She said it without thinking – exposing everything Hannah was trying to hide.
Amelia gave a slow, meaningful nod. Her tone was calm, even playful. “Oh, I see. So now ‘homewrecker’ has a new name. People call it ‘true love’ these days. Times really have changed.”
Then Amelia smiled politely at the sales associate. “Since this lady is so rich, please sell all the new arrivals to her.”
Her voice was unhurried, almost amused. “But she should prove it first. You should swipe the card before packing everything up.”
The sales associate was quick and clever. She instantly understood what Amelia meant.
She turned to Hannah with a professional smile. “Madam, since you said you want everything, let’s go to the VIP lounge to complete the payment. There are 123 pieces in total. The full price is around 1.5 million dollars.”
Hannah’s face drained of color.
One and a half million?
She had only said she’d buy everything to show off. She never expected it to cost that much.
But everyone was watching – including Amelia, who was waiting for her to make a fool of herself.
“Let … let’s … go,” Hannah forced out, her palms already sweating.
The sales associate – afraid Hannah might run – quickly guided her and Isla toward the VIP room. “This way, please.”
Amelia stood where she was, watching Hannah struggle to keep up her act. She let out a soft, cold laugh and turned to leave the boutique.
She knew Ethan too well.
Yes, he now controlled the Rowe Group. But he won that position in a brutal family power struggle.
Because everything he had came with a price, he lived simply. He never acted like those spoiled rich heirs.
And Hannah? She had just blown through 1.5 million dollars in one shopping trip.
Even if Ethan forgave her, the nosy Rowe relatives definitely wouldn’t.
At that moment, he had just finished an important meeting about internal anti-corruption in the Rowe Group boardroom.
The economic climate was bad, so the whole company was promoting frugality and discouraging waste.
Ethan himself had emphasized that senior executives needed to set a good example in their personal lives.
Just as the meeting ended, his phone buzzed.
It was a bank alert.
Ethan frowned as soon as he saw the number.
More than 1.5 million dollars?
How could Hannah spend that much on clothes?
It wasn’t that he cared about the money, but the spending was too flashy.
Blowing through other people’s yearly salaries in a single mall trip? That was exactly the kind of waste he despised.
Then he thought of Amelia.
Back when the Rowe power struggle was at its worst, money had been tight. Amelia even sold her own things to help him keep the company running.
And when he finally took control of the Rowe Group, she rarely bought luxury items. Most of her expenses came from what she earned at her own studio.
Ethan slid his phone back into his pocket, his expression darkening.
Then he headed home.
Hannah had expected this. She knew Ethan would get the spending alert, so she prepared her excuse ahead of time.
The moment Ethan walked in, she rushed toward him with red eyes and a trembling voice. “Ethan, I’m so sorry … I spent too much today …
“I was at the mall and I saw that brand again. It made me think of Jack …
“He always said I looked good in their clothes … I couldn’t help it … so I bought too much … “
When Hannah mentioned Jack, she burst into even louder sobs. “I didn’t mean to waste money. I just … I just miss him so much … “
At that moment, Isla came running over to Ethan. She was wearing a brand-new princess dress and spun in a full circle. “Ethan, look! Do you like my new dress? Thank you for buying me such a pretty one!”
Her bright smile, paired with Hannah’s tear-streaked face and guilt, made it impossible for any decent man to stay angry.
Ethan looked at both of them, and memories of the late Jack came rushing back. The fire in his chest slowly faded.
“If you like it, then buy it,” he said tiredly. “Just … be more careful next time.”
Hannah immediately wiped her tears and gave him a grateful smile. “Thank you, Ethan. You’re really so kind … “
Just then, Ethan’s phone rang.
It was Kevin. “Mr. Rowe, I found the address
No Sex for Six Years Because of Her? I’m Done!of Ms. Harlow’s new studio. I’ll text it to you right away.”
Ethan’s eyes lit up. “Great. Send it over.”
The next morning, Ethan got up early, ready to go see Amelia.
But right as he was about to head out, Hannah came downstairs carrying two shopping bags full of clothes.
“Ethan, you’re going to see Ms. Harlow, right? I want to go with you.”
Ethan gave her a puzzled look and frowned. “Why do you want to come?”
Hannah lifted the bags and spoke gently. “I ran into Ms. Harlow at the mall yesterday. She looked like she really wanted to buy something, but I think her card didn’t work. She looked pretty upset.”
She sighed, looked at Ethan with soft eyes, and continued, “I bought so many new clothes yesterday. I’ll never wear them all. So I picked two outfits she might like. I want to bring them to her as a kind gesture. And maybe I can help you talk to her, you know? Help calm things down so she won’t stay mad at you.”
Ethan felt oddly uncomfortable hearing that.
After blowing through over a million dollars on his card, Hannah now wanted to take those clothes to Amelia as a “gift.”
But after thinking it over, he had to admit she wasn’t completely wrong.
Amelia was angry because of Isla’s allergy incident. Since Hannah was directly involved, maybe she really could help smooth things over.
Ethan honestly had no idea how to face Amelia right now. If someone else could help bridge the gap, that might actually be good.
“Where’s Isla?” he finally asked.
“I asked Agnes to watch her,” Hannah replied quickly.
So Ethan took Hannah with him and drove to the new address Kevin had sent.
Inside Amelia’s studio, a refined middle-aged man in a button-down shirt was carefully holding a freshly finished gown. His face was full of admiration and delight.
“Ms. Harlow, your craftsmanship is incredible,” he said warmly. “This gown is even more beautiful than I imagined. My wife is going to love it.”
The client was Oliver Fraser, a well-known painter. He had come to Amelia earlier, asking for a one-of-a-kind gown for his wife’s fiftieth birthday.
The moment Amelia told him the gown was ready, he came in person to pick it up.
“Mr. Fraser, I’m glad you like it.” Amelia smiled and gently placed the gown in a custom silk bag before handing it to him.
Oliver accepted it with great enthusiasm. “Her birthday party is next week. Ms. Harlow, you must come. You designed the most important gift of the night. She’ll be thrilled to meet you.”
As Amelia walked him to the door, a soft breeze lifted the loose strands of hair near her cheek.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.