Chapter 17 Not Everyone Can Wear This

After that day, I didn't see Dominic Hawthorne for nearly a month. Life gradually settled back into calm. I filled my days with work—so much work it numbed me, helping me forget I was still trapped in this marriage. Today was payday. Gina had been nagging since morning, insisting I treat her to dinner. To avoid keeping her waiting, I actually left the office at a normal hour for once. But the moment I stepped out of the office building, a man in a suit approached me politely. "Miss Fairchild, hello. I'm President Hawthorne's driver. He sent me to pick you up." It was the official end of the workday. Passersby cast curious, sideways glances at me. I was momentarily stunned. "President Hawthorne? Dominic Hawthorne?" Why would he come to pick me up? The driver explained, "The Chairman wants to see you—Keaton Hawthorne, President Hawthorne's grandfather." At the memory of that phone call a month ago, resistance surged within me. I feared Dominic would humiliate me in front of his grandfather. But I had no choice. Helpless, I followed him to the car. First, he took me to Starlight Department Store, handing me a silver card and telling me to go in and buy a suitable outfit. I hesitated to take it, but Starlight was the most upscale department store in Swan City. Almost every global luxury brand had a presence there. Yet the prices were so high that even maxing out my credit card might not cover them. The usual shoppers here were socialites and celebrities—women of elegance and status. I stood out in my shabby office attire. The moment I entered, every sales associate gave me a quick glance—then turned away, ignoring me completely. I didn't mind. After all, I knew I wasn't someone who belonged here. I wandered the store, eventually stopping at a boutique tucked in a corner—the only brand I hadn't heard of. I assumed their clothes must be cheaper. My eyes were immediately drawn to a beige long dress on the mannequin—simple, yet elegant in design. The more I looked, the more I liked it. I couldn't resist trying it on. To my surprise, the staff here were exceptionally courteous. Upon hearing I wanted to try it, they quickly fetched the size I requested and ushered me into the fitting room. I changed and stepped out in front of the mirror. I had to admit—it fit me perfectly, just as I'd imagined. I decided to buy the dress and asked the clerk, "How much is it?" The clerk replied respectfully, "Two hundred and ten thousand." That number made me gasp. Two hundred and ten thousand… I'd assumed it might cost a few tens of thousands—this was far beyond my budget. I worried Dominic would see the price and think I was greedy for luxury. As I was about to go back to change, I caught sight of Leona Fairchild in the mirror. She was carrying two shopping bags. The moment the staff saw her, they rushed over to greet her warmly. While greeting her, one turned and said, "You look quite a lot like this guest…" Only then did Leona notice me. She glanced at the dress I was wearing and "kindly" warned the staff, "Your clothes are so expensive—how can you let just anyone try them on? What if she dirties it? She couldn't even afford to replace it." The clerk looked at me, clearly hesitant. Helpless, I said, "I'll buy it." Hearing that, Leona's eyes flickered with surprise, but she stayed silent. I took out the silver card from my bag and handed it to the clerk, then went back to change. When I came out, Leona was standing nearby, smirking. "Never thought you'd actually have the money to buy that dress." As I handed the dress to the clerk for packaging, I smiled sweetly at Leona and said, "Yes, I'm meeting Keaton Hawthorne today, so my husband asked me to come and buy something appropriate." Then I gave her a sweet smile.