Hailee's POV
I stood in front of my wardrobe, my arms crossed, while I bit the inside of my cheek. An old habit of mine, which I do whenever I am in deep thought.
So many outfits lay out before me… yet none felt right. My hand hovered over the usual—plain skirts, worn-out tops, nothing too bold. Nothing that would catch attention.
But then… my eyes landed on it. Tucked neatly in the back, untouched since the day I got it. A customized fitted dress. Red. Long sleeves, off-shoulder. The fabric smooth like silk, hugging every curve without being too much. Classy, expensive, almost royalty.
It was gifted to me on my seventeenth birthday by people I never wanted anything to do with. I had almost thrown it away that same night. Almost. But Mama stopped me. She said it was too beautiful to waste. I just dumped it. I had never worn it. Never even touched the other gifts they sent. I kept them hidden, unused, locked away.
