Chapter 29
Hailey hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. “Forget it.”
She stepped back into the dressing room to change.
The white dress was simple and elegant–the kind of thing an old–money family would approve of
It wasn’t as striking as the red one, but it had a quiet beauty that was just as captivating.
The saleswoman beamed. “Miss, with your complexion and figure, you could make anything look good. Honestly, you’d still turn heads in a burlap sack.”
Hailey chuckled at the flattery but didn’t take it too seriously.
She turned toward the mirror, studying herself. Soft, clear skin. Lips naturally tinted red. A face that, even without makeup, had an effortless charm. She almost didn’t recognize herself.
In her past life, she had been timid, and unremarkable–she never paid much attention to her appearance.
After being reborn, she still didn’t think about beauty much. As long as she looked presentable, that was enough.
But judging by the way people reacted to her, maybe she was prettier than she realized.
Her eyes drifted toward the reflection beside her–toward Owen.
She had to admit–Owen was stunning.
No matter how many times she saw him, she still found herself staring.
If being too good–looking were a crime, Owen would be serving a life sentence.
Maybe that’s why he rarely appeared in public–if he did, half the women in the city would probably lose their minds.
As if sensing her gaze, Owen lifted his head, meeting her eyes through the mirror.
A spark flickered between them.
His expression was unreadable, but his eyes–gentle, deep, knowing–held hers for a beat too long. She looked away immediately, her heart pounding.
She needed to keep her distance. If she wasn’t careful, she was going to fall for him without even realizing it.
She thought, “This is dangerous.‘
She smoothed the fabric of the dress, taking a deep breath.
“The dress looks good on you. I’ll take this one.” A deep voice rumbled behind her.
Startled, Hailey took a step back–right into him. She lost her balance.
Before she could even process it, strong hands caught her, steadying her like she weighed nothing.
“Why so jumpy?” he murmured, his voice laced with amusement.
“I didn’t,” Hailey insisted stubbornly, trying her best to ignore the way her heart was racing.
Owen didn’t argue, but the smirk on his lips deepened.
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Chapter 29
He turned to Richard. “Wrap up both dresses
Richard stepped forward, pulling out a black rand
The saleswoman’s face lit up. Two dresses–especially the red one–mean a common tag enrgh to cover montheed her salary.
Hailey frowned, “Why both? And I can pay for myself? She reached for her bag, ready to grabber and
Owen caught her hand, his grip light but firm. I needed your help today, it’s only fair 1 pay. The red drew Comer it a gift*
His lips curved as he leaned in slightly, his breath warm against her ear. “You looked very sexy in it
Hailey felt the heat rush to her face,
When he wanted to be, he was dangerous. If she wasn’t careful, she might actually melt.
But she forced herself to keep her expression neutral.
Owen was still holding her hand, his warmth radiating through her skin, steady and unyielding,
After paying, he took her hand and led her out of the mall.
As they passed a jewelry boutique, she suddenly stopped. “I should buy something for your grandmother. It’s our first meeting–I should bring a gift.”
Owen smiled slightly. Just as he was about to follow her inside, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen. “It’s my grandmother. She’s probably getting impatient.”
Hailey nodded. “Go ahead. I’ll be quick.”
The jewelry store was the kind that catered to the ultra–wealthy. Glass cases displayed jade, diamonds, and pearls–each piece exquisite, each price tag staggering.
Hailey walked straight to the jade section.
She heard Penelope liked jade.
One bracelet immediately caught her eye.
It was simple. No excessive embellishments, no flashy designs. Just a single, smooth bangle of flawless green jade. Understated, refined–classy in a way that spoke for itself.
“This one,” she said. “I’ll take it.”
Amara Huxley, the sales associate, gave Hailey a once–over. She was wearing an expensive dress, but she didn’t have a designer bag, and there was no one else with her. That alone was enough to make Amara look down on her.
Besides, the dress wasn’t anything too extravagant–just under thirty thousand. But the bracelet was a whole different level- 500 thousand dollars.
“That bracelet is half a million dollars,” she said, her tone dismissive. “We don’t offer credit or installment plans.”
Hailey glanced at her, eyes cold and detached. “I’ll pay in full. Wrap it up.”
Amara gave her a once–over, then rolled her eyes. “Are you sure? It would be a shame if you couldn’t pay. And if you drop it? Well, I doubt you could afford to replace it.”
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Chapter 29
Hailey let out a short laugh, more amused than angry. She had met people like this in her past life–snobs who judged others by their wallets.
She didn’t even bother arguing. Instead, she simply turned to leave.
Amara smirked as she walked away. “That’s what I thought. All talk, no money.”
79%
Just as she turned to leave, she suddenly stopped in her tracks. A wave of frustration surged in her chest–she couldn’t just let this slide.
She had been given a second chance at life. She wasn’t going to let anyone walk over her.
“What’s wrong?” Owen had just finished his call and walked back in, catching sight of her stormy expression. His brows furrowed slightly.
Hailey smiled. “Nothing I can’t handle.”
She turned to a younger sales assistant–a nervous–looking girl whose name tag read Ophelia Wren. “If I buy something worth over a hundred thousand, what’s your commission?”
Ophelia, who looked new and a bit nervous, hesitated before mumbling, “About thirty percent.”
Hailey smiled. “Then pack it up for me.”
She froze for a second as if still processing.
But Hailey was already walking straight to the counter, glancing at Ophelia. “Well? Are you coming or not?”
Ophelia cautiously stepped forward, sneaking a nervous look at Amara.
Amara, however, barely reacted. She was still fiddling with her nails, her expression bored.
“Ophelia, you better make sure she can pay,” she said lazily. “If something happens to that bracelet while you’re handling it,
you
won’t be able to afford it.”
Ophelia hesitated, glancing at Hailey uncertainly. After a brief pause, she finally whispered, “Amara, the store manager told us that customers come first. If she made a request, we should honor it.”
“Fine, then you deal with it. I’m not taking responsibility for this one,” Amara replied.
With that, Amara walked off, leaving the counter and lounging off to the side.
