He Loves Me Right, Finally novel Chapter 164

The stars from that night stayed with Wynette long after she'd stopped looking at them.

She and Adriel lingered in the glass conservatory until nearly midnight before finally heading back to rest.

The next morning, after breakfast, they said their goodbyes to Carl and Lila, and Adriel drove Wynette back to Graceview Estate.

Ryker and Kaylee had sent Wynette a message early that morning to let her know they were heading to the hospital for a follow-up.

By early afternoon, Adriel had asked Wynette to come over.

She walked in to find that he'd had a full evening ensemble delivered for the auction that night, a gown, heels, and a complete set of jewelry laid out and waiting.

She looked at it all and said quietly, "I had something picked out already."

"I saw this and thought of you, so I bought it. Try it on." Adriel gestured toward the dressing room without leaving room for debate.

Wynette started to object, but he had one hand on her arm and the other gathering up the boxes before she could get a full sentence out, and the next thing she knew she was standing in the dressing room.

The gown was a floor-length champagne gold with a delicate scatter of rhinestones across the bodice and thin, elegant straps, paired with a low heel in the same warm shade.

Everything fit like it had been made for her, because it had been chosen with that exact intention.

Wynette stepped out, and Adriel looked her over with open satisfaction before extending the jewelry case toward her.

Inside was a full set of amber diamond pieces, catching the light with a deep, honeyed warmth.

He lifted the necklace and clasped it at the back of her neck himself, then stepped back and studied the complete picture with approval still clearly written across his face.

"It suits you. What do you think?"

Wynette looked at herself in the mirror and cleared her throat. "Isn't it a little too much?"

She usually gravitated toward softer, lighter colors, and this was a noticeably bolder territory for her.

"Not even close," Adriel said. "It looks perfect on you. If you don't love it, I can have a few more options sent over right now."

He was already reaching for his phone.

"No, no, this one is fine." Wynette stopped him before he could dial. "This one works."

The thought of standing through multiple rounds of trying on gowns made her quietly exhausted, and the one she had on was genuinely lovely.

Adriel read the thought on her face and laughed softly. "Then it's settled."

Wynette changed back into her own clothes and came out to find Adriel already moving around the kitchen.

"Stay for lunch," he said over his shoulder. "We can head out together after we eat. You can bring a couple of casual outfits too."

The auction was an evening event with a dress code, formal gowns and suits, but once it wrapped up, none of that would be necessary anymore.

Wynette thought about it for a moment. "I'll run back and grab a bag then."

She was back within the hour, rolling a small suitcase behind her.

Adriel called to her from the kitchen. "Pack mine in with yours, would you? I left a travel bag on the settee in the dressing room upstairs."

Wynette had no objection to that.

She headed up to his room, found the neatly prepared travel bag on the settee in the walk-in closet, and brought it back downstairs to tuck into her suitcase.

Once that was done, she drifted into the kitchen to help. "Your left hand should be ready to get the stitches out when we're back, right?" she asked.

She hadn't forgotten that his timeline was coming up.

Adriel nodded. "Exactly. The timing actually works out. Once the stitches are out, I can come to the fashion showcase with you."

Wynette did the mental math and realized he was right.

Everything lined up almost too neatly.

This showcase was the one that mattered most for the company's quarterly numbers.

Adriel finished lunch quickly and efficiently, and the two of them sat across from each other to eat.

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