Calvin had not expected Rosalie to come to him first. After all, she always seemed to want to keep a distance from him.
But he was a little surprised when he found out why she had come.
âYou want to attend the charity gala tonight?â Calvin asked.
âYes. Can I?â Rosalie asked anxiously.
âWell, thereâs no reason you canât,â Calvin replied. âHowever, you must let me know your purpose. After all, you canât be fangirling over some celebrities, right?â
Calvin thought, âMany top celebrities will attend the charity gala, which makes many stars want to participate. But if sheâs indeed fangirling over some celebrities, maybe I can help her because anyone who makes a living in the entertainment industry will more or less show me some respect.â
âIâd like to meet Warren and Irene. I heard they will be attending the charity gala tonight,â Rosalie said.
âMeet them?â A hint of doubt flashed across Calvinâs eyes. âThey will indeed attend the charity gala, but what do you have to do with them?â
âItâs a personal matter, something to do with one of my friends.â Rosalie did not elaborate further.
âOkay, Iâll arrange it. Although weâre running against time, we should be able to make it,â Calvin said.
Confused, Rosalie thought, âRunning against time? What does that supposed to mean?â
Half an hour later, she finally understood what Calvin meant by running against time. Calvin immediately ordered someone to drive a minivan over and let the top makeup artist in Strico, Sam, get her ready in the minivan.
âIf you donât dress up and instead show up at the charity gala in your current attire, you will attract more attention,â Calvin explained.
Rosalie understood at events like that, everyone dressed formally, and her casual attire was indeed out of place. She had also arrived late to find Calvin, so now, she was doing her makeup and styling in the minivan on the way to the banquet.
âYou sure know how to get me into trouble, making me come here to do her makeup! Is she your new girlfriend?â Sam teased. He was obviously quite familiar with Calvin.
âNo,â Calvin replied indifferently.
Sam had expected his reaction. After all, it wasnât easy to become the new girlfriend of a scion like Calvin.
Although the woman in front of them was quite good-looking, her beauty did not impress Sam. Besides, Sam had observed her hands, which had calluses and rougher skin than usual for women, with slightly misshapen finger joints, indicating physical labor.
Sam seemed a little surprised. He did not know what kind of relationship Calvin and Rosalie had. No matter how he saw it, a woman with hands like hers was not likely to have a relationship with a scion like Calvin.
While Sam was drawing eyebrows for Rosalie, the next thing Calvin said made his hand shake/suddenly and almost caused a mistake.
Calvin said, âBut sheâs the one I love.â
Samâs eyes widened immediately. He looked at Calvin and then at the woman in front of him. âIs she the one Calvin loves? I remember that Calvin was interviewed on a talk show before, where he openly mentioned that there was someone he loved, but that person hadnât accepted him yet. So⦠has this woman rejected Calvinâs pursuit?â he wondered.
âDid you reject Calvin?â Sam asked as he looked at Rosalie in surprise.
Rosalie was immediately embarrassed. After all, Calvin was standing right in front of her.
As Rosalie struggled to find the right words to respond, Sam had already continued applying makeup for her. He commented, âYou have courage. Iâve never seen a woman turn down Calvinâs advances before.â
âYou seem happy about it?â Calvin cast a glance at Sam.
âWho wouldnât be? Itâs something Iâve never seen before.â Sam grinned mischievously. His hands were still busy as he smoothly worked on Rosalieâs makeup while they were chatting. Rosalieâs makeup and hair were done when they arrived at the banquet entrance.
âI didnât prepare the gown. You said youâd prepare it,â Sam said as he looked at Calvin.
Calvin handed Rosalie a bag containing the gown. âThe gown is inside. It should be your size. You can change in the car. Weâll get out first.â
With that, he let everyone out of the minivan, leaving only Rosalie inside.
Rosalle opened the bag and looked at the gown inside. Immediately, her pupils suddenly contracted, and she felt a slight warmth in her eyes.
It was a purple gown. On the hem were butterflies and flowers made of lace and crystals, just as Calvin had told her when she was a child.
He had said that in the future, he would give her a purple gown with lots of little flowers on it.
Rosalieâs eyes were a little wet. She thought, âEven though he doesnât know the truth, he still gives me a gown like this. Itâs like heâs putting the promised gown in my hands, just like in our childhood fantasies. Cal is really giving me a purple gown!â
Calvin could not help but be stunned when Rosalie opened the door and got out of the car wearing the gown.
He initially collected the gown, intending to give it to the little girl when he eventually found her.
However, after he had found Fiona, he didnât end up giving it away.
Calvin couldnât explain why. Perhaps he felt that once he gave it away, he would shatter certain illusions he had held onto, even though he knew those illusions were nothing more than fantasies.
So Calvin later bought Fiona another purple gown. The one he originally collected was never given to Fiona.
But that day, when Rosalie wanted to attend a charity gala, and Sam said he didnât have a suitable gown, Calvin didnât hesitate to have someone bring the gown from the closet.
Calvin was willing to let Rosalie wear the gift he had never given to Fiona.
At that moment, when Rosalie wore the gown and stood before Calvin, he had a sudden feeling that his fantasy had become a reality.
It was as if the little girl in his dream truly appeared before him in the purple gown he had promised to give her.
It was so surreal that he couldnât help but reach out and hug the person in front of him. It was as if he was holding onto his former fantasy, his longing, and the memories that had stayed with him.
Rosalie was taken aback, but she didnât push Calvin away. Perhaps it was because there was an unmistakable sense of caution in his embrace at that moment.