Marissa stepped into the bridal salon, excitement and nerves swirling inside her. At 55 and Hispanic, she was no stranger to judgment, but she was here for one thing—to find her dream wedding gown.

The salon sparkled with chandeliers and marble floors, and racks of beautiful dresses surrounded her. However, the two young saleswomen couldn’t hide their disdain. The blonde sneered as she pointed Marissa toward the clearance section, while the brunette suggested “affordable” options. They assumed they knew who Marissa was.

But they had no idea.

Enter John, the store manager, who quickly shattered their smug attitudes. “This is Ms. Morales, soon-to-be Mrs. Shepherd, the new owner of the salon.” The saleswomen’s faces drained of color.

John was ready to fire them on the spot, but Marissa had a better idea. She calmly instructed that Ashley, the blonde, would be her personal assistant for the next month. Matilda, the brunette, would study the intricacies of wedding gowns.

Both women, shaken but humbled, complied. As for Marissa, she had just begun—her real journey was finding the perfect dress, and she wasn’t letting anyone stop her.