Claire Sinclair reflexively glanced back to see Ethan Kingsley strolling toward her, beaming. Anyone who didn’t know better would have thought he’d just run into some good fortune.

Ethan Kingsley quickly walked up to her. "Fancy seeing you here. What are you doing?"

Remembering how he had screwed her over in the past, Claire Sinclair had no warm feelings for him. She replied coolly, "Is that any of your business?"

"Hey, Claire Sinclair, I was in the wrong last time. I’d like to formally apologize. I’m sorry. Please forgive me, won’t you?" He punctuated his words with a ninety-degree bow.

"There’s no need for such a grand gesture, Mr. Kingsley. I can’t accept it. Goodbye."

Claire Sinclair turned and left without a moment’s hesitation.

Ethan Kingsley stood frozen, watching as she entered a clothing boutique. A wicked smirk played on his lips.

He pulled out his phone and made a call. "The woman who just went in is my future girlfriend. You know what to do, right?"

"Yes, we understand!"

After hanging up, Ethan Kingsley walked away in high spirits.

...

Claire Sinclair casually wandered into another women’s clothing store. The moment she stepped inside, a sales associate greeted her warmly. "Welcome, miss! How may I help you today?"

’Compared to the last shop, the service here is amazing!’

The frustration in Claire Sinclair’s heart instantly vanished, replaced by a polite smile. "Hello, I’m looking for a dress suitable for a TV appearance. I need something understated that will still look good on camera. Do you have any recommendations?"

The sales associate gave Claire Sinclair a quick, practiced look-over, then selected a long, white, sleeveless gown. "Miss, you’re about five-foot-six or five-seven, right? This dress would be perfect for you."

’Wow, she’s a pro. She guessed I was five-foot-six with just a glance. So impressive!’

’I might as well try this one, then.’

Claire Sinclair took the dress to the fitting room, changed, and came out to give a little spin in front of the mirror.

’It’s actually a great fit. It’s slimming, makes me look taller, and even elongates my arms... I can’t find a single thing wrong with it. This is the one.’

Claire Sinclair turned back to the sales associate. "How much is this dress?"

"That one is 12,000."

"Twelve thousand?" Claire Sinclair winced at the price.

Seeing her expression, the sales associate immediately changed her tune. "Well, as it happens, we’re having a ’Lucky Day’ sale today. You’re the 52nd customer to walk through our doors, which means you’re eligible for a fifty-percent discount!"

"Fifty percent off... so 6,000. I’ll take it."

"Excellent. Would you like to wear it out, miss?"

"Oh, no, please bag it for me. I’ll go change out of it now." Claire Sinclair mentally calculated that she was running out of time and hurried back to the fitting room to change.

After paying, Claire Sinclair grabbed the bag with the dress and hurriedly left.

Not long after she had gone, Ethan Kingsley walked into the same shop.

The sales associate immediately came out to greet him. "Young Master Kingsley!"

Ethan Kingsley idly browsed the dresses before him, asking in a seemingly casual tone, "What did she buy the dress for?"

"The young lady said she’s attending a TV show taping. She wanted a style that was understated but would look good on camera, so I recommended the ’Swallow’s Return’ design. It’s a perfect match for her skin tone and complements her fresh, refined, and elegant disposition."

"The Swallow’s Return..."

Ethan Kingsley closed his eyes, picturing her in the dress. He snapped them open, a wicked smirk playing on his lips. "You’ve got a good eye. The ’Swallow’s Return’ was an excellent choice."