Chapter 36
Natalie could eastly pick up on the sarcasm in Sophie’s tone. She was unsure why Sophie needed to assert herself at her expense.
Just as she was about to retort, Zachary interjected with a laugh, “Ms. Talia could save money with her looks! She could wear a burlap sack and still look good, so who cares about the fabric?
“Besides, the dress she’s wearing today is quite decent. If you didn’t know better, you might think she’s a fairy from the heavens!”
At the mention of a fairy, his expression turned exaggerated, and he looked genuinely amazed, which made Jasper’s lips curve into a slight smile. Natalie couldn’t help but chuckde at his words. Standing there gracefully, her red lips and white teeth shone brightly, and her eyes sparkled with joy
Her dimples appeared on either side of her face, accentuating her curves–busty, slender waist and rounded hips–giving her an innocent charm and a sensual allure that drew the eye.
Jasper’s gaze lingered on her for several seconds, his dark eyes deep and inscrutable.
Watching the two men fawn over Natalie, Sophie clenched her jaw in frustration.
In the past, she had always been the center of attention, with men praising her and vying for her affection. Here in Kingston, she felt overshadowed by a woman from the countryside.
Despite the anger simmering within her, she managed to maintain a smile as she addressed Natalie.
“Which woman doesn’t love a beautiful dress? Ms. Talia, is this too expensive for you?
As she scrutinized the price tag, her eyes widened. “Wow, it’s indeed pricey–45 dollars! That’s a bit much for you, isn’t it? I’ve heard that in the countryside, you all calculate your earnings in work points, and you probably wouldn’t earn 45 dollars in a year, right?
“Oh well… I guess I won’t buy it. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable,” she added smugly, returning to her clothes. *
When Sophie emerged from the fitting room, the salesperson tried to persuade her again. “Miss, are you sure you don’t want that dress? I think it looks lovely on you.”
Sophie shot the salesperson with an annoyed glare. “I said I don’t want it!”
Still silent, Jasper pulled out a stack of bills and placed them on the counter. He pointed at the dress and instructed the salesperson, “I’ll take it. Please get me a new one that hasn’t been tried on.”
The salesperson looked surprised momentarily and thought, “Wow, this guy is really handsome, though his serious demeanor is a bit intimidating.” Nonetheless, she happily took the money, bent down to retrieve a fresh dress from beneath the counter, and bagged it up before handing it to him. “ Here’s the dress, sir.”
As Jasper took the bag, the salesperson glanced at Sophie, who was staring intently at him. Assuming they were a couple, she smiled. “Your boyfriend is really good to you! He bought you such an expensive dress without batting an eye. You shouldn’t be upset with him.”
This comment took Sophie aback, but her face lit up as she wore a beaming smile. Maybe Jasper, despite his cold demeanor, did care about her after all.
She thought, “With my background, education, and looks, how could a woman from the countryside outshine me?
Feeling p pleased, she relaxed. But the next moment, she saw Jasper hand the bag he held to Natalie, simply saying, “Take it.”
Natalle felt uncomfortable accepting something she hadn’t earned and promptly tried to return it.
His expression darkened ominously. “If you don’t want it, just throw it away.”
Ultimately, she accepted the bag, her small face lighting up with a sweet smile as she thanked him.
