Chapter 142 Julian had a sharp tongue. Sydney shook her head, grabbed her phone from the bed, and froze at the screen. Seven hours. It took a moment to remember the promise she'd mumbled before falling asleep. Clearing her throat, she stammered, "1-1 must've been out cold. Give me a minute." She hung up, freshened up in record time, and changed clothes. When she opened the door, Julian leaned against the wall, bored. At the sight of her, he straightened lazily, his voice flat. "I thought you were going to play dumb and skip out on paying." Sydney slipped on her coat as she stepped outside.
"I can afford a suit." "Good. Let's go," Julian said. By the time he pressed the elevator button, Sydney had fully shrugged into her coat. They stood side by side, looking like a married couple heading out together. The elevator arrived quickly. Inside, a young couple held each other close. The woman curled into the man's arms, his hand around her waist. The man gave an embarrassed smile but didn't move. They looked like newlyweds. Julian stepped in first, his gaze brushing over Sydney's waist. The woman piped up, bright and friendly. "We live upstairs.
Haven't seen you and your husband before. Just moved in?" Glee flickered in Julian's eyes, but Sydney shook her head quickly. "No, no. He's just my neighbor. My husband doesn't live here-" "Which mall are we going to? To buy me clothes?" Julian's voice landed like a bomb as Sydney explained. She snapped her head up and caught the couple exchanging a knowing, suggestive glance. 'Great. First, they thought Julian and I were married. Now I look like an adulterous wife sneaking around with her neighbor,' she whined inwardly. Sydney felt a headache forming. Was Julian doing this on purpose?
She glared at him. "The wholesale market. I'll buy you 100 suits. That enough?" Her words promised one thing, but she drove them straight to a members-only luxury mall, knowing exactly how picky Julian was. At the men's boutique, a familiar sales associate spotted Sydney and instinctively looked away. She stammered, "M-Mrs. Hampton..." Sydney frowned. "What is it?" "N-Nothing." The associate hesitated, then leaned closer and whispered, "Mr. Hampton... just came by. With someone else." The words weren't explicit, but Sydney understood. Caleb had been here with another woman.
1/2 She smiled faintly and glanced at the man beside her. "Well, I'm here with someone else too." The associate, seasoned in rich-family gossip, steadied herself. "I thought you were here to pick something out for Mr. Hampton again." The moment she said it, the air around the man beside Sydney sharpened. His presence grew heavier, colder. The associate was certain of one thing. This was his first time here. A man like this-looks, energy-she would never have forgotten. "No," Sydney said quickly.
"This time I'm buying for my broth She stopped, realizing she didn't even know her relationship with Julian. Boss? Neighbor? She asked quickly, "Where are the new arrivals?" "Over there. Let me show you," the associate said. Sydney began picking out items for Julian herself. After all, she owed him. If she didn't show sincerity, he'd just call her stingy again. OCE