The Night of Unsettling Discoveries

The evening of the big event had finally arrived, and Victoria was getting ready to head out. James watched as she slipped into the black dress she had bought a few days ago, the one that had caught his eye with its plunging neckline. The dress seemed to shimmer in the light, accentuating her curves and showcasing her bare neckline and chest. Victoria looked stunning, but James's attention was drawn to something else. As she approached him, he noticed a small cut on her neck, just above the collarbone. He felt a jolt of surprise and concern - he had never seen Victoria with a cut or scratch on her neck before. She was always so careful and delicate, and he had kept a close eye on her, never noticing her hurt herself in that area. "Which necklace pendant should I wear with this dress?" Victoria asked, holding up a few of her favorites. James tried to focus on the jewelry, but his eyes kept drifting back to the cut on her neck. "Um, which one do you think would go well with the dress?" he asked, trying to sound interested. Victoria held up a few options, but James couldn't concentrate. He was too busy wondering how she had gotten the cut, and why she hadn't mentioned it to him. "I think the silver one would look nice," Victoria said, holding up a delicate silver pendant. "What do you think?" James forced a smile, trying to seem interested. "Yeah, that looks great," he said, taking the pendant from her and fastening it around her neck. As he did, he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Something wasn't right, and he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was. He looked at Victoria, and she seemed... different. The dress seemed to be having an effect on her, and the cut on her neck was starting to worry him. "Are you okay?" he asked, trying to sound casual. Victoria smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said. "Just a little nervous about the event, that's all." James nodded, but he wasn't convinced. He knew Victoria well, and she wasn't usually nervous about social events. Something was bothering her, and he was determined to find out what it was. As they headed out the door, James couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. Something was off, and he was starting to suspect that the dress was at the center of it all.