Chapter 290: Shopping for the party

Words : 1716 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 290: Shopping for the party Anne went shopping for the upcoming party. The car glided smoothly through traffic. She held her phone to her ear, her eyes bright with amusement. Her cheeks ached from smiling. Augustine had that effect on her, especially when he flirted like he was doing now. "Can you stop it?" she whispered, glancing into the rearview mirror. Sam was at the wheel, his eyes fixed on the road, expression unreadable. She exhaled softly, relieved. Sam hadn’t caught a word. "I thought you had an important meeting," she added, trying to sound stern, but she couldn’t stop the corners of her lips from curling. "I just finished the meeting," Augustine replied smoothly. "Now I’m free, sipping the worst espresso in the city." Anne rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. "Hmm. I can hear how smug you are." "I wish I could join you for shopping," he said, a note of regret slipping through. "But I’ve got to check out the construction site this afternoon." "I’ll manage," she replied. "I don’t need you trailing after me every time I go out." "But what if I want to?" She giggled. "Stop," she whispered again, glancing once more at Sam, whose focus was sharp on the road. The mall entrance came into view. "Alright, I’ve arrived. Now put the phone down and focus on your job. But I want you home early. I’ll be waiting for you." "Yes, ma’am. Your loyal husband is on it. Love you. Bye." Anne ended the call, the grin still stretching across her face. She sat back against the seat, looking at the looming building of the mall. The party was two days away, but this was already the best part of her day. She entered the shopping mall, Sam trailing behind her. She stepped through the glass doors of the upscale men’s apparel store and was immediately enveloped by a quiet sense of elegance. The walls were deep charcoal, the lighting warm. Soft jazz played overhead. The air smelled faintly of cedarwood and expensive cologne. Italian suits lined one wall, perfectly spaced by color and cut. To the right, a long table displayed folded dress shirts in crisp whites, pale blues, and subtle patterns. Shelves of fine leather shoes, silk ties, and polished accessories flanked the back. Turning to Sam, Anne said, "If you see anything you like, go ahead and take it. The bill is on me." Sam blinked, caught off guard. A faint, sheepish grin tugged at his lips. "Thanks, ma’am. But I don’t need anything." "Take it, Sam," Anne insisted. "It’s my welcome party. And I want my friend to look good." Friend? That word tugged a string at Sam’s heart. His smile faded, his features stilled. He had worked as a bodyguard for five others before Anne. His former employers saw him as nothing more than a shield. He had been just a weapon, a background presence. He had only followed commands like a robot. But Anne was different. She spoke to him with respect and even covered for him twice, saving him from being punished. For the first time in a long time, he felt human with her. But this? This was new. "Don’t you think I qualify?" She flashed a grin playfully. Sam looked down for a second, then scratched his forehead awkwardly. "You are giving me too much honor," he murmured. "Since you said we are friends, I’ll listen to you." Anne nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then go look around. Pick something. I won’t take no for an answer." With a tap on his shoulder, she turned and walked deeper into the store, already eyeing the display of crisp suits. She wanted to buy a suit for her father, Paule. His old one had seen too many years. She moved toward the navy suits, scanning for something dignified but not dull. A store associate approached with a professional nod. "I’m looking for a classic cut," Anne said, running her hand along the fabric of a mid-weight wool suit. "Something for formal occasions. My father prefers structure, nothing too modern." The associate nodded, understanding instantly, and pulled a few options. Anne eyed the navy two-piece. She nodded. "This one." "Of course, ma’am." "Anne..." The voice behind her drew her attention. She turned and stiffened instantly, her expression shifting. The smile she wore moments ago faded. Dad? She hadn’t expected to see him. Oliver stood a few feet away, hands in his coat pockets, trying to look casual but failing. He looked hesitant as he stepped toward her. Voice carried a hint of hesitation. "Buying something for Augustine?" He nodded slightly toward the navy-blue suit the store associate was holding for her. "No," Anne said flatly. "It’s not for Augustine." "Oh." He forced a chuckle. "Then... Nathan, maybe?" She shook her head. Oliver’s smile wavered. Nathan and Augustine were the two important men in her life. If it wasn’t for her husband and her brother, then who? A reckless hope sparked inside him before he could stop it. Was it for him? His chest tightened at the thought. "Then who is it for?" The question slipped out. He wanted to hear her say that this was her first gift to her father. But Anne’s reply shattered that hope. "It’s for my foster father." The words cut him deep. He didn’t speak for a second. He couldn’t. She would buy a gift for Paule. But she still wouldn’t call him Dad. Was Paule more of a father to her than he was? Oliver felt his heart had been ripped open. He swallowed hard, forcing a smile. "Good. That suit is perfect. He’ll like it." "Thanks." Oliver gathered himself and added, "No... I should be the one thanking you." She looked at him, uncertain. "I’m glad you decided to stay. And for letting me organize the welcome party. It means a lot." Anne didn’t say a word. She stood there with a calm look on her face, but her mind was anything but calm. Memories surged up. She had spent her entire life being bullied and looked down on simply because people labeled her an orphan. But now, everything had changed. She had found her real family. She wanted the world to see that she wasn’t alone anymore. She had her parents and a loving brother. If the party were held at the Gilson estate, in another city where no one recognized her. She’d be a guest beside her husband, nothing more. But here, things were different. This was the city where she had grown up, where people knew her past. And that made it the only place where the truth would matter. That was why she had asked her mother to let Oliver host the party, not because she had forgiven him. But because here, in this city, Oliver’s reputation mattered. And she wanted the world to see him answer for what he had done in the past, how he had destroyed his family on his own. "It’s Mom’s decision," she said. "You should be grateful she is giving you a chance to make things right. Don’t waste it. If you disappoint her again, you’ll lose everything." With that, she turned and walked away. Her chest was tight, her breath shallow. She didn’t know where she was going, but she kept roaming around as she drifted through racks of ties and shelves of leather shoes, her eyes unfocused. She wasn’t looking at anything. Her thoughts were spinning too fast. "Ma’am?" The associate’s voice broke into her storm. She blinked, turning toward him, disoriented. "Do you want anything else?" he asked. "Perhaps a shirt? Or some shoes? Ties?" Anne paused, the fog in her head beginning to clear. That’s right. She had planned to buy a shirt for Augustine. "Yes," she said, finding her voice again. "Show me some shirts." "Right this way, ma’am," the associate replied with a nod, leading her toward a wall of neatly arranged, branded dress shirts. Anne followed, forcing her focus to return. "Please check these out." The associate started showing her shirts from different brands. Anne chose a soft white dress shirt with a barely-there herringbone texture. Then she walked over to the wall of ties. She took her time, letting her fingers drift across rich silks and textured knits until her eyes settled on a deep indigo tie with a slate-gray stripe. It matched the shirt perfectly. She smiled to herself, her earlier uneasiness melting away. Augustine would like it and would wear it, probably more than once. Anne handed the shirt and tie to the associate, her eyes scanning the store for Sam. She spotted him waving at her from across the room. She smiled instinctively. He made his way over, holding a small box in his hand. "This is what I picked," he said, lifting the lid to show her the cufflinks inside—brushed silver with a faint blue enamel accent, simple yet elegant. Her eyes lit up. "You’ve got taste," she said with a half-smile. "They are beautiful." She turned to the associate. "Add this to the bill." The associate nodded, taking the box and heading to the counter. Sam glanced at her hesitantly. "Aren’t you getting anything for yourself?" Anne gave a soft chuckle and shook her head. "No. My wardrobe is already packed with dresses and jewelry sets, half of which remain untouched. Augustine tends to overdo things when it comes to gifts." She rolled her eyes, feigning exasperation "But," she added thoughtfully, "I am thinking of picking something for Patricia." She didn’t say it like it was a big gesture. But it was. Both Paule and Patricia were invited to the party. Her past with Patricia was still complicated, but things had thawed just a little. The woman who had once met her with ice in her eyes now welcomed her warmly. Anne wanted to forget the bitterness of the past and start anew. Sam grinned quietly. He had asked that because he wanted to pick something for her. After paying the bill, they headed to the women’s apparel store. ~~~~~~~~~~ Augustine was just about to leave for the construction site when Gustave burst into the office, his face drawn tight with urgency. "This is bad," Gustave said, his voice clipped. "Megan escaped."

Chapter 290: Shopping for the party

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