Getting Melissa's number wasn't difficult for him at all. Before long, he found it. After hesitating for a while, he finally sent a few simple words. “Long time no see."

Even as Violette donned another dress and presented herself shyly, he barely gave her a glance. Violette felt a sting of neglect, yet her fondness for Marcus tempered her irritation.

She whispered to herself, resolving to keep her frustration at bay.

“Marcus, look at me! Do you like this dress?"

At her voice, Marcus snapped back to reality and fixed his gaze on her. Truth be told, he bore no ill will towards Violette.

Yet, his feelings were ambivalent.

Marrying Violette meant a life of beauty and success, possibly with children to brighten their days. But in the solitude of night, memories of what once was might haunt him.

These thoughts weighed on Marcus.

Eventually, he remarked with a lack of enthusiasm, “You look great in it."

His response was half-hearted, yet it filled Violette with joy. She twirled, her fingers grazing the dress's hem, and murmured, “You probably don't even know the dress’ color."

“Isn't it pink?" Marcus replied absent-mindedly, not even looking her direction.

The shop assistant stifled a laugh at his words.

Violette, crestfallen, corrected him gently, "It's white."

"White suits you well too," Marcus replied, dismissively.

At his words, disappointment shadowed Violette's expression.

Before she could respond, Marcus excused himself to the corridor for a smoke, leaving her eyes brimming with tears. The shop assistant quickly consoled her, “No tears now, miss. It's tough for men to grasp what really matters to us girls. Mr. Fowler is actually already quite patient, more so than most."

Drying her eyes, Violette remarked, “You're right. Looks like Miss Brown once worked closely with Marcus. It's hard to fathom how she managed."

The shop assistant fell silent at Violette's words, sensing a complex history between Mr. Fowler and Miss Brown-a history Violette seemed unaware of.

Just as the shop assistant was about to add more, Marcus returned from his smoke break.

Violette's tears ceased immediately upon seeing him, her gaze filled with adoration for the man who held her heart.