For a brief moment, something distant appeared in Anne's eyes.
A memory. A dream from another time. A younger Anne sitting somewhere with a sketchbook in front of her, imagining what her future would look like.
Imagining the person she would someday stand beside. Imagining the moment when she would finally wear the dress she had designed herself.
But that dream belonged to another version of her. Anne didn't explain anything further. She simply looked at Clara and smiled.
"But I thought someone else would have more use for it than I would."
Clara's face immediately brightened. "Then thank you for giving it to me!"
She looked at herself in the mirror again. "It's so beautiful. I love it."
She happily reached for Anne's hand.
Anne smiled warmly. "Of course." She squeezed Clara's hand gently." Anything for you."
For a moment, Anne looked genuinely happy. There was no polite smile.
No professional expression.
No guardedness.
Just genuine affection for her best friend. Clara noticed it too. She smiled back. Anne glanced toward her office.
"I'll be in my office for a while." She looked at Clara. "Let me know when you're done with your shopping."
"Okay." Clara nodded.
Anne then turned toward the manager. Her expression became more professional. "I need to review the reports from the new collection."
The manager immediately nodded. "Of course, Miss Anne. Everything is ready in your office."
"Good." Anne turned toward the private office.
She had taken only a few steps when Madison's voice stopped her. "Anne."
Anne turned around. "Yes, Mom?"
Madison smiled. "We'll wait for you."
She glanced toward the others. "After you're done, we can have lunch together."
Anne hesitated briefly. She looked at her mother apologetically. "I'm sorry, Mom, but I have a lunch meeting later with Clara."
Madison's expression paused for a second. Then she smiled. "Of course."
Anne looked at the others. "We can make plans another time."
Madison nodded. "That's fine."
Anne gave her mother a small smile before turning around and walking toward the private office. A few seconds later, the doors closed behind her.
Olivia watched her disappear. Her expression slowly changed. Her eyes moved toward Clara.
Clara was still standing in front of the mirror, happily admiring the pink gown Anne had designed years ago.
Then Olivia looked toward the office where Anne had disappeared. A thought quietly entered her mind.
Anne has everything.
Beauty.
Success.
Respect.
A thriving company.
A mother who was proud of her.
Eva's affection and a best friend who clearly adored her. Even the employees in the store looked at her with admiration. Anne had built an entire world around herself.
But then another thought followed. One that bothered Olivia far more.
Why didn't she react to my engagement with Jason?
Olivia's eyes narrowed slightly. She replayed the moment in her mind.
She had expected something. A change in Anne's expression.
A flicker of sadness.
Jealousy.
Disappointment.
Anything.
But Anne had simply congratulated her. Nothing more.
Does she really not care about him anymore?
Olivia stared toward the closed office doors. She couldn't decide whether the thought relieved her or frightened her.
If Anne truly no longer cared about Jason, then perhaps there was nothing to worry about. But if Anne was simply hiding her feelings...
That was a completely different matter. Across the store, Eva noticed Olivia's expression. Her suspicion deepened. There was something behind that smile.
Eva couldn't explain exactly what it was yet, but she knew one thing.
She would be watching Olivia carefully.
While Olivia remained lost in her thoughts, Clara's friends finally approached her.
Rose looked at Clara with wide eyes. "Clara, you never told us that you're friends with Anne!"
Clara turned toward her. Rose looked genuinely shocked. "How could you hide something this important from us? You know I'm such a huge fan of hers!"
Jenny immediately nodded beside her. "Me too!" She looked toward the office. "Wait... she's actually your friend?"
Clara blinked at them. She looked genuinely confused by their reaction. "Didn't I tell you that I have a best friend who is the best person in the whole world?"
Rose and Jenny exchanged a look. Jenny frowned slightly as she tried to remember. "But didn't you say your best friend's name was Sweet Bella?"
Clara suddenly burst out laughing. "Yes!"
Rose and Jenny stared at her. Clara shook her head, amused. "Anne is Sweet Bella, and Sweet Bella is Anne."
Both women froze. "You two never officially met her, so you didn't know."
Rose's eyes widened. "You're saying that you're best friends with the Anne?" She pointed toward the office. "The famous fashion designer and CEO of Angel?"
Clara nodded. "Yes."
Rose looked as though she had just discovered the biggest secret of her life. She turned toward the office again. "I want to meet her!"
Jenny laughed excitedly. "Me too!"
Rose looked back at Clara. "I want her autograph. Can you please ask her to meet us once?"
Clara laughed. "Of course you can meet her."
Rose immediately smiled.
"But listen..." Clara pointed a warning finger at both of them. "She's my best friend. I know she's famous, but she doesn't really like the spotlight that much."
Rose's excitement didn't disappear.
Clara continued. "So you'll have to tone down the fangirl behavior when you're around her."
Rose dramatically placed a hand over her heart. "Really?"
Her eyes sparkled. "We can meet her?"
Jenny smiled excitedly. "Don't worry. We just want to meet her once."
She raised both hands innocently. "We won't disturb her."
Clara shook her head, amused. "You two are unbelievable."
Rose grinned. "But you have to admit, Clara, this is a pretty big secret."
Clara rolled her eyes. "I didn't think it was that big of a deal."
Jenny stared at her. "Your best friend is one of the most famous fashion designers in the city, and you're saying it's not a big deal?"
Clara laughed. "To me, she's just Anne." She glanced toward the office door with a fond smile. "My best friend."
For Clara, that was all Anne had ever been.
Not a famous CEO.
Not a celebrated designer.
Not the owner of Angel Company.
Just Anne.
The girl she had met years ago.
The girl who had shared her dreams with her.
The girl who had stood beside her through the hardest moments of her life.
And perhaps that was why their friendship had remained so strong.
Because Clara had never cared about Anne's fame.
She had cared about Anne herself.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the store, Olivia had overheard enough of the conversation to understand one thing.
There was far more to Anne's life than she had ever realized.
And the more Olivia learned about Anne...
The more questions she had.