Chapter 4

Ruby's POV

"I'm sorry." Serena had a faint smile on her lips. "Miss, although you saw this dress first, I really like it. Would you let me have it?"

Her voice was soft and clean, but her tone carried a sense of entitlement.

"No." I handed the dress to the sales assistant. "Ring it up."

Serena stepped forward and grabbed my hand. "But I really do love this dress. It suits my temperament better."

"What's going on?"

Jace had just finished his call and came upstairs. Seeing us facing off, he frowned slightly.

Serena turned at the sound, delight climbing into her eyes. "Jace? What are you doing here?"

Her gaze flowed between Jace and me. She seemed to suddenly understand.

Then she showed me an apologetic expression. "So you're... Mrs. Monroe. I'm sorry, I didn't know it was you. I was presumptuous just now."

She lowered her head slightly, her posture extremely humble, like a startled fawn.

Jace's gaze fell on the dress in my hand, then looked at Serena's careful, tentative expression.

He didn't ask many questions. He simply stepped forward, took the dress from my hand, and held it out to Serena.

"Since you like it, take it."

My hand suddenly empty, I looked up at him in disbelief.

Serena took the dress, showing surprise and unease. "This... isn't this inappropriate? After all, Mrs. Monroe saw it first..."

"It's fine. This dress really does suit you better."

A gentle smile bloomed on Serena's face. "Then I'll go try it on?"

After getting Jace's tacit permission, she hugged the dress and turned toward the fitting room, her steps light.

I slowly lowered my hand that had been frozen in midair, clenching it into a fist. My nails dug into my palm, bringing a faint stinging pain, but it couldn't suppress the dull ache of a blade cutting through my heart.

Only then did Jace look at me.

He was silent for a moment, as if choosing his words. "Her name is Serena. She's my... a friend."

"A friend?" I couldn't help the sarcasm. "Would anyone snatch a dress their wife chose first and give it to a so-called friend?"

Perhaps because I'd never used such a sarcastic tone with him before, Jace frowned. "It's just a dress. Why make such a fuss? Besides, that color really doesn't suit your style. Pick another one, something that fits you better."

I looked at him quietly, a cold laugh forming in my heart.

But I said nothing more and turned toward another rack.

My fingers skimmed past dress after dress, finally stopping on a wine-red gown.

Deep V neckline, open back.

It was the style I'd favored most in the past. Bright as fire, bold and eye-catching.

For him, I'd put away all the clothes I used to like, learning to be a gentle, virtuous Mrs. Monroe.

But now, I didn't need to anymore.

I took down the red dress and said flatly to the sales assistant, "This one. Wrap it up."

Almost simultaneously, the fitting room curtain was pulled back.

Serena walked out wearing that water-blue dress.

The dress fit perfectly, making her skin look white as snow, her temperament refined and elegant.

She smoothed the hem and looked up at Jace, her eyes seemingly filled with stars. "Jace, does it look good?"

Jace's gaze fell on her, his voice tender as water. "Yes, beautiful."

His eyes were deep, reflecting Serena's figure, allowing me to clearly capture that trace of affection he'd never shown me.

My heart felt like it was being tightly gripped by an invisible hand, the pain making it almost impossible to breathe.

Serena's smile grew even brighter.

She walked to Jace's side and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "By the way, I heard tonight is Mrs. Monroe's birthday banquet?"

Jace nodded. "Yes."

"I happen to be free tonight." Serena looked at me with a gentle, proper smile. "Mrs. Monroe, you don't mind if I come celebrate your birthday too, do you?"

Before I could answer, Jace had already responded. "Of course not. Perfect, we'll go together."