Chapter 49: An Allergic Reaction–1
Chapter 49: An Allergic Reaction–1
(Aurora’s POV)
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I stared at my reflection in the full–length mirror. The light blue silk evening gown fit like it had been made for me. The backless design showed off the curve of my spine, and the high slit revealed glimpses of my legs when I moved. No beading, no embellishments. Just perfect tailoring and expensive fabric.
I pushed open the fitting room door.
“What do you think?”
Phineas sat on the velvet sofa, his posture relaxed. But his eyes darkened the moment he saw me. His Adam’s apple bobbed once. Twice.
“Perfect,” he said finally, his voice lower than usual.
I felt heat creep up my neck.
“Are you sure Eleanor will like this? It’s a bit… much.”
“My mother has excellent taste,” Phineas said smoothly. “She’ll love it.”
I turned back to the mirror, unconvinced. The dress was stunning, but it didn’t exactly scream “birthday gift for your mother–in–law.”
“I’ll change back,” I said.
“Take your time.”
When I emerged in my regular clothes, Phineas was already at the register. He handed over a black card without blinking.
“We’ll take the blue one,” he told the sales assistant. “And those four as well.”
I froze.
“Mr. Everett, that’s not necessary-”
Н
“They’re on sale,” he said, completely straight–faced.
The assistant smiled professionally as she rang up the purchase. The total flashed on the screen: $150,000.
My jaw dropped.
ter 49. An Allergic Reaction–1
“That is not on sale!”
Phineas took the garment bag containing the blue dress and handed it to me.
“Consider it payment for your time today.”
“I can’t accept this-”
“It’s a company uniform,” Phineas interrupted. “For the annual gala. All senior executives are required to wear formal attire. This is actually cheaper than what I pay my butler for his uniform.”
I stared at him.
“Your butler’s uniform costs more than $150,000?”
“Imported Italian wool. Custom tailoring. It adds up.”
I looked down at the bag in my hands, then back at his completely serious expression. Old money logic was beyond me.
“Fine,” I sighed. “Thank you for the ‘budget–friendly uniform.”
“You’re welcome.”
Outside the boutique, I spotted a food truck across the plaza. The smell of cumin and chili hit me, and my stomach growled.
“Want to grab some tacos?” I asked.
Phineas hesitated.
“From a truck?”
“The best kind,” I said. “I used to love street food before I married Jasper. Spicy, messy, full of flavor. But Jasper hated anything with too much seasoning. Said it was uncivilized. So I stopped eating it.”
I grabbed his elbow without thinking, steering him toward the elevators.
“Come on. You’ll love it.”
Phineas didn’t resist. He just looked down at my hand on his arm, something unreadable in his expression.
“If you insist.”
(Author’s POV)
Chapter 49: An Allergic Reaction–1
Across the plaza, Sienna paused mid–step. She could have sworn she saw a familiar
silhouette disappearing into the elevator bank. But before she could process it, Jasper’s
phone rang.
His face went white.
“What?”
Sienna grabbed his arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“Rosalind’s in the hospital,” Jasper said, already running toward the parking garage. “Allergic reaction. They said it’s serious.”
Sienna’s blood ran cold. She hiked up her skirt and ran after him.
The drive to the hospital was a blur. Jasper’s knuckles were white on the steering wheel. Sienna sat frozen in the passenger seat, her mind racing. *Allergic reaction? To what?*
They burst through the emergency room doors twenty minutes later. A nurse directed them to a treatment room, where a doctor was removing his mask, his expression thunderous.
“Are you the parents?”
“I’m her father,” Jasper said quickly. “How is she?”
“Stable. Barely.” The doctor’s voice was ice. “She went into anaphylactic shock. If the nanny had waited another ten minutes to call 911, we’d be having a very different conversation.”
Jasper’s face drained of color.
“What caused it?”
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