Without hesitation, Penny took a break and brought Nina to Central Mall to find a dress for tonight’s event. As they began browsing through the dresses, Nina couldn’t help but glance at Penny.
Penny stood in front of a rack, hand on her chin, eyes scanning the sparkly dresses. She seemed deep in thought, her face unusually serious. She was only picking a dress for someone else, but it looked like she was making a life-changing decision.
’I should’ve told her the truth first,’Nina thought, sighing as she stared at the dresses in front of her. ’How can I choose anything when I know I’m bothering her with a lie?’
Another sigh escaped her, guilt gnawing at her for using a lame excuse just to spend time with Penny. The worst part was that Nina hadn’t gleaned any information about Penny’s husband. She knew that getting close to Zoren Pierson was nearly impossible, but she had hoped to gather some insights from Penny.
Yet Penny barely mentioned him, and Nina was worried that pressing too hard would raise suspicion. So, she was waiting for the right moment.
’I already have a dress for later...’ Nina mentally groaned. ’Finn already sent me one for the charity event. And here I am... Oh, Nina, how much more foolish can you get?’
If only she had realized earlier that deceit and lies were sometimes necessary in adulthood, she might have nurtured that trait she was born with. But after vowing to become a better person, Nina turned her back on anything that reminded her of the wicked little girl she once was. Hence, all she could come up with was a flimsy excuse. She couldn’t take lying to Penny and honestly, it made her sick to her stomach.
As Nina quietly lamented over her failing plan, something caught her eye. She instinctively turned her head, squinting slightly as she spotted Mrs. Miller and Patricia walking past the glass walls of the boutique.
’Oh, them!’A light bulb went off in Nina’s head as an idea formed in her mind.
"Nina!" Penny called, walking over to her. "Ready to try some dresses? I picked a few that might suit you for the event."
Nina turned and saw the dresses draped over Penny’s arm. "Ah, Penny... hehe. Actually, I usually go to another boutique. How about we head there instead?"
"Huh?" Penny tilted her head. "We’re already here. Why not try these first and see if you like anything? If not, we can check out the other boutique."
Penny was confident the dresses she picked would suit Nina. She had chosen them based on Nina’s figure, complexion, and gentle beauty. Nina would look stunning in all of them, and Penny was excited to see her try them on.
"Hehe." Nina forced a smile, hesitation flickering in her eyes.
Seeing her reluctance, Penny gave a small, amused smile and sighed lightly. "Alright, let’s go check out the other boutique," she said, turning to the clerk and handing over the dresses. "Please pack these and send them to my address."
"Yes, Miss Bennet," the clerk replied, taking the dresses and bowing slightly as she walked away. Nina couldn’t help but notice.
"Penny, do you always shop here?" Nina asked, picking up on the interaction between Penny and the clerk.
"I know the owner, so I shop here to support the business," Penny shrugged. "Besides, it’s affordable and classy."
"That’s why you brought me here, huh?" Nina chuckled lightly. "I’ve never tried this brand before, but I’ll give it a shot."
Compared to the boutiques Nina typically frequented, the prices here were more affordable. Still expensive, but not as exorbitant as some of the other brands she knew. She’d heard of this brand before, but it wasn’t as popular as the high-end ones she usually favored.
Even so, Penny wouldn’t recommend it if she didn’t approve of this brand. However, looking for dresses wasn’t actually Nina’s goal right now. She only used it as an excuse. There was no need to dwell on it for now.
"You should! And when you do, make sure to tell them I referred you." Penny winked. "You’ll never shop anywhere else after that."
"Okay. Thanks, Penny."
"Let’s go check out the other boutique then," Penny said, smiling as Nina’s excitement returned.
With that, the two of them headed to the other boutique Nina had in mind. It wasn’t far, and they arrived in no time.
"I’ll go take a look," Nina said enthusiastically, darting toward the formal dress section as a clerk assisted her.
Penny chuckled at Nina’s eagerness. "I guess she really likes this brand," she murmured before heading to the main desk. ’I should sign her up for VIP membership so she can always shop here.’
Although Penny had close friends like Lily and Ginnie, Yuri and Nina were more like sisters to her. Unfortunately, Yuri didn’t share Nina’s love for shopping. Even though Penny occasionally sent Yuri dresses, Yuri would always tell her not to bother, as she rarely wore anything fancy. Penny never took it personally—Yuri was just like that. Despite her gentle nature, Yuri was always clear about what she liked and wasn’t afraid to be honest.
As for Nina, Penny thought that with Nina’s career, she’d surely get invited to plenty of events. The idea hadn’t occurred to Penny before, but now that it had, she wanted to help Nina.
Dresses could be expensive, but spoiling her sisters was one of the little things that made Penny happy. With that thought in mind, she approached the counter to inquire about their VIP program.
"Hello, I’d like to inquire about..." Penny trailed off as she noticed the person standing beside her at the counter. She turned her head, and the woman turned as well, their eyes meeting at the same time. "Patricia? We meet again!"
Penny’s lips stretched into a wide smile, while Patricia’s face paled, her lips trembling. Her eyes darted nervously, and the confidence she had been exuding moments before crumbled in front of Penny. In a split second, the bliss Patricia had been feeling turned to anxiety and dread.
"Penny," Patricia stammered, her heart racing as her complexion turned ghostly. "We... meet again."