Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Don’t Want Her Dressed Too Revealingly
Alice York had a bad feeling. She answered the call and heard Rosalind Sawyer’s voice, which was anything but pleasant. "I’ve been waiting for you forever. Why aren’t you here yet?"
...
The maid was waiting. The driver was waiting with her. But not a single person had told her that Rosalind Sawyer had already left.
She didn’t voice her complaint. "I got held up for a bit. I’ll be there right away."
"Quite the VIP, aren’t you? If you’re not here within ten minutes, I’m leaving," Rosalind Sawyer said.
Alice York replied, "I’ll do my best to get there in ten minutes."
The moment she finished speaking, the line went dead with a BEEP BEEP BEEP.
Putting her phone away, Alice York ducked into the car and told the driver to hurry. Though she didn’t make it in ten minutes, she only arrived three minutes late.
This was a styling studio in a commercial building, catering exclusively to wealthy socialites. It had excellent taste and a refined atmosphere.
Alice York was certain Rosalind Sawyer hadn’t left. Sure enough, there she was, chatting happily with someone. When she saw Alice arrive, she merely spared her a glance from the corner of her eye. "You’re here."
Alice York had been holding it in the entire way, and now was finally the time to let it out. "Did you slip out so quietly because you were afraid of disturbing someone?"
Rosalind Sawyer raised her eyelids, the long, thin line of her eyeliner flicking up. "Are you questioning me?"
With that, Rosalind Sawyer waved her hand, dismissing everyone from the room.
Now, only Alice York and Rosalind Sawyer remained inside.
Keeping up appearances was usually Rosalind Sawyer’s specialty. No matter how dissatisfied she was, she always maintained a passable facade. Alice York had no idea what Rosalind was planning today, letting all her dislike for her show so openly.
"The maid reminded me to leave at ten. I left early but still waited for you for nearly half an hour, only to be told later that you had already arrived here." Alice York’s tone was steady. "Grandma, if you’re unhappy with me about something, you can just say it. Don’t play these games with me."
Rosalind Sawyer’s expression turned cold. "Then why don’t you think about what I’m unhappy with."
Alice York asked tentatively, "Is it because of a third..."
"Enough. Come with me to pick out a dress."
Rosalind Sawyer cut Alice York off and rose to walk further into the studio. Noticing Alice hadn’t followed, she looked back at her. "How much more of my time are you going to waste?"
Alice York let out a breath and started walking to catch up.
’How strange,’ she thought. ’I was just about to test the waters with that sentence, but Rosalind cut me off immediately, as if she were afraid I’d say something more. What... does she mean by that?’
BZZZT BZZZT BZZZT
Her phone buzzed repeatedly in her bag. Alice York took it out; the screen showed an incoming call from Felix Hawthorne. Before answering, she said to Rosalind Sawyer, "I need to take this call."
Not only did Rosalind Sawyer say nothing, but she also began to earnestly select dresses.
Alice York stepped aside to answer the phone. "Mr. Hawthorne."
Felix Hawthorne, who had just finished changing and was about to leave, asked, "Alice, have you left the house?"
"I’m already out. I’m picking out a dress for tonight’s banquet." She glanced back at Rosalind Sawyer, who had chosen a black dress. Its design was very revealing.
Felix Hawthorne asked for the address, and Alice York told him.
"That’s close. I can be there in about ten minutes." Felix Hawthorne glanced at his watch, then started walking out. "What do you want to eat? I’ll bring you something."
Alice York said he didn’t need to, but Felix Hawthorne insisted, "Then I’ll just pick something for you."
Alice York assumed he was just putting on a show for outsiders, so she didn’t refuse again. Just as she was about to end the call, Finn Hawthorne’s roars came through the receiver—
"Bro!"
"Felix Hawthorne!"
"You stop right there!"
Three consecutive shouts, each one louder and more piercing than the last.
Alice York asked, "What’s wrong with Finn Hawthorne?"
"He’s just being salty."
...
"I’m hanging up now. Wait for me."
With that, Felix Hawthorne hung up. He seemed to be in a hurry to deal with something, ending the call abruptly.
Alice York put her phone away and went to Rosalind Sawyer’s side. Rosalind tilted her head and shot her a look. "Whose call was that?"
Alice York answered truthfully, "Felix Hawthorne’s."
Rosalind Sawyer said nothing, simply taking out a dress to show Alice York. "How about this one?"
It wasn’t the one Alice York had seen earlier. That one was revealing; this one was very conservative, with long sleeves. The design seemed nice, in a rather stately style.
"Don’t you like it?" Before Alice York could answer, Rosalind Sawyer put it back and picked out another. Alice noticed this one was also a conservative style.
"What about this one?" Rosalind asked.
Alice York shook her head, then deliberately picked out the more revealing dress from before. "I think this one..."
"It doesn’t suit you."
Rosalind Sawyer snatched it directly from Alice York’s hands and hung it back up, her face stern and unforgiving.
Alice York said, "I was about to say, this one is too revealing. It doesn’t suit me."
"It certainly doesn’t. Let the professional stylists pick something for you. I’m tired." Rosalind Sawyer turned, sat down on the sofa, and began massaging her temples with her eyes closed.
A professional stylist came over shortly. Recognizing Rosalind Sawyer, she first approached to greet her respectfully.
Rosalind Sawyer raised a finger. "Pick a suitable outfit for her. Nothing too revealing."
"Understood," the stylist replied.
Stylists typically recommend clothes based on a person’s image and proportions. Alice York’s figure was flawless—her waist-to-hip ratio and bust were perfect. The stylist didn’t want to hide Alice’s amazing body, but she also couldn’t choose anything too revealing. In the end, she recommended a dress that was slightly sexy without sacrificing its elegance.
When Alice York came out after changing, the stylist’s eyes went wide. "Absolutely stunning. This dress looks like it was custom-made for you."
It had a deep V-back, a high slit, long sleeves, and a slight train. Tiny diamonds were scattered evenly along the V-back and the slit. The dress was a deep purple, almost black, giving it a grand air. The overall effect was breathtaking.
Alice York was quite satisfied with this outfit. Seeing Rosalind Sawyer’s reflection in the mirror, Alice turned and asked, "Is this one okay?"
Rosalind Sawyer couldn’t quite look away. After a long moment, she said something that baffled Alice York—
"No wonder."
"No wonder what?" Alice York asked, simultaneously looking down to check if something was wrong with the dress.
Rosalind Sawyer lifted her chin. "Let’s go with this one. It suits you very well."
After speaking, while Alice York wasn’t looking, Rosalind Sawyer took out her phone, snapped a full-body picture of her, opened WeChat, and sent it to someone.
...
「Back at the Hawthorne residence.」
Just as he was about to leave to see Alice York, Felix Hawthorne was stopped by Finn Hawthorne.
Finn Hawthorne had just seen the news report. His eyes were red as he immediately blocked Felix’s path and hysterically demanded, "Are you serious about Alice York?"
Felix Hawthorne ignored him and walked past.
"Felix Hawthorne!"
Finn Hawthorne grabbed his brother’s shoulder. "I’m asking you, are you serious about Alice York?"
Felix Hawthorne pried his brother’s hand off. "Since when do you call me ’Felix Hawthorne’?"
"So what if I do!" Finn’s eyes grew redder. He quickly blocked Felix’s path again. "I don’t believe you’re serious about Alice York. Are you after something from her? Or are you just using her? She already had it hard enough with the Sterlings. You can’t hurt her!"
Felix Hawthorne looked at his highly agitated brother, who, despite knowing nothing, was still indignant on Alice York’s behalf. He deliberately retorted, "And what would you do if I am after something, if I am using her?"
"I’d..." Finn Hawthorne gritted his teeth, then finally lowered his head. "Bro, I’m begging you, please just leave her alone."
"Finn."
Felix Hawthorne said his name softly.
Finn Hawthorne slowly raised his head, his eyes glistening with tears.
Felix Hawthorne couldn’t help but smile, saying, "I don’t see Alice York as an outsider."
