?<strong>Chapter 582:</strong>


    Shortly after settling on a date, Joelle reached out to a bridal gown designer, prompting a quick turnaround on several custom-made dresses.


    Joelle and Lily were at Katherine’s side as she embarked on a fitting spree at the bridal boutique. Armed with Shawn’s credit card, Katherine indulged in the boutique’svish offerings, each dress more exquisite than thest.


    Shawn had spared no expense, having already presented Katherine with a spectacr, nine-digit square-cut diamond ring. The wedding preparations mirrored this opulence.


    In the boutique’s exclusive VIP room, surrounded by an attentive team of staff, Katherine and Joelle enjoyed the perks of luxury, including champagne and gourmet bites sourced from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Lily, arriving just a bitte, found Katherine taking a breather from the marathon of fittings.


    “Kathy, have you invited anyone else today?”


    “No, it’s just us.” Katherine savored a macaroon, a treat for her frequent hunger pangs these days, and shook her head. Lily nced around, puzzled.


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    “There’s a girl outside asking for you. I thought maybe she was a friend of yours.”


    “Asking for me?” Katherine’s interest was piqued. Together with Joelle, she peered out of the fitting room, only to spot a familiar face.


    “Oh no, this is terrible!” Katherine gasped, herplexion draining of color.


    “That’s Bobby’s former fiancée. What if she’s here to make a scene?”


    Previously, Bobby had broken off his engagement, foolishly iming his feelings for Katherine as the reason, which now seemed to have painted a target on her back.


    Joelle leaned forward and suggested, “Bobby was just making excuses. Why not clear the air? Go out there and talk to her.”


    “No way,” Katherine eximed, clutching Joelle’s arm tightly.


    “I can’t meet her now. What if it affects my pregnancy? You both deal with it and find out what she wants!”


    Joelle and Lily stepped outside just as the young woman was making her exit.


    “Miss Cooper?” Joelle called out.


    At the sound of her name, Fannie Cooper turned around. She might not have known Joelle personally, but their paths had crossed at various social events. If Joelle was here, Katherine couldn’t be far behind.


    Joelle’s initial take on Fannie was that she embodied the quiet, gentle essence of the girl-next-door—an image that never failed to catch the fancy of many schoolboys. Such a persona seemed ill-suited for a notorious charmer like Bobby. Ending their engagement might just be a blessing in disguise for Fannie.


    It wasn’t long before Joelle and Lily escorted Fannie back inside. The staff were dismissed, and the four women gathered around the coffee table in a quiet huddle.


    The moment she walked in, Fannie’s gaze was glued to Katherine, sparking a flicker of curiosity.


    “Do I have something on my face?” Katherine questioned.


    “Sorry.” Fannie murmured an apology.


    Joelle handed Fannie a ss of champagne, smoothing over the moment.


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