CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY ONE –ENGAGEMENT PARTY

Mara stood in front of her closet, a sea of fabric and colors before her eyes. Her best friend, Jenna, lounged on the bed, flipping through a fashion magazine. "Jenna, I'm hopeless. Nothing looks right," Mara sighed, holding up a navy blue cocktail dress. Jenna looked up, her eyebrows raised. "Hon, it's your engagement party. You could wear a potato sack, and Cassius would still think you're the most beautiful woman in the room." Mara rolled her eyes but couldn't suppress a smile. "Not helping, J." Jenna set down the magazine and joined Mara at the closet. She rummaged through the hangers, her face scrunched in concentration. Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "Aha! This is it." She pulled out a sleek, emerald green dress with a plunging neckline and an open back. Mara's eyes widened. "Are you sure? It's a bit... daring." "Daring is exactly what you need," Jenna insisted, holding the dress up to Mara's body. "You're marrying one of New York's most eligible bachelors. Own it, girl." An h