Clara had always been like that.
Whenever she wanted Anne's attention, she made sure Anne knew about it.
Anne finally got into the car.
Megan sat beside her while Daniel took the front passenger seat, and the driver started the engine.
Within moments, the car pulled away from Angel Company.
Anne leaned back against the seat and looked out of the window.
The city moved past her in a blur of buildings, traffic, and people going about their daily lives.
She watched the familiar streets through the glass, her thoughts slowly shifting toward Clara.
It had been some time since they had spent an afternoon together without discussing business.
Perhaps today would be a good change.
Anne's lips curved into a faint smile.
She had no idea that by the time she reached Imperial City Mall, several people from her past would already be inside her store.
People she had never expected to encounter there.
And among them was someone she had every reason to be wary of.
But for now, Anne knew none of that.
All she knew was that her best friend was waiting for her.
And she was looking forward to seeing her.
***
At the Mall
Inside Angel by Anne, Olivia finally returned from the changing room.
The moment she stepped into the main area wearing the dress she had chosen, everyone's attention turned toward her.
She walked toward the large mirror and stepped onto the small platform positioned in front of it.
Sophie immediately stood up. Her eyes lit up with approval. "Baby, you look so beautiful in that dress. It suits you perfectly."
Olivia looked at herself in the mirror.
Madison smiled proudly. "Yes, Olivia. It looks as though it was made just for you."
Eva nodded in agreement. "It really does suit you."
Olivia studied her reflection carefully. The dress fit her figure beautifully.
The fabric fell elegantly around her body, and the design gave her a graceful and sophisticated appearance.
For a moment, even Olivia was surprised.
She had entered the changing room determined to dislike anything that wasn't the breathtaking baby-pink gown she had seen earlier.
That gown had immediately captured her attention.
It had been the one she wanted. The one she had imagined herself wearing. But now, looking at herself in the mirror, Olivia had to admit that this dress was beautiful too.
Still...
Something was missing.
Her gaze slowly drifted away from her reflection.
She had been unable to stop thinking about.
The baby-pink gown.
The fitted corset.
The delicate diamond-like details.
The flowing princess-style skirt.
Olivia's eyes remained on her reflection in the mirror.
It still isn't that one.
Her fingers lightly touched the fabric of the dress she was wearing.
She tried to convince herself that it didn't matter.
After all, she had found another beautiful gown. There was no reason to remain obsessed with something she couldn't have.
But deep inside, Olivia knew that wasn't true.
She wanted that dress. She wanted it precisely because she had been told she couldn't have it.
And the more she looked at it, the more determined she became.
Before she could dwell on the thought any longer, a loud, excited voice suddenly came from the premium section.
"Wow, Clara! You look so beautiful!"
Olivia's head turned immediately. Her eyes landed on Rose, who was standing beside Clara and staring at her with open admiration.
"Yes, Clara," Jenny added excitedly. "You look absolutely stunning in that gown."
Olivia's expression changed. Her gaze shifted toward Clara and then she saw it.
The pink gown.
The very same gown.
The one she had wanted.
The one she had been refused permission to even try.
Clara was standing in front of the large mirror wearing it.
The fitted corset hugged her figure perfectly, while the delicate diamond-like embellishments shimmered beneath the bright store lights.
The flowing princess-style skirt fell gracefully around her, creating an elegant and almost regal appearance.
The gown looked even more breathtaking on Clara than it had inside the glass case.
Clara turned slightly from side to side, admiring her reflection.
A bright smile spread across her face.
"I know, right?" she said happily. "This dress looks perfect on me."
She turned toward Rose and Jenny. "I absolutely love it."
Rose immediately nodded.
"You should definitely get it."
Jenny smiled.
"It really looks like it was designed specifically for you."
Clara laughed softly as she looked at herself once again.
Olivia, however, couldn't move.
For a moment, she completely forgot about the dress she was wearing.
Her eyes remained fixed on the pink gown.
The same gown she had wanted.
The same gown she had been told she couldn't even try.
And now Clara was wearing it.
A strange feeling tightened inside Olivia's chest.
She forced a smile onto her face.
"It does look beautiful on you."
Her voice sounded pleasant enough.
But beneath the smile, her fingers slowly tightened around the fabric of her own dress.
She didn't like what she was feeling.
It wasn't simply disappointment anymore.
It was jealousy.
And the longer she stared at Clara wearing the gown she had wanted, the harder it became for Olivia to hide it.
There was something about that dress that had captured her attention from the moment she had seen it.
And now, seeing Clara in it, Olivia couldn't help wondering why she had been denied the chance to even try it.
She lowered her gaze for a moment, trying to regain control of her emotions.
But when she looked up again, her eyes instinctively returned to the pink gown.
This time, there was something different in her expression.
A quiet determination.
She might have been forced to give up on the gown for the moment.
But Olivia wasn't someone who easily accepted being told no.
And somewhere in the back of her mind, a thought had already begun to take shape.
If Clara could wear that gown...
Why couldn't she?
Olivia stared at Clara.
For a moment, she completely forgot about the dress she was wearing.
Her eyes remained fixed on the breathtaking baby-pink gown—the same gown she had wanted from the moment she had seen it.
The same gown she had been told she couldn't even try on.
And now Clara was wearing it.
Olivia forced a smile onto her face.
"It does look beautiful on you."
Her voice sounded pleasant, but the fingers of her hand slowly tightened around the fabric of her own dress.
She tried not to let her irritation show.
Across the store, Nina carefully adjusted the gown around Clara's waist before stepping back to examine the fitting.
"Miss Clara, the fitting is perfect."