it impossible for anyone to argue.
"This one is too sexy. It doesn't suit your figure. Change it..."
"I don't like the color. Change it..."
"It makes you look pregnant. Have you put on weight lately? Change it..."
"I can't put my finger on it, but something's off. Change it..."
"This one is far too cute. You're not a teenager anymore. Change it..."
She had nearly tried on every gown she had picked out, and Liam found fault with every single one.
He said she was too cute for it?
How dare he?
"I'm practically the same age as a teenager! And Liam, you've rejected every single dress I've chosen. Are you dissatisfied with my taste, or do you just hate every designer's work? Just say it to my face!" Emma was fuming.
"You picked all of these? No wonder..." Liam still didn't look up from his magazine, his tone dripping with lazy condescension.
He let out a soft sigh. After all, he was involved in the fashion industry. He had an eye for these things.
Watching Emma flit around in a panic, he felt a secret joy.
He didn't mean to be difficult. The truth was, none of these gowns were up to his standards.
And Emma was supposed to be the editor of a fashion magazine?
Who would believe it?
It was safe to say her taste in wedding dresses was... lacking.
"You're one to talk, sitting there so comfortably. I didn't say a word when you were trying on your suits. So shut up now. Hmph! Say one more word, and I'll just..."
"What? Bite me?" Liam teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes. The smile on his face grew wider. "I'm only looking out for you, my dear. If we choose the wrong dress, people will think we don't love each other, or that I'm not treating you well. Isn't that right, my wife?"
Even though Emma was genuinely annoyed by their conversation, to anyone watching, it just looked like a newlywed couple's playful bickering.
Emma knew that Liam, that scheming bastard, was just putting on a show for the public. He wanted everyone to see how wonderful and devoted he was!
"Ma'am, there's one last gown you haven't tried. Would you like to..." Jessica whispered hesitantly.
"Of course! Didn't you hear my husband isn't satisfied? Today, we're going to try on every single wedding dress in this store. I want to make sure the CEO is happy. Otherwise, how could I ever be worthy of his efforts?"
She was furious.
A girl's favorite weapon: sarcasm.
Even if she wasn't exhausted to death, she would be annoyed to death by this heartless man, Liam.
Was it really so hard for him to say one nice thing?
When Liam heard her say that, he gave her a thumbs-up with a wicked grin.
He was signaling for her to keep going.
Since it was already like this, Emma had no illusions about the last gown.
She already knew the ending. Liam would surely find some ridiculous reason to reject her choice.
Emma put on the final gown and pushed open the fitting room door for the last time.
Her face was full of exhaustion and impatience. She didn't even want to look in the mirror. What was the point? Even if she liked it, Liam would just find fault.
So she dragged her long skirt over to him and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Not satisfied, right? I'll just go change..."
Maybe she was too tired to think straight. She completely missed the looks of surprise on everyone's faces.
Liam sat on the sofa, not expecting much.
After all, he had seen so many gowns. He just felt that none of them could match Emma's temperament and beauty.
But...
He had to admit it.
The woman standing before him at this moment had truly stunned everyone.
This was the latest fashion of the year. A romantic, Korean-style wedding gown with a grand train. From the front of the bodice, down the waist, and across the entire skirt, the gown was covered in flawless, hand-sewn petals.
The train was made of twelve layers of tulle and petals.
The only way to describe Emma in this gown was ethereal. Soft and dreamy, yet breathtakingly elegant.
Charlotte was speechless with excitement.
Even though her taste was average, the moment Emma stepped out, Charlotte felt like her mistress looked like a princess.
Liam stared for several seconds before finally putting down his magazine.
His expression was still a little cold and unreadable. He walked gracefully over to Emma and remained silent.
When he was just one step away, he stopped and raised his hand to gently smooth her hair.
After all the criticism he had given, now he could only purse his lips, seemingly at a loss for words.
Emma suddenly felt the atmosphere was strange.
She leaned back slightly, trying to keep a safe distance from him. What was that look in his eyes?
"Say something. What do you want me to do?"
Emma raised her hand and waved it in front of his eyes. His gaze was... dazed.
Oh, forget it. She might as well just go change.
Emma was about to turn around, but then...
In a flash, Liam grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her several steps toward the mirror.
Emma was startled. She looked at him in panic.
His... his eyes were...