“I’m not. Anyways, let’s go. Do you have anything else you want to try on?” Shane asked with a smile.
“No, that’s all. You’ll pay by way of an apology since you stood me up last night,” Jacqueline shook her
head and said.
Shane nodded. “Ok.”
Jacqueline smiled. She looked down the railing subconsciously when she heard a familiar voice in the
next moment.
It was Natalie dressed in a white dress twirling in front of the mirror.
The white dress looked amazing on Natalie’s curvy figure as compared to hers since the illness had
reduced her to skin and bones.
This shattered Jacqueline’s confidence.
She lowered her eyes to hide her jealousy and envy. “Shane, were you looking at Ms. Smith just now?”
Jacqueline said disparagingly.
Shane’s eyes flickered as he murmured an affirmative reply. “I happened to see her at the store.”
“Really?” Jacqueline mumbled as she dug her nails into her palms. “Ms. Smith is so pretty. I wish I could
have a healthy body like hers and stroll through the streets in a beautiful dress. What a pity… This wish
of mine will never come true.”
Shane frowned. “Don’t say that, it will.”
Jacqueline smiled wryly. “Shane, you’re well aware of my condition. Dr. Quinn said I can’t live more than
ten years even if I recover from this illness.”
With that, she turned around and left dejectedly.
Shane pursed his lips as he gave Natalie a final look before catching up with Jacqueline.
Down at the first floor, Natalie paused the merry conversation she was having with Yulia and looked up at
the second floor. She felt puzzled when there wasn’t a single soul in sight.
“What happened, Baby Girl?” Yulia noticed something was wrong with Natalie and followed her gaze.
However, there was no one in sight.
Natalie shook her head and said, “It’s nothing. I felt like someone was watching me just now, must have
been my imagination.”
“I don’t think it’s your imagination,” Yulia said as she tidied Natalie’s hair.
Natalie blinked. “Mom, you saw?”
“No, but it makes sense for people to be watching since I have such a beautiful daughter,” Yulia said with
a smile.
Natalie was at a loss for words. “Mom!”
“Ok, are you done?” Yulia opened the changing room door to have a look.
Natalie nodded. “Yes.”
“I’ll take all of these then,” Yulia waved her hands and said.
Natalie quickly stopped her. “Mom, these garments are going to break the bank. Besides, I already have
lots of clothes since I’m a designer, I don’t need all these.”
“You’re right.” Yulia stroked her chin and agreed that she had a point.
Natalie picked a few garments from the pile. “These will do.”
“Sure, we’ll do as she says,” Yulia said smilingly to the shop attendant.
Soon, the mother-daughter pair left the clothing store with their new clothes. They wandered around the
mall for quite a while before they took the cab home.
It was only 2 p.m. when they reached home. They still had two more hours to themselves before it was
time to pick up the kids.
Natalie placed the shopping bags down and headed into the kitchen while massaging her own shoulders.
She was getting ready to make some tea as she emerged from the kitchen with a kettle when her phone
rang.
Natalie quickly placed the kettle down and fished out her cell phone from her bag. The caller ID showed
that it was a local unknown number. Natalie hesitated for a few seconds before picking up.
“Hello, is this Ms. Smith?” A gentle and polite female voice sounded from the other end.
Natalie nodded slightly. “I am. And you are?”
“I’m Style Loft’s store manager,” the voice replied.
Natalie arched her brow at that.
Style Loft. Isn’t that the clothing store I went to with Mom just now?
“How can I help you?” Natalie sat down on the sofa, cradled the phone against her shoulder, and poured
herself a glass of water.
The shop manager answered with a smile. “We have a special promotion going on at Style Loft today. As
our customer, you’ve won first prize. Congratulations!”
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