Chapter 4 You Deserve Nothing But The Best

Joshua lunged forward, panic etched across his face. "Wait!" he barked, voice raw and desperate.

If Daniela ever learned another woman had worn that dress first, she would explode in rage.

The shop assistant didn't even blink, her expression as crisp as her uniform. "If you refuse to settle the balance, Mr. Clark, we'll have no choice but to involve law enforcement. You removed the gown from our supervision, causing damage. That's theft of store property."

Her tone was so cold it could freeze blood. "So, Mr. Clark-what's your decision?"

Joshua's stomach twisted. If word got out, there would be no wedding to save.

He clenched his jaw, hands shaking as he drew a sleek black card from his wallet. In that moment, he was painfully aware-this single dress was about to cost him everything. How could Daniela be so infuriating, ordering something so extravagantly overpriced?

"Fine," he gritted out. "I'll pay for the damn dress."

The swipe of the card felt like a death sentence.

"And have it professionally cleaned and delivered to Daniela. I don't care what it takes-make it look brand new," he added.

Bella stared at him, mouth open in shock. "Joshua... wasn't this supposed to be for me?"

"Shut up!" He whipped around, fury blazing in his eyes. "You're not even the bride. Why do you need a wedding gown?"

He shot her a look that left no room for argument. "You already wore it-what else do you want from me?"

Bella's eyes brimmed with tears. She was unable to comprehend how he could turn so cold.

The shop assistant maintained a professional smile as she said, "Certainly, Mr. Clark. I'll process your payment right away."

...

That evening, Joshua finally trudged through the front door.

By then, Daniela had already received a discreet transfer alert from the shop assistant.

"Miss Stewart, Joshua has purchased the replica gown. Here's the payment confirmation," the shop assistant texted her.

A quiet, satisfied laugh slipped from Daniela's lips.

That dress had been her unique creation-meant for her wedding, down to every last diamond. All Bella had tried on was nothing more than a cheap imitation for her trouble. If she insisted on playing dress-up, she could pay dearly for the privilege.

As for Joshua, she had no doubt that dropping that kind of cash had stung. And honestly, letting him stew in regret was a delightful bonus.

He stormed into the living room and found Daniela sprawled elegantly on the sofa, coffee cup in hand, acting as if nothing had happened at all. With his jaw clenched and eyes smoldering, Joshua fixed her with a withering glare. "Daniela, your wedding dress costs $30 million. Why didn't you tell me that before?"

His voice was tight, every syllable trembling with barely suppressed fury.

Daniela arched an eyebrow, seemingly caught off guard by his accusation. "So now it's my fault for picking something extravagant?"

Her voice softened, innocence curling at the edges. "I planned to pay for it myself. Honestly, I've made Aurora Pharmaceuticals well over $30 million-just the first-generation drug alone brought in more than that."

And that didn't even count the years she had spent quietly developing new treatments for his company, one after another.

Joshua smothered his annoyance behind a strained grin. "No, of course not. You deserve nothing but the best, Daniela. This is our wedding-we shouldn't spare any expense."

The urge to laugh bubbled up inside her.

Stewart Group was worth billions; thirty million was little more than pocket change to her family.

Joshua leaned in, hoping for a kiss, but Daniela angled away, effortlessly sidestepping the gesture.

"The wedding is right around the corner. I need to keep an eye on the research team, especially now that we're finalizing the Serene Hospital contract. Any mistake could ruin everything."

Flashing a sugary smile, she murmured, "Get some rest. I'll be out late tonight."

Joshua's heart squeezed with disappointment-he couldn't even recall the last time they had eaten a meal together, just the two of them.

He watched her gather her work bag, moving briskly through their home-her efforts, always for him and his company. Hesitating, he tried to sound reassuring. "Don't worry, Daniela. Once we're married and the Serene deal goes through, you can finally relax. Stay home, take it easy, maybe start thinking about a family. I'll make sure you never have to work so hard again."

Daniela nearly burst out laughing at the sheer audacity in his tone.

He spoke as if he was the one bestowing favors.

A defiant smile flickered on her lips as she shouldered her bag and moved toward the door.

Joshua's gaze swept the penthouse, and a flicker of unease crept into his voice. "Daniela... why does this place feel emptier than before?"

This penthouse had once been their shared sanctuary-Daniela had fallen in love with it, filled every corner with warmth and small, thoughtful touches.

Now, hollow spaces lingered where cherished things used to be.

Even their framed photos, the ones that used to line the walls, had quietly vanished.

Her voice dropped to a wintry chill.

"The lab's been a madhouse. I told the housekeeper to tidy up-get rid of some things. Weddings are supposed to be a clean slate. There's no point hanging on to the past."

Joshua let out a shaky breath, clinging to her explanation. He started to speak, searching for words-any words to keep her from slipping away-but Daniela wouldn't indulge him. She didn't even glance back as she strode out, shutting the door on both the conversation and the remnants of what they used to be.