Tammy’s eyes stayed on Daniel for a moment before shifting to Chantelle. She gave her a warm smile. "Mrs. Wilson, you’re stunning. You two look amazing together."
"You’ve got a good eye, Ms. Tammy. Chantie’s the perfect match, isn’t she, Daniel?" Thea said with a playful smile.
"Absolutely. My wife is the best," Daniel quickly nodded while smiling.
"Okay, now go back to work," Chantelle said, smiling as she gently pushed him toward the door. She couldn’t hide how happy she felt from all the compliments.
Just as Daniel leaned closer and stole a kiss at the door, Chantelle playfully pinched his face. She didn’t realize the scene had caught the attention of several wealthy ladies in the boutique.
Earlier, many private photos of Chantelle with other men were posted online. People were upset, and it seemed like jealousy played a part.
But the post was later taken down. After that, no one can even find Chantelle’s name on Facebook. Her name, Chantelle Bently, disappeared from all social media.
Some people believed Daniel did it to protect her. Others said he only did it to keep his own image clean. There were even rumors that the two had broken up.
But right now, they looked like a happy couple to everyone.
"You had your gown made here too, Mrs. Wilson?" the woman who had just greeted Daniel asked as she approached them and grabbed Chantelle’s hand.
No matter what she really felt inside; whether it was envy, jealousy, or dislike, she still wore a bright, cheerful smile on her face.
Chantelle knew well that many wealthy ladies had two faces. That’s why she never told anyone she owned the boutique. She only said she was a close friend of Thea.
Because of that, some women who had complained about wanting refunds were now praising Thea’s work. They said her sewing was top-notch.
"This was our mistake. Even if you forgive us, we still take full responsibility," Thea said. "All affected customers will receive a free gown from Camelot and Hale’s new collection."
After Thea finished explaining, everyone seemed completely satisfied.
Earlier, Thea said only customers with gowns worth 5 million dollars or more would get replacements from Camelot and Hale. That left many people disappointed. But now that they were giving out free gowns from the joint brand, everyone seemed satisfied.
"Ms. Wilson, I heard some international celebrities will attend the charity dinner. Can you tell us who they are?" someone asked.
Chantelle’s role as Chair of the Charity Association was widely known, but many people mistakenly thought it was Camille Nelsen.
"You’ll find out the night after tomorrow," she replied with a grin.
The dinner would be a huge event. Along with many local stars, three international celebrities had been invited.
Once the news came out, the local artists started posting about their invitations. The names of the international guests were still kept secret since they were the main highlight of the event.
"I wish I had a daughter like Stephanie Bently. She’s just too adorable."
"You love her too? I’m obsessed! Look, my phone case and wallpaper are both Stephanie. If I ever have a daughter as cute as her, I’ll be over the moon!"
When women gather, their talks always circle around fashion, jewelry, men, or kids. So once Stephanie’s name came up, everyone joined together. Even those who didn’t know her were drawn into the conversation.
"Princess Steph really has everyone wrapped around her finger," Thea said proudly, giving Chantelle a playful pat on the shoulder.
"That little rascal is still staying with Rowan. She’s giving me a headache," Chantelle said.
She had messaged Steph on WhatsApp, telling her to come home, but all she got back was a "calm down" emoji.
All her messages had been read but none were answered.
"I think Camille’s the one with the headache now," Kane said to Thea. She felt a little bad for Camille.
Most of the problems at the boutique were solved, thanks to Mr. Marco and Daniel showing up.
When Daniel heard everything was fine, he felt relieved. His mood now depended completely on Chantelle, whether she was happy or upset.
At the Wilson Group office, Jude didn’t leave after giving his report. He stood silently in front of Daniel’s desk.
Daniel looked at him with a puzzled expression. "What is it?"
"You went out fighting? Aren’t you supposed to be a board member?" Jude asked, looking confused.
"No, I didn’t," Daniel replied with a frown.
"Then why are your lips cracked?" Jude asked, not buying his explanation.
Daniel touched his lips with his fingers and smiled, remembering something.
Jude stared at him. "You’ve got a twisted smile."
"You just don’t get what sweet and passionate really means," Daniel said, giving Jude a look. He figured a guy like Jude, who’d been single for so long, probably didn’t know anything about love.
"Your lips are cracked. Doesn’t it hurt when you eat or drink?" Jude asked.
"I have no problem with that," Daniel said, curling his lips into a teasing smile.
Jude stared at him, then shook his head. He couldn’t take it anymore. Thinking Daniel must be out of his mind, he walked away.
But when Jude got back to his office, he couldn’t stop thinking about Daniel’s cracked lips... and that strange smile.
That smile was the most genuine Jude had ever seen from Daniel. He hadn’t seen Daniel smile like that since they were kids. In his mind, Daniel was just like him; someone who didn’t know how to really smile.
What changed him? A woman? It had to be Chantelle Bently. Or maybe he should start calling her "Mrs. Director"... or sister-in-law.
"Mr. Jude, here’s your coffee." A warm cup with a strong aroma appeared in front of him. The taste was just how he liked it.
Jude looked up and saw Shiela standing there, graceful as always. Her smile was gentle, but her heart was beating fast.
There he was again. What was going on with Jude today? Was something wrong with him?Why did he keep staring at me like that?
Did I do something wrong? Does he want to replace me?
No! What a foolish thought. She scolded herself. No one else would put up with your temper, Jude. Not the way I do.
"Is there anything else you need from me, Mr. Jude?" she asked in a small voice.