On January $1,2025,$ an investor purchased $100$ shares of Dandy Ltd$.$ On February $1,2025,$ the company declared a dividend of $$2$ per share for shareholders of record on March $14,2025,$ payable on April $1,2025.$ The ex$-$dividend date is assumed to be March $12,2025.$

If the investor wishes to purchase more shares in order to receive this dividend, before which one of the following dates must the purchase be made?

a$)$ February $2,2025$

b$)$ March $12,2025$

c$)$ March $15,2025$

d$)$ April $2,2025$