Chapter 13


    At the thought of that, Hayley reached for her phone and dialed Elliot’s number. “Hello, does it still


    hurt?” “Elliot, I want to attend a jewelry fair. Can you take me there?” Hayley implored. “What


    jewelry fair?” “Let me show you a video.” Hayley hung up the call and forwarded the video to Elliot


    shortly before she received a text message that briefly read, ‘Alright, I’ll take you there.’ Hayley


    eximed in excitement but identally hurt her swollen cheek in the process. As she hissed in


    pain, she began to curse Anastasia once again. “You’re a b*tch, Anastasia! You’re a jewelry


    designer, yet you can’t even attend a high-ss jewelry fair like this one.” On the other hand,


    Anastasia stumbled across the same video about the jewelry fair in her office and learned from the


    others who were invited that there were formal dress codes required for the asion; otherwise,


    ess would be denied. Due to that, she became worried, not knowing what she should do


    because she couldn’t afford to rent a decent-looking banquet dress. Just when Anastasia was


    worrying about her dress code for the jewelry fair, her train of thought was suddenly interrupted by a


    phone call, which turned out to be an unidentified number. Nheless, she answered the phone


    and asked, “Hello.” “Hello, may I speak to Miss Tillman? I’m calling from FH Clothing Store to inform


    you that our customer has just reserved a banquet dress for you. Would you be free to drop by and


    try itter in the afternoon?” “A banquet dress for me?” Anastasia was stunned but quickly knew


    that it was Nigel who did it for her. “Sure, I’ll drop byter.” How thoughtful of that guy! Anastasia


    reached for her phone and sent the man a text message with a grateful emoji. ‘Thank you so much,


    Nigel.” ‘Don’t mention it. I hope you love it!’ Nigel replied with a big smiley emoji. Soon, Anastasia


    applied for a one-hour leaveter that afternoon because she realized the clothing store was just a


    stone’s throw away from her office. Since FH Clothing Store was an international brand, its outlet


    often became the ce where many socialites visited and shopped. As soon as Anastasia entered


    the shop, she was greeted by the shop owner herself. “Pleasee with me, Miss Tillman.” After


    that, Anastasia was taken to the VIP room on the second floor, where she came face to face with


    the dress on the mannequin, as if it was silently waiting for her arrival. Oh my gosh! This is


    gorgeous! Anastasiaplimented the dress just when the shop owner pointed at the dress on the


    mannequin. “This is the gown that Mr. Manson prepared for you, Miss Tillman. Do you like it?”


    Anastasia widened her eyes a little, wondering how rich Nigel actually was. Is he a billionaire or


    something? I can’t believe he prepared such an expensive banquet dress for me. Soon, she heard


    the shop owner exining more about the dress with a smile. “This banquet dress is a masterpiece


    from our top designers. The fabric was sewn with approximately eight thousand diamond beads,


    and the dress is sold for eight million in our store.” Anastasia’s heart skipped a beat when she heard


    what the shop owner said. Is Nigel trying to give me a heart attack or something? This dress is


    certainly not cheap at all! A few diamond beads are more than enough to make me go bankrupt, so


    just imagine if I lose them by ident. “Is there any other dress that you could rmend,


    perhaps?” Anastasia reckoned the dress was too expensive for her. “But Mr. Manson has already


    paid for the dress on your behalf, Miss Tillman. Furthermore, I think it suits you pretty well.” The


    shop owner showed her approval by praising Anastasia’s beauty despite her current ordinary outfit.


    Meanwhile, Anastasia was deeply in love with the dress as she loved everything about it besides


    the price. “Alright then, I’ll try it on.” She decided to stop being coy, thinking she could repay Nigel


    by treating him to some fancy meals throughout the year. After all, she didn’t want to miss the


    opportunity to attend the uing jewelry fair. Thus, Anastasia went ahead and tried on the


    banquet dress, realizing how fitting it was for her. Soon, she was told toe to the clothing store


    again the next day around 4 PM as the make-up artists and hairdressers would be there to help her


    dress up with the jewelry. Later that night, she told Jared that she would be attending a jewelry fair


    and asked him whether he preferred Francis or Grace to look after him. While the boy wanted his


    grandfather toe over, she called Francis and arranged the n with him. Needless to say,


    Francis agreed to take care of Jared while Anastasia was away, telling her that he would take the


    child with him for some fancy meal and spend the night together with him. It was only after the


    arrangement was made that Anastasia could finally put her mind to ease about her son. When


    Saturday rolled around, Anastasia took her son to the shopping mall early in the morning to buy


    some vegetables and snacks for him. Then, she went back home to continue her design work while


    Jared yed with his Lego. At the same time, they were apanied by the windy breeze that


    wafted through the window as the white curtains billowed with it. The peaceful and tranquil vibe


    lasted until it was 3.30 PM when Francis swung by with some fruits and milk. Then, Anastasia leftCopyright N?v/el/Dra/ma.Org.


    her son with her father and went out right away while Francis sat on the couch and looked at Jared


    lovingly. Oh gosh! I’m going to love this cute little boy so much! Not long after that, Anastasia


    hurriedly arrived at the clothing store where the shop owner had prepared everything for her. Then,


    one of the make-up artists sized her up andmented on her appearance in a surprised manner.


    “Miss Tillman, you have perfect skin, like there are no pores on it at all. How do you maintain such


    good health for your skin? What kind of premium skincare products do you use?” “Oh, it’s just the


    moisturizer that I usually apply on my son’s skin.” Anastasia pursed her lips and smiled while the


    two make-up artists instantly understood that she was born with such a perfect skin tone. Oh dear,


    how I wish I could have her skin. Soon, Anastasia closed her eyes just as the make-up artists


    started to apply some foundation to her face. After that, they kept her naturally thick eyebrows and


    proceeded to draw her eyeliner. Then, they went on to put the lipstick on her lips just as her beauty


    instantly stunned them like a ring diamond. Upon lifting Anastasia’s hair, the artists permed the


    hair that hung around her ears and helped her put on a pair of diamond earrings to match the


    ne she was wearing. “Let us help you change your banquet dress, Miss Tillman.” Anastasia


    nodded in response, changing into the white luna dress as she saw how gorgeous the dress made


    her look in the mirror. “Miss Tillman, we have also arranged a driver to take you to where you need


    to be. Your ride awaits at the exit.” “Thank you.” Anastasia smiled gratefully. “Enjoy your evening.”


    The shop owner saw Anastasia out of the clothing store while thetter looked at the Benz in front


    of her in a ponderous manner. I guess I didn’t really know Nigel as well as I thought I did. He told


    me his family was running a hotel business when we met each other abroad. On the other hand,


    Hayley was also working hard on making herself look as pretty as possible. For that, she hired a


    crew of professional make-up artists who had served some celebrities before, determined to cover


    her ordinary looks with the make-up so that she would look like a socialite. At that moment, a


    mysterious ck Rolls-Royce pulled up outside the mansion, whereupon Elliot opened the car door


    and stepped out of the vehicle. As the setting sun shone on him, his manly aura made him seem


    especially charming and attractive. In the meantime, Hayley stood in the parlor while fixing her eyes


    on the man who was walking closer to her, her heart pounding rapidly like a jackhammer. Oh my


    gosh! He is so handsome. “How do I look, Elliot?” Hayley bashfully blinked, wanting to hear his<ppliment. “You look great!” Elliot nodded, although he reckoned his feelings for Hayley were


    more than just about her good looks. After all, he was under the impression that she sacrificed her


    own virginity for him five years ago and suffered from a trauma that would follow her forever.


    Therefore, he told himself that he would do his best to make it up to Hayley. “Let’s go then!” Hayley


    seized Elliot’s arm, looking forward to the jewelry fairter that night. At the same time, she was


    d to have Elliot by her side, thinking she would be thedy whom every other woman envied


    wherever they went.