Dear Wife, I Hate You (by Josephine Mbanefo) novel Chapter 11

Lilith’s Pov

We went downstairs and hopped into the car. The driver started the engine and began driving us to the store. The drive wasn’t quiet–not even a little. It was all about the perfect dress. Zoey kept going on and on about how we were going to dress tonight, how we’d catch everyone’s attention, how we had to shine brighter than anyone else.

I didn’t know how to add to the conversation. So I just nodded when needed, said, “Okay,” and “Yes,” here and there, pretending like I was part of the hype.

Finally, we reached the store.

As soon as we walked in, a lady came toward us with a bright smile. “How may we help you today?”

Zoey stepped forward confidently. “We came here to pick the finest dresses for a party tonight. I hope we came to the right store.”

The woman, whose name tag read Luma, gave us a small, proud smile. “You know we’re the best in town. We’ll make sure you leave looking like goddesses.”

Zoey grinned. “Yeah, let’s do it.”

I realized I hadn’t said a single word since we got in, so I cleared my throat and added softly, “Yeah… let’s get the perfect dress.”

The lady led us deeper into the store, past rows of glittering gowns and silk fabrics. She started pulling out dresses, placing them on a long rack, each one looking more expensive than the last.

Zoey went first, of course. She tried on dress after dress–red, gold, emerald green. And finally, when she stepped out in this sleek, deep blue gown, everyone in the room stopped breathing.

“Wow,” I said quietly.

“That’s the one,” Zoey said, posing like a runway queen.

Now it was my turn.

I started trying them on. One after another. It felt like hours passed. I changed and changed and changed. Nothing I wore seemed to satisfy Zoey. Even the one I thought was okay–she gave a flat look and said, “Next.”

I was getting tired and a little frustrated, but then… the last dress.

I stepped out wearing it and looked at her. It was soft, hugged my waist, and fell just right. The top had a delicate shine, and the slit ran high enough to be daring, but not too much.

Zoey gasped like she had just seen the sun rise in human form. “Oh my God. This is the best! Killian is going to crawl to you. He’s going to lick your feet!”

I blushed hard. “Stop it! You know how Killian and I are… that’s not even possible.”

Zoey waved me off like I was being silly. “Killian won’t see this coming.”

I looked at myself again in the mirror. “Are you sure this isn’t too open?”

Zoey turned me around slowly and nodded. “It’s open, yes. But that’s what we want. It’s sexy, but not too much. It’s beautiful.”

I stared at my reflection for a second longer, then whispered, “Okay then…”

After we finished picking the dresses, we headed to the accessories section. We picked the perfect shoes- something elegant but bold. Then came the bags. Zoey insisted on matching side bags, and honestly, I didn’t argue. I was too tired to.

Once we were done, we made our way to the counter to pay.

Zoey paid first. As usual, confident, smiling, full of energy. She even joked with the cashier.

Then it was my turn.

I brought out my card, slid it into the machine, and typed in the pin.

That was when I noticed it.

The pin… it was my sister’s birthday.

Just four numbers. But they hit me like a punch to the chest.

I froze for a second.

And just like that, the small happiness I had felt today–trying on pretty dresses, laughing a little with Zoey- it all vanished. It drained from me like water slipping through cracks.

I stood there quietly, staring at the machine, not sure if I wanted to scream or cry.

*****

After we paid for the dresses, we stepped out of the store. The weather outside hadn’t changed, but something in me had. My mind was drifting–floating somewhere far away. I couldn’t focus. I could hear Zoey talking beside me, excited, laughing about something I should probably be laughing at too. But her words felt like distant echoes. I didn’t catch a single one.

“Are you listening to me?” she asked suddenly, her voice cutting through the fog in my head.

I blinked and nodded. “Yes… yes, I’m listening.”

She narrowed her eyes at me like she didn’t believe me, but she didn’t press it. “We just spent five hours picking two dresses and some accessories,” she said, shaking her head with a laugh. “We need to go get ready now unless we want to be fashionably late–which, to be honest, wouldn’t be the worst thing.”

I forced a small smile. “Okay. That sounds nice.”

We got into the car, and the driver took us back to the mansion. Once we arrived, Zoey turned to me with a smirk. “Dress to kill,” she said with a wink before heading off to her room.

I nodded and quietly walked to mine. Once inside, I pulled out everything–my dress, my heels, the little handbag we picked. They were perfect. Almost too perfect. A knock came to my door and Rose peeked in.

“Do you need help with anything?”

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