Claire smiled knowingly, but she didn't push further. "Fair enough. But I will say, you're definitely giving us something to talk about with this entrance."
"I'm flattered," Lauren laughed and made to move on.
"Thank you for taking the time to chat with us, and Lauren, you look absolutely breathtaking tonight. I have no doubt everyone inside is going to be just as captivated as we are and once again, congratulations on your win, Lauren."
With that, Claire moved on to her next interview, and Lauren felt a wave of relief wash over her.
Steffan leaned in close, his voice low and warm. "You handled that perfectly. But now I'm curious, how did you really feel when you saw the dress?"
Lauren glanced up at him, her eyes still sparkling from the attention. "Honestly? I was stunned. I couldn't believe how much thought went into it. It's like you knew exactly what I needed even before I did."