n

n

nMinutes ticked by until they turned into half an hour.

nCassidy hasn't appeared yet, but Gertrude is already nearing her boiling point. She first thought that she's just changing into a more decent clothing or something to pacify her pent-up fit of pique. However, that seemed to be not the case.

nThen again, knowing her daughter-in-law now, she probably won't consider earning her good will by sporting a decent apparel, and it's not like something like that would work on her anyway.

n

"How ridiculous... None of my appointments at work had even made me wait this long. Does she think I have all day for her?

" Gertrude grunted with her brows scrunched so tightly together in aggravation that her wrinkles were becoming more and more visible.

nWithout her knowing, Cecile had went ahead and sent people to search all around for Cassidy.

nThe head maid couldn't afford catching the flames of her rage, which was why she didn't tell her the news yet. She also hadn't given up on bringing her daughter-in-law back. Since she's the one who confidently claimed that she was staying put inside the mansion, she's also the one who's going to be in trouble if that ended out to be not true.

nComing clean would mean creasing her reputation as a highly competent and flawless worker.

nNot to mention, if she failed to have them meet today, she's going to get quite a scolding from her mistress. Irish is just as short-tempered as Gertrude despite their contrasting personalities. She's also just as capable as her mother in humiliating, browbeating and maltreating people who're under them.

n

"This is bad... I had already sent almost all the maids and even got some help from the available menservants around the area, but no one had seen any sign of her yet. The security guards at the gates said that they didn't notice anyone leaving, which meant that she's still around here somewhere,

" Cecile pondered heavily, already at a mental panic.

nShe must have underestimated Cassidy too much. If she's hiding right now, she probably knew that something was up. But even then, she would have already confronted her or any of the new maids if she did have her suspicions.

nPerhaps, she's just hiding for the meantime after she found out that Gertrude had come unannounced. It's only a given that she'd avoid contact with her abusive mother-in-law. In that case, she might confront her and the other maids only after she left.

n

"No, I need to haul her out of hiding no matter what. I don't care if she comes confronting me or whatnot. She's too powerless and naive to do anything against me, anyway...

" Cecile thought firmly while clenching her teeth.

n

"My concern here is the Madam. She must not know that I was the one who let her get away.

"

nAs more minutes of searching flew by, she decided to at least fabricate a lie that would not taint her good reputation and instead put all the blames on Cassidy - a thing she's very good at doing.

n---

nAt a particular jewelry store in a mall - one that lets its sophisticated and posh decorum do all the talking on just how lavish and costly their products are, a certain blonde is taking her sweet time in poring over sets after sets of accessories.

n

"How about this pearl necklace, Ms. Sophie...?

" offered the male store manager while showing her one of their most popular ornaments among women these days.

n

"Since you said you're currently staying near the beach, this will go well with the setting, don't you think?

"

n

"Pearls, huh...

" Sophie mumbled to herself as she regarded it contemplatively.

n

"We're going out for dinner at that famous five-star hotel near here, you see. There's a seafood restaurant there... I think pearls will indeed do the thing.

"

n

"My, is it a date, Ma'am~?

"

n

"Oh, I do hope so. I'll be going out with him together with his family.

"

n

"Then, isn't that better~? If you're still not married, eating with his family will make you feel like you're already one of them!

"

nSophie can't help but smile at that, finding it quite nice to hear.

nNo need to bother correcting the manager that the man already has a spouse. After all, even though that woman is already a member of the family, she doesn't look like one or deserve it at all. She'll be able to fill in her shoes a thousand times better.

n

"Oh, I can't wait to see you again, my dearest Adrian~ I hope you'll like the outfit I prepared for our dinner night. I do feel bad for making you go through a hard time yesterday, but I think you should really learn by now...

" Sophie mused quietly to herself, feeling like some damsel in distress as she mustered a deeply troubled expression.

n

"Staying close to that woman would only cause you problems and misfortunes, you know~

"

nThe store manager only watches her with an awkward smile, a bit surprised and confused as to why she suddenly started squirming around like some teenage girl who's head-over-heels for her crush. She even appears like she's daydreaming, especially with that gooey grin of hers and her rosy pink cheeks.

n

"Ummm... Excuse me, may I ask for some assistance?

"

nAt another customer's sudden call, both of them finally face away from each other and turn to look at their side.

n

"Yes, yes... What is it, Ma'am-

"

nThe store manager then suddenly cuts himself off as his jaw slightly drops at the sight that greets them. Evidently awed, he takes a moment to let the view sink in. Sophie reacts just as stunned by such an attention-catching figure and prepossessing aura. Even the other employees and clients inside the store are now looking at this person as well.

nA breathtakingly beautiful redhead appeared before them all of the sudden, wearing a cool biker outfit that certainly makes her stand out.

nWith shades on her eyes, she flashes everyone a pair of ankle-length boots, fitted blue jeans and a grey tank top under a leather jacket that's draped over her shoulders. More than anything, it's definitely her smooth and silky crimson red hair that makes her all the more attractive and captivating.

n

"Yes, Ma'am, welcome to our shop...!

" the store manager blithely chimed in, greeting her after collecting himself again.

n

"What is it we're looking for, Ma'am? We've got all types of jewelries here. Just name it~

"

n

"Well, ummm... The thing is, I'm not really that good in choosing jewelries, so I might have to see them instead of naming one,

" the redhead confessed while rubbing her neck sheepishly.

n

"O-Oh...

"

nAt that second, the store manager tries not to slump in disappointment.

nIf she's not used to buying jewelries, it probably means that she's actually not as rich as he initially thought. Going by her attire, he easily got the impression that she was affluent or famous.

nBut now that he's looking closely, she only appears flashy and good-looking. Her apparel doesn't resemble those sophisticated and elegant clothing that most wealthy women wear - just like Sophie, his regular customer.

nNevertheless, the store manager keeps his accommodating facade on and assists her, though he's planning that he'll just let one of his employees to take over later so that he can go back to Sophie.

n

"Alright, Ma'am. Leave it to me,

" he said a little less ebulliently than earlier while spreading a strained smile.

n

"Oh, wait...! I do got some preferences...

" the red head added all of the sudden, making both him and the blonde pause in surprise.

n

"I want one whole jewelry set of your most expensive rubies, and dozens of your precious gems of different sizes.

"

nThen, silence.

nAfter hearing her place such an extravagant order, the store manager and some of the other people nearby who just happened to be listening were all thrown off guard, nearly gaping in awe once more. Sophie was also astonished by this, not expecting that she's that wealthy after all.

n

"Why, of course, Ma'am~!

"

nThen came the manager's one hundred eighty turn.

nAfter the redhead pulled out some sort of UNO reverse card on him - unknowingly even, he went back to being extra accommodating. With that, he decided to have someone else continue assisting Sophie instead and went ahead to serve their new customer.

nThe store manager soon thought that he did good in this choice of his.

nNot only is she not a picky one like most others, but she's also quite easy to persuade. The way she just agrees to his recommendations makes him think that she's rich enough to be spending her money without fearing that they would not meet her expectations in the end.

nWith that, he managed to finish filling in her simple yet extravagant orders in just a matter of minutes.

n

"By the way, Ma'am, may I know your name? We would really love to have you here again the next time you go shopping,

" the store manager finally found the guts to say after keeping his curiosity to himself for a while now.

nBoth of them have gone back to the counter. Sophie just also finished buying what she wanted by then, and she's standing right beside the mysterious redhead at the moment.

n

"My name...? Oh, I see! Will that be written on the receipt...?

" she asked to which the manager simply nodded.

n

"It's Cassidy Millicent.

"

nRight at the very second Cassidy dropped her name, Sophie suddenly froze on her spot.

n