<h4>Chapter 604: Dangerously Beautiful</h4>


    <strong>Evaline:</strong>


    I blinked, confused, as the car came to a sudden stop.


    The gentle hum of the engine died down, reced by the faint noise of traffic outside, and I instinctively turned my head toward the window. For a second, I thought we had already reached the hotel, but the sight that greeted me was... unexpected.


    A boutique.


    Not just any boutique, but the kind that looked like it belonged in glossy magazines with those floor-to-ceiling ss panels, warm golden lighting spilling onto the pavement, mannequins dressed in elegant evening gowns that probably cost more than my annual sry.


    My brows furrowed as I turned toward Elion, who sat beside me asposed as ever, one arm resting along the back of the seat, his long legs stretched slightly forward.


    Before I could even open my mouth, he spoke.


    "We are stopping so you can get ready for the evening."


    I blinked again. "I... already have a dress."


    His gaze shifted toward me - calm, assessing, unreadable. "I’m aware."


    "Then... why are we here?"


    But he was already opening his door and climbing out.


    A secondter, he walked around the car and opened mine, offering his hand with that quiet, effortless authority that made it feel less like a suggestion and more like an inevitable oue.


    Still, I didn’t move.


    "Alpha Grey," I said, trying again, "I really did bring a nice dress. I’m sure I’ll be able to make myself presentable enough for the evening and you won’t get a chance to criticize my fashion sense"


    One corner of his mouth twitched faintly, almost like he was amused.


    "I don’t doubt your choice," he replied. "But tonight, you are attending as <i>my</i> partner."


    I just stared at him, trying to keep up with where he’s going with his excuses.


    "And," he continued in his smooth voice, "we’ll be matching."


    Matching?


    I stared at him.


    "How am I supposed to know if my dress matches when I don’t even know what you are wearing?"


    "You don’t," he said simply. "And that’s exactly why you need to get ready here."


    Before I could even think of anything to say, his fingers closed gently around mine.


    His hold wasn’t rough, but still firm enough that I found myself stepping out of the car before I could argue again.


    "As Elion Grey’s partner," he added quietly, leaning just slightly closer as if to make sure I heard him loud and clear, "you should match my presence. And clothes are the easiest way to do that."


    "You can’t be serious right now." I muttered as he dragged me inside the luxury store.


    - - -


    Ten minutester, I was standing in a changing room, staring at myself in the mirror in what could only be described as an extremely questionable ck dress.


    Questionable was putting it mildly.


    The fabric hugged every curve of my body like a second skin, the neckline plunging all the way to my belly... allowing a scandalous side peeks at my boobs, and the slit... oh stars, the slit... it ran dangerously high along my thigh.


    I looked like... like...


    I didn’t even know what I looked like.


    But it definitely wasn’t me.


    My stomach twisted with nervous energy as I stepped out from behind the curtain.


    Elion sat on a velvet couch across the room - posture rxed, one ankle resting over his knee, lookingpletely at home in a ce that screamed luxury.


    For a moment, his eyes didn’t move.


    They stayed on the dress.


    Then slowly... very slowly... his gaze traveled upward.


    To my face.


    The expression he wore made me pause mid-step.


    He looked... horrified.


    Actually horrified.


    More horrified than I did when I first saw myself in the mirror moments ago.


    I stared at him, incredulous. "What?"


    He stood up and walked toward me with measured steps, his eyes scanning the dress again like he was assessing a structural w in a building.


    "This," he said after a long moment in a very t voice, "is your taste?"


    My mouth fell open.


    "I am trying on what they gave me!"


    His gaze shifted immediately toward the store manager, who looked like she might faint on the spot.


    Elion exhaled softly, rubbing his temple like he was reconsidering his life choices.


    Then, without another word, he turned and walked toward the disy racks.


    I crossed my arms, still fuming, but curiosity quickly reced irritation as I watched him move through the dresses.


    He didn’t rush.


    He didn’t randomly pick.


    He examined fabrics, silhouettes, details... his fingers brushing over textures with surprising familiarity.


    And then he stopped.


    He reached out and pulled one dress free.


    Even from across the room, my breath caught.


    Dark red.


    Not bright. Not shy.


    Deep.


    Rich.


    The kind of red that looked like it belonged in royal portraits and candlelit ballrooms.


    The fabric shimmered subtly under the lights, flowing like liquid silk.


    I inhaled slowly, my chest tightening with something that felt dangerously close to awe.


    I had never worn red like that before.


    Never even considered it.


    It felt... powerful.


    Elion turned, and the moment he saw my face, a satisfied smile appeared on his lips.


    He knew.


    He knew he had chosen the right one.


    He walked back to me, holding it out.


    "Try this."


    I took the dress and nodded before disappearing behind the curtains once again.


    The moment I slipped the dress over my body, I understood why Elion had chosen it.


    It wasn’t just beautiful.


    It was... <i>dangerously</i> beautiful.


    The fabric clung to me like liquid silk, molding perfectly to my curves without feeling restrictive. It was sleeveless, the neckline sweeping into a soft, elegant curve that showed just enough of my corbones and the upper swell of my chest to feel feminine without being vulgar. But the real statement was the back.


    Completely open.


    The fabric dipped low, exposing nearly my entire back down to the small of my spine, held together only by delicate crisscrossing straps that shimmered faintly under the light.


    A slit ran along my left thigh, revealing smooth skin with every step, the material shifting like a whisper around my legs.


    It was bold.


    Confident.


    And while it too was dangerously exposing, it did so in a much elegant way. While the ck dress screamed scandalous, this one screamed dark, famine elegance.


    With a satisfactory smile ying on my lips, I stepped out from behind the curtains only to find no sign of Elion.


    Instead, the store manager approached me immediately, her expression bright and professional.


    "This way, Miss."


    Before I could ask anything, she guided me into another room where a makeup artist and hairstylist were already waiting.


    The next hour passed in a blur of brushes, curling irons, nail polish bottles, and carefully selected essories.


    My hair was styled into a high bun with soft curls falling around. It left my shoulders and back exposed just as the dress intended. My makeup was elegant - glowing skin, subtle smoky eyes, deep rose lips that matched the dress perfectly. Even my nails were painted a glossy wine-red shade with hints of gold to match my eyes.


    When they finally slipped the heels onto my feet - delicate straps in the ck with red bottoms - I barely recognized the woman standing up from the chair.


    They led me to a full-length mirror.


    And I froze.


    For a moment, I just... stared.


    The girl in the reflection looked taller. More poised. Confident in a way I hadn’t felt in a while. The red made my skin glow, my eyes brighter, my posture straighter.


    I looked...


    Beautiful.


    A quiet warmth spread through my chest.


    Then movement behind me caught my attention.


    Elion.


    He walked up from behind, stopping just over my shoulder, his gaze meeting mine through the mirror.


    Even with those high heels, he still stood towering over me.


    He wore ck - perfectly tailored, sharp lines emphasizing his broad shoulders - but woven subtly through the fabric were deep red patterns that matched my dress exactly. The tie, the cuff details, even the faint embroidery along hispel mirrored the same shade.


    We matched.


    Perfectly.


    Way too perfectly that I couldn’t stop thinking about River’s reaction once he would see us.


    A satisfied look settled on Elion’s face as he took me in from head to toe.


    "Good," he murmured.


    My lips curved slightly. "Good?"


    His eyes flicked to mine in the reflection, calm and certain.


    "You’ll be the center of the party tonight."


    "And I don’t think that’s a great thing." I told him outright, and surprisingly, he nodded his head in agreement.


    "Then how about we change the way we see this."


    I stared at him, lost at what he’s talking about.


    "Instead of thinking about hundreds of other gazes that will follow you tonight," he said, "you should focus on just one certain person. You’ll have all of his attention tonight."


    Realization finally hit me and I stared at Elion through the mirror in shock. "You are doing this on purpose."


    He only smiled. "I am. And you will thank meter."