I didn’t need to see it to know that Wendy must have been blushing, covering her mouth, and pretending to be humble.
As soon as I left, these two – one old and one young – didn’t waste any time trying to bring me down. The level of their scheming was absolutely outrageous.
“Roseline should have at least told us when she’d be back. It’s not fair for all of us to wait for her, especially when Richard’s health isn’t great – he can’t be kept waiting, let alone hungry.”
I felt a pang of guilt when I heard Eleanor’s sharp words. I hadn’t realized Richard had been waiting for me to return before starting the meal.
“Grandpa, it’s been half an hour. Should we start without her?” Caden’s voice came, but his tone wasn’t accusatory; it was more like a suggestion.
I couldn’t help but feel a little bad, but the sight of Richard’s reaction when I walked in with the dog made it all worth it. As soon as he saw the dog, his face lit up. “Leslie, start the meal. Wait! Dulce!”
I gently let go of the dog. It recognized its master instantly, leaping into Richard’s lap and affectionately rubbing against him.
Richard grabbed the little dog in his arms, his eyes lighting up instantly. His hands trembled with excitement as he looked at the dog in disbelief. “Dulce, is it really you?”
“Woof woof woof!” The dog barked energetically as if responding to Richard.
“You’ve come back, finally!” Richard stroked the dog’s fur, his eyes brimming with tears of happiness.
The dog that had been lost for so long was finally home.
Caden looked at me, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips. He raised an eyebrow and said, “Roseline, you were in a hurry to leave. Did you go to find it?”
I raised the corner of my lips. “Do you remember the other day when I was late and almost got fired by Stella?”
Caden nodded.
“Well, that morning, Sabrina’s car almost hit Dulce. I had to take Dulce to the vet, and that’s why I was delayed,” I explained.
Caden looked at me, his gaze deepening a little, and sincerely said, “Roseline, thank you.”
I was also happy to see the reunion between Richard and the dog, so I smiled sweetly. “It was nothing, just a small favor.”
“Roseline, come sit and eat,” Richard said, in a good mood. “Leslie, quickly bring some utensils for Roseline.”
“Yes, sir,” Leslie responded immediately.
Richard shifted his seat to make room as he spoke, indicating that I should sit beside Caden.
“Mr. Richard, you’re too kind,” I said, sitting down in the vacant spot next to Caden with a gentle smile.
“Roseline, really, it’s all thanks to you for bringing Dulce back,” Richard said, still holding Dulce tightly, his eyes filled with gratitude as he looked at me.
“It’s just good luck, really. It was a coincidence that I ran into Dulce.” I said, gently petting the dog, who happily licked my fingers.
“Ah, if it weren’t for you, Roseline, finding Dulce, I probably would never have seen her again in this lifetime. When I go to the afterlife, I wouldn’t even have the face to see my wife,” he chuckled.
I stroked Dulce, feeling her soft, fluffy fur. The vet had taken such good care of her. The injury was fully healed, and she looked so lively and adorable.
Richard stroked his beard, his face beaming with joy. “Looks like you and Dulce really have a special bond.”
Caden, too, was clearly happy, giving Dulce a gentle pet. Seeing him smile like that was rare, especially over a little dog.
I noticed that Wendy’s face had turned pale, and I couldn’t help but think, Well, this is all you’re doing.
First, your gift was outshined, then I pointed out your fake dress, and now I’ve returned the dog Richard loves so much, making him so happy.
In front of Richard, you, Wendy, have entirely lost tonight!
“Go ahead, eat up. Don’t starve yourself,” Richard said kindly to me.
I nodded and quietly started eating.
“Mr. Richard, here, have some drumstick. It’s good for your health.” Wendy eagerly offered a drumstick to Richard.
Richard responded with a faint “Mm” but didn’t take the chicken leg she offered.
Wendy froze for a second, feeling awkward. She quickly turned to look at Caden.
Today, Caden was dressed in a white shirt, his blue checkered tie slightly loosened, and his cuffs rolled up. He looked more relaxed than usual, with less of the meticulous, sharp-edged aura he often carried. His handsome features still held a calm, distant vibe.
With his long fingers, he was delicately peeling a shrimp.
He looked so elegant, so regal – perfect in every way.
His natural aura of power and authority was undeniable even in such a simple action. It was as though he exuded the essence of a king effortlessly.
Wendy couldn’t help but gaze at him with a bit of admiration.
I took a big bite of my chicken wing and thought, How can this woman be so infatuated even while eating?
The next moment, Wendy quickly peeled a giant shrimp and placed it in Caden’s bowl, speaking softly, “Caden, try the shrimp I peeled for you.”
But Caden moved his bowl aside, his expression cold and detached. “No need. I’m not used to eating shrimp peeled by someone else.”
Instantly, the shrimp fell onto the table and rolled off onto the floor.
Wendy froze for a moment. Here she was, the eldest daughter of the Crawfords, with everything at her disposal – yet she had humbled herself to peel shrimp for Caden, only to be rejected.
She looked utterly dejected. “Caden, I did it just for you.”
“Yes, Caden, Wendy is doing it out of kindness,” Eleanor said, trying to support her.
With a slight, indifferent curve of his lips, Caden silently took the shrimp he had already peeled and placed it on my plate.
“I don’t like shrimp. You can have it,” Caden said.
Everyone at the table, except for Richard, was stunned.
I was frozen, too.
Did Caden peel shrimp for me?
It felt unbelievable.
A man like him, so high and mighty, how could he possibly peel shrimp for someone else? He had rejected Wendy’s offer to peel shrimp for him, practically pushing her away.
I could feel Wendy’s jealousy and anger slicing through me like daggers.
Alright, I’ll assume it’s his way of thanking me for helping him return Richard’s dog, Dulce.
I gave a faint smile, accepting his rare kindness. “Thank you.”
After lunch, since Richard was going to nap and Caden headed to the company, I was left with nothing to do, so I decided to wander around the street for a while.
Ryan and I had made plans for the evening. When I went to pick up Dulce from the pet hospital earlier, my clothes got a bit dirty and wrinkled, so they weren’t fit to wear again. I decided to buy a new outfit.
I headed to Raveneaux Delux, the most luxurious boutique in Rivemon. If I remember correctly, Raveneaux Delux had just signed a contract with Loe Studio, so this season’s Alice Signature Collection was being sold at their boutique.
As soon as I walked in, I saw one of the Alice Signature Collection dresses I designed displayed in the most eye-catching spot of the window.
I suddenly wanted to try on the dress I had designed to see how it would feel on my body.
“Excuse me, could you bring that dress for me to try on?” I asked one of the salespeople.
The salesperson looked me up and down, and then a disdain flashed across her face. “I’m sorry, this dress is designed by Loe. It’s the most expensive item in our store and cannot be tried on unless you’re purchasing it.”
I furrowed my brows, looked at my clothes, and finally understood why.
Because I had just been playing with Dulce, my clothes were a mess – wrinkled and stained from eating. I probably looked like a complete wreck.
Raveneaux Delux’s clientele were all wealthy socialites and prestigious women from Rivemon. I was a total stranger here, and as an Alpha from the Shadow Pack, I was clearly being looked down upon by the sales associate.
I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. Even if I bought the whole store, it would be nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
The salesperson really was one of those people who judged others based on appearances.
“You won’t let me try it unless I buy it, huh?” I casually pulled a black card from my bag and placed it on the counter. “In that case, I’ll buy it.”
This card was a globally limited-edition VIP card with no spending limit. Only people with extremely prestigious status could have one.
Given that she worked in a luxury store, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize it.
She momentarily looked at the card with suspicion, then her face immediately turned respectful. She hurriedly took the dress from the display and handed it to me. “Miss, the fitting room is over there.”
I let a faint, cold snort through my nose as I took the dress from her and walked toward the fitting room.
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