Noticing where she looked, Blake gently asked, “Would you like to go in and check it out? I’ll go with you.”
Seeing the high prices of the clothes, Bianca decided to go in with Blake, happy to check out the more affordable options.
As they entered, Bianca noticed a woman coming out of the fitting room, wearing a casual version of the white evening gown Bianca had once worn.
The woman stood in front of a man, her hands gently clasped. With elegantly arched eyebrows and bright eyes, she looked sophisticated and graceful.
A faint blush colored her cheeks as she asked, “Dave, how about this one?”
Bianca’s heart raced as she looked at the man’s back, and her surprise quickly turned to shock.
At first glance, he seemed somewhat familiar, but then it hit her-it was definitely Dave!
‘How could he be here in this fancy store with such an elegant woman?’
Blake also recognized them and narrowed his eyes, watching the scene unfold.
With Bianca catching Dave in the act, Blake felt relieved he didn’t have to reveal the truth.
A small smirk appeared on his lips as he looked forward to the drama that was about to unfold.
Skylar turned to the trio and noticed their stares. For a moment, her expression froze. She recognized Blake and felt uncomfortable seeing the girl beside him, who was staring at Dave.
When Dave noticed Skylar’s change in expression, he turned to meet Bianca’s eyes.
His eyes widened, and his usual cold attitude shifted to something more tense.
‘Bianca? Why was she here?’
Dave then looked at Blake, standing next to Bianca. A confused frown appeared on his face.
‘Did Blake bring her here?’
‘Did she already know about what happened last night?’
With his brows furrowed, Dave turned away, pretending not to notice Bianca. But Skylar, sharp and observant, sensed the tension in the air.
A woman’s intuition told her that Dave’s connection with this girl was complicated.
“Dave, who is she?” Skylar asked casually, trying to hide her curiosity.
Sitting with his legs crossed, Dave casually flipped through a magazine and replied quietly, “Which one?”
Skylar leaned in, casting a meaningful smile at the woman who was watching them seriously.
“The woman behind you has been staring at us. Did she fall for you? After all…” Skylar whispered in his ear, “With how handsome you are, it’s no surprise a girl might like you.”
Their quiet conversation felt personal, showing a close bond between them.
Bianca’s heart felt like it was being pricked by a needle, and her fists clenched involuntarily as she fought to control her emotions.
Dave stood up, slipping one hand into his pocket, looking calm. He turned to the smiling shop assistant who was following him and said, “This one will do. Please wrap it up.”
Moving next to Skylar, Dave talked quietly, “The spies from my grandpa should be gone now. I have to take care of something at the company, so I’ll head back first. Where will you be later? I can arrange a ride for you.”
A hint of disappointment crossed Skylar’s face, but she quickly put on a thoughtful, gentle smile. “That’s okay. Go do your work. When I get back, I’ll tell your grandpa you’ve been with me these past few days. Don’t worry.”
Dave squinted slightly at Skylar and nodded.
After receiving the packaged clothes, he left through another door with Skylar, not paying any attention to Bianca, who stood behind him in shock.
Bianca felt as if her feet were stuck in place, heavy and static. Her heart ached tightly, filling her with pain.
Dave had brought another woman here to shop and acted like he didn’t see her. What was going on?
“Wait!” Blake tried to stop Dave from leaving, but Bianca grabbed his arm.
“Bianca?” Blake turned to see her pale face and shining eyes.
“You saw what just happened. Why did you stop me?” Looking a bit lost, Bianca made Blake’s heart ache. “Aren’t you upset seeing him with another woman? Why don’t you ask him about it?”
Bianca looked up at Blake, giving him a calm smile. “Even if I catch up and ask him, what’s the point? If he doesn’t acknowledge me, talking to him will only make things worse. If he really likes someone else, why should I keep pushing and risk being humiliated?”
Even though she sounded calm, her broken heart throbbed with deep pain. She couldn’t believe how hard it was to say those words.
Blake’s anger shifted to surprise. Seeing Bianca’s pale face and forced smile made him even more worried.
“Do you really think you should just let it go?” Blake frowned and held Bianca’s shoulders to get her attention. “Bianca, you should break up with him. Your mom is right-he’s not someone you can trust. Even if you don’t believe me, you should listen to your mother.”
Bianca slowly clenched her fists and replied, “I’ll decide about the breakup after I find out the truth. If there’s a good reason, then maybe.”
Blake sneered, pulling out his phone and showing Bianca a photo of Dave with the woman. His eyes burned with intensity.
“Remember when you asked me why I was unhappy? Now I’ll tell you. I saw them together at a restaurant last night. I thought about telling you, but I was worried it would hurt you. As you saw today, whether it’s a fancy restaurant or this store, average people can’t afford places like that. How does Dave have so much money? He’s relying on someone rich.”
Bianca clenched her fingers tightly and interrupted him, “Blake, please stop…”
“No, I have to finish. Bianca, don’t be so stubborn. There are plenty of good men out there. Why do you have to…”
“Blake!” Bianca’s voice rose, stopping him in his tracks. Her teary eyes met his, and her lips trembled as she said, “This is between him and me. It has nothing to do with you.”
Blake felt like he had been stabbed in the heart, his brown eyes widening in shock. After a moment, he clenched his fists tightly.
“How can this have nothing to do with me? Don’t forget, we have an arranged engagement. I’m your fiance.”
Bianca’s eyes trembled as she looked at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”
“It was arranged by our mothers. My mom is gone, and your mom is in a coma. It’s my duty to marry you, just like they planned.” Blake’s usually gentle eyes now showed a tough intensity that pierced her heart.
“Blake, don’t joke about this. The whole marriage thing is ridiculous. We’re just friends.”