The Heiress’ Return: Six Brothers at Her Beck and Call (Wynter Quinnell) novel Chapter 2015

It was more than what Anabella had said. In fact, that little red dot on her wrist looked more like a marking.

"I'm really tempted after hearing you describe it," Wynter said with a smile. "Can you introduce me to them? I'm willing to pay any price as long as I can become a member."

Anabella hesitated for a moment. "You know I can't make that decision. I'm willing to ask for you, but I can't tell for sure if the club owner would be willing to let you in for my sake."

"That's alright. The fact that you're willing to help already means so much to me. As for whether I can get into the club, I'll just leave it to fate."

Anabella smiled. "Alright. Go eat before your food gets cold. I'll head over to the club next door and ask."

Wynter's tone was sickeningly sweet. "Great! Thank you so much! You're pretty and kind. There's a lot I should learn from you."

Anabella could barely restrain her smile. "You really know how to flatter others. I won't be able to face you if I can't get you a membership."

Wynter's lips curved faintly. "Then, I'll thank you in advance. I'll head back to finish my meal and wait for your good news."

Anabella gave a soft hum in acknowledgement.

After watching Wynter head downstairs, she picked a suitable outfit to wear and left for the beauty club.

Wynter walked straight to Dalton and sat down beside him before speaking softly. "I think there's a chance."

Dalton turned his gaze toward her. "Is it someone we know?"

"Yes, I'm quite sure it's the one we've been looking for."

A small smile graced Dalton's face. "It's quite the coincidence that we ran into her right after coming back from Muiwon."

Wynter picked up her utensils. "It's not confirmed yet. I'll need that membership card before I can see for myself.

"Also, this beauty club might be stranger than we thought. Take a good look at the owner when she comes down later. By looking at her skin and face, you'd never believe she's in her 40s."

Dalton turned slightly. "Are you saying the problem lies within the club?"

Wynter nodded. "Only influential individuals can become members. The restaurant's owner got in because the club's owner invited her to try it out when the club was new and had no clientele.

"It was like watching an ordinary woman transform. She looked like a completely different person after just one treatment."

Just then, Anabella came downstairs and addressed Wynter, "I'll go ask them now. You just need to wait here."

Wynter put on a face of excitement. "Alright, I'll wait for your good news, then."

Anabella glanced at Dalton sitting beside her before asking, "Is this your boyfriend?"

Wynter deliberately put on a downcast look. "He's not just my boyfriend, he's my fiance. But I'm full of flaws in his eyes. He said my skin's not smooth enough, my face lacks delicacy, and that I am not slim enough. Basically… you get what I mean."

Dalton turned his gaze toward Wynter, looking bewildered.

Anabella immediately took it seriously and was indignant. "You're still not satisfied with such a pretty fiancee? I truly don't understand men's standards."

At that point, Dalton decided to play along and said flatly, "The one I like must meet my standards. If she doesn't, then having her change herself is perfectly reasonable."

Wynter quickly stood up and tugged Anabella aside. "Do you know how hard it is for me now? There's nothing I can do since I love him. I can only try my best to become the woman he wants. Otherwise, where would I go if he abandons me?"

Anabella comforted her, "You're still too young. Come find me if he really leaves you. I'll introduce you to a few young socialites. I'm sure they would be much better than him!"

A sigh escaped from Wynter's lips. "I'll remember your kindness. But what can I do? I like him."

Hearing this, Anabella didn't press further. "Then, I'll go to the club and ask for you. I hope I'll be able to help."

"Thank you," Wynter replied.

Anabella smiled. "My name is Anabella Cherice. Just call me Anabella."

"I'm Wynter Quinnell. You can call me Wynter," she replied with a smile.

Anabella replied with a hum before walking out and toward the club's entrance.

Once she was gone, Wynter sat back down beside Dalton. "You did really well for that impromptu acting earlier."

Dalton gave a faint smile. "I could tell what you were doing after a glance. I wonder if that act will actually get us the membership card."

Wynter took a sip of water. "From a woman's perspective, she'll definitely try her best to help me. However, it still depends on whether she's persuasive enough."

...

Just then, Anabella arrived at the club's entrance and knocked on the door.

Hearing the sound, a woman from inside came out. "Ms. Cherice, what brings you here?"

She smiled. "I wanted to have a little chat with Ms. Elinor."

"Sorry, Ms. Cherice, but Ms. Elinor isn't here right now," the woman replied. Then, pulling the door open, she asked, "Why don't you come in and wait? She should be here soon."

Anabella nodded and stepped inside before sitting down on the couch.

The woman provided great service. "Would you like some tea?"

"I'm fine with anything." Anabella smiled gently.

The woman's lips also lifted into a perfectly measured smile. "Then, I'll brew you some tea."

Anabella's tone was calm and polite. "Alright. By the way, if I recall correctly, Ms. Elinor usually comes in the evenings, doesn't she? Is it just you and a few staff here during the day?"

"Yes, I keep an eye on the club during the day." The woman handed her the freshly brewed tea. "Since clients usually book sessions at night, Ms. Elinor personally handles them herself."

"That must be tiring for her. Why hasn't she allowed you to help out with the treatments?"

The woman smiled faintly before replying, "She has her own way of doing things. I merely follow her instructions. All that matters is that I don't mess things up."

Just then, a woman wearing sunglasses and a mask walked in. She greeted Anabella, "Ms. Cherice, what a surprise to see you here today."

It was none other than Adaline Elinor, the club's owner.

Anabella smiled. "I came to chat with you. You're not too busy, are you?"

Adaline's voice was soft and warm. "Not at the moment. Let's go upstairs."

So, Anabella stood up. "Alright, lead the way."

Adaline glanced at her phone. "About half an hour."

Anabella nodded. "Alright. Let's do it, then."

She soon followed Adaline into an inner room. In the room were three treatment beds, separated by translucent curtains, and the air carried a strange scent—part floral fragrance and part metallic tang that smelled like rusted iron.

Anabella had never been in this room before. When she lay down on the middle bed, she noticed a peculiar painting on the wall. It was an ancient woman pricking her own wrist with a silver needle, allowing blood to drip into a bowl.

Anabella felt a faint unease as she looked at the painting. "What is this?"

Noticing her gaze, Adaline replied softly, "That is an ancient beauty secret. Concubines in the imperial courts used this method to preserve their youth."

Anabella turned her eyes away. "Does that really have anything to do with beauty treatments?"

Adaline gave a faint smile. "Both yes and no. What I do here is an upgraded version of that method. The effects are 100, even a thousand times better."

She then handed Anabella a cup of tea that gave off a delicate aroma. "Here, drink some calming tea first. It'll help you relax."

Anabella didn't take the drink immediately. "I blacked out after drinking this tea last time. It won't harm my body, will it?"

Adaline gave her a reassuring look. "It's just calming tea. It actually makes my work easier if you drift off, and it'll also take me less time. Don't worry—nothing will happen."

Hearing that, Anabella gave a small nod and accepted the cup before drinking it. It tasted faintly sweet. After a few sips, a wave of pleasant drowsiness washed over her.

Adaline's hands moved gently across her face as she applied some sort of cool, soothing cream while humming a tune under her breath.

Anabella's consciousness began to blur. Through the haze, she thought she saw Adaline take out a wooden box.

Then, everything went dark.

Watching her finally close her eyes, Adaline's lips curved upward. She opened the wooden box and took out a slender silver needle, its tip gleaming coldly under the light.

"Anabella," she whispered.

When there was no response, she brushed back the strands of hair on either side of Anabella's face as she revealed an eerie smile.

...

Meanwhile, Wynter and Dalton had nearly finished their meal.

"Ms. Cherice isn't back yet," Wynter said, glancing toward the beauty club. "Do you think something has happened?"

Dalton's expression was calm. "Even if something shady were to happen, it would be at night when no one's around. Nothing will happen in broad daylight."

Wynter lifted her gaze slightly. "It shouldn't take this long to get a membership card. Something may have happened."

With that, she rose to her feet, ready to head to the beauty club.

However, Dalton caught her arm. "What are you going to do if you go and realize it really is Lynette? And if it isn't, the club's owner still has every reason to accuse you of stirring up trouble."

Wynter paused. "But I'll feel guilty if Ms. Charice gets into danger because of my plan."

At that moment, Dalton shifted his gaze toward the waiter. "Hey, do the people at the beauty club know you?"