CH 7
1318 Words
"Is it strange?" Ethan Hugh asked, enjoying the look of surprise on Grace Howard's face.
"No, it's not that you're not a man..." Grace stopped herself mid-sentence.
She suddenly remembered that male escorts could be quite wealthy, especially someone of Ethan's caliber.
If he had money, then having cars, a house, and a butler wasn't unusual at all.
But still, why would someone as wealthy as him want someone as poor as her to support him?
Grace voiced her confusion, and Ethan's response was flawless: "You were the one who took advantage of me, not the other way around. Naturally, the one at fault should compensate, regardless of who has more money."
It seemed to make sense, didn't it?
Grace felt like she had walked into some kind of trap, but she couldn't find any flaws in his logic. Having such a rich and handsome escort with her, it was hard to say who was getting the short end of the stick.
Just as Grace felt her brain was about to overload, Ethan handed her a black card. "Take this."
"What is it?" Grace had seen a similar card with William Stewart before but never knew what it was.
"Here's a credit card. Go to Belle and buy yourself some clothes. Once you're done, toss out those rags you're wearing. I don't want to see them again," Ethan Hugh said, barely concealing his disdain for Grace Howard's outfit.
Grace was taken aback. "Aren't I the one who's supposed to be supporting you?"
"Put it on my tab. You can pay me back later."
Wow, so it turns out the wool was being pulled over her eyes all along!
Thinking about how the card would be charged against her future salary, Grace was hesitant to use it. But then she thought of William Stewart, gritted her teeth, and decided to splurge a little.
For years, she'd spent her money on that ungrateful man, never buying herself new clothes. It was time to treat herself better and spend! She deserved it!
When the driver from the Hugh residence dropped Grace off at Belle Shopping Center, she was stunned.
What a luxurious place!
The crystal mirror exterior walls sparkled brilliantly, and the geometric building exuded an artistic and modern vibe. The luxury brand posters were perfectly framed like paintings, and even the most bustling commercial areas in the city couldn't boast such grandeur!
Grace had always avoided such flashy places due to her insecurities and fear of spending money.
But today, she had a "mission," so she had no choice but to muster up her courage and step inside.
You never know until you step inside, and once you do, it can be quite a shock.
Grace Howard casually walked into a women's clothing store that seemed less intimidating. But when she saw the price tag on a jacket, she nearly collapsed.
Eighteen thousand for a simple jacket?! Was it made of gold?!
Before the smiling sales assistant could approach her, Grace dashed out as if she were being chased by ghosts.
She mustered the courage to try a few more stores, but the results were the same. Each one was more expensive than the last, and the only item she found with a three-digit price tag was a pair of socks.
Just as Grace was about to give up and make a run for it, Ethan Hugh seemed to anticipate her thoughts and called her.
"Go to Irina's and buy at least ten outfits. I'll have Henry Allan keep an eye on you. You can't come back until you've bought enough."
Henry Allan was the name of the driver who had brought her there.
"Ten outfits?! How long will it take me to pay that off?" Grace felt like she'd been struck by lightning.
The cost of ten outfits here could easily be a down payment on a small house in the outskirts of the city!
"Consider it a gift from me, no need to pay it back. Miss this chance today, and you won't get another." Ethan knew Grace's personality well and spoke calmly.
Sure enough, when Grace Howard heard about such a great deal, she was immediately tempted: She had to buy it; not buying would be foolish!
After wandering around for a while, Grace finally found the store Ethan Hugh had mentioned.
As soon as she entered, she felt the store's unique vibe—
The decor was simple and understated, warm and inviting, without that intimidating aura that keeps the less affluent at bay.
None of the clothes had price tags, similar to the bargain bins she was familiar with at big sales: everything piled up was either $9.99 or $19.99.
This put Grace at ease. While everyone loves a bargain, if the clothes were too expensive, she wouldn't feel comfortable taking advantage of the deal.
Even though Ethan was wealthy, he earned it through hard work and charm.
Grace carefully browsed through the clothes and soon found a white sleeveless dress that caught her eye.
It was simple and fresh, like a small white jasmine flower.
The sales assistant nearby didn't look down on her for her modest attire. Instead, she warmly took the dress down for her. "You have a great eye, miss. This dress is one of our standout pieces for the spring-summer collection. Many socialites have already reserved it, and this is the only one in this color we have in the store."
"Really?" Grace Howard felt a bit shy from the compliment.
"Yes, indeed. The fitting room is this way, miss. Please follow me."
With the guidance of the sales assistant, Grace took the dress and entered the fitting room.
Just as she stepped in, a tall and elegant girl walked in with two maids carrying bags, and two plainclothes bodyguards stood by the door.
"Miss Mina is here!"
"Hurry, everyone, go and attend to her. Tom, get the special wine glass!"
Most of the staff in the store flocked to Miss Mina, showering her with attention and warmth. Their already enthusiastic service doubled, becoming almost overwhelming.
A new employee, not quite understanding the situation, whispered to a colleague, "Who is she?"
"You don't know her? She's Mina Sue, the only daughter of the Sue family, one of the top ten wealthy families."
The newcomer gasped quietly. While she didn't recognize the heiress, she was well aware of the famous top ten families of Emperor City.
She couldn't believe her first day at work allowed her to see someone born with a silver spoon. No wonder Irina was known as the luxury of luxuries!
Mina Sue sat down on the sofa and removed her sunglasses.
Without needing to say a word, the store manager promptly presented her with the latest catalog, and another attendant offered champagne. Mina waved the drink away and took the catalog to browse through it.
Grace Howard stepped out of the fitting room, and the sales assistant attending to her gasped softly, half out of politeness and half in genuine admiration. "Miss, this dress looks absolutely enchanting on you!"
Mina Sue instinctively turned her head towards the voice, her gaze freezing upon seeing the dress on Grace.
Just as the assistant had said, Grace and the dress were a perfect match, complementing each other beautifully.
Grace was naturally attractive, but her beauty was often hidden beneath unflattering clothes and outdated hairstyles.
While trying on the dress, she had accidentally loosened her hair tie, letting her silky black hair cascade down her back. Her graceful figure paired with the floral dress made her look like a woodland fairy from Greek mythology.
Grace stared blankly at the girl in the mirror, unable to believe it was her own reflection.
But the girl in the mirror wore the same surprised and bewildered expression as she did. Who else could it be but her?
Could this dress... have some kind of magic?
- Writer
