Chapter 145: Chapter 145



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“Huh?”

Allison pouted, “Don’t tell me you don’t know them.”

Dolores really didn’t know. It was only after seeing them in the display area that she found out who they were.

They were Armand and Boyce.

“Who designed this?” Armand stood in front of a long skirt with the name written clearly underneath, but pretended not to see it and asked Theresa.

“I did.” If I didn’t know I was talking to a rich and powerful person, I would have long ago cursed him for a pervert. He was a man who sniffed around in women’s clothes and, on top of that, kept asking nonsensical questions.

“Oooh!” Armand uttered, deliberately drawing out the long sound making her uncomfortable.

Theresa kept her cool and said, “Do you have any more questions? If you don’t mind, I’m busy.”

“Yes, I do mind!” he looked at the thin straps of the skirt, “What is the source of inspiration for this design? Why are the straps so thin? Is it because it would be easy to take them off or to expose more skin?”

Theresa’s face turned red in an instant, and she glared at him.

Then she said coldly, “Are you here to make trouble and ruin the opening?”

“No, no! I’m just curious.” Armand smiled, “Make trouble? Don’t I want to live?” This was Dolores’ place.

And who was Dolores?

She was Matthew’s girlfriend at the time. Armand didn’t have the guts.

“If you like it, you can buy it. About my source of inspiration, how about I tell you about it another time?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend, why would I buy it.” Armand pouted.

Theresa smiled and two dimples appeared at the corners of her mouth making her look very cute. “If you want, you can put it on yourself.” Armand was speechless.

But Boyce, next to him, burst out laughing.

“That’s a good idea, he can put it on himself! I tell you it looks good on him.” Boyce took the opportunity to dig Armand’s grave.

Armand glared at him, “Are you going to die if you don’t talk?”

“Yes… What are you looking at?”

Boyce noticed that Armand’s face had suddenly changed.

He followed Boyce’s line of sight and saw Victoria walk through the door.

As Matthew’s friends, they both knew that Victoria was Matthew’s stepmother.

It was because of her that Matthew had left home so early and had started living on his own.

It was also because of her that Matthew and his father’s relationship was so strained.

Naturally, they didn’t like her.

She and Matthew hardly had a familial relationship.

Looking at her from a personal perspective, even though she was an outsider, if you took away the big clothes and makeup, Victoria seemed like a very gentle and peaceful person; she didn’t seem materialistic at all.

“What is she doing here?” Armand narrowed his eyes.

Boyce said nothing, but it seemed to him that it was not at all good that she had come here.

She seemed to be in poor health, her face looked haggard. She had put on a light layer of makeup to hide it.

Theresa came over to greet her, “Hi!”

“I’m looking for…”

Just then, Dolores approached. The last time she had seen her, she had told her that she was going to invite her to the opening. Dolores had sent him an invitation, but he hadn’t expected her to get there so soon, even before the actual ceremony.

“You came.” Dolores greeted her with a smile.

“Of course.” She didn’t plan to stay long and had arrived early on purpose to avoid running into Matthew. She feared that if he found out she had come here, he was not going to be happy.

“Can I sit with you alone for a moment?”

There was still time before the event, so Dolores agreed, “Okay, come with me.”

Dolores walked away leading the way.

Victoria deliberately walked slowly, looking at Dolores’ slender back that looked beautiful in the pink dress.

She didn’t look like she had given birth, and she looked very young.

She thought inwardly that, although her son was perfect, her daughter-in-law was no less so.

Especially after learning that she had given birth to twins for his son, he liked her even more.

Although the test results had not yet come back, she already knew they were Matthew’s children.

Dolores walked through the meeting room door, then turned and said to Victoria, “This room is quiet.”

“Okay.” Victoria walked in and sat down on the couch.

Dolores poured her a glass of water and then sat down on the couch across from her.

No matter how Victoria looked at her, she still found her very pretty.

Dolores felt a little embarrassed by her gaze, so she started to speak, “How are you? Your face doesn’t look very good.”

Victoria snapped out of her trance and said, “I have a slight cold.”

She took a sip of the water on the table, disguising her embarrassed attitude now.

As she placed the glass back on the table, she said, “Don’t tell Matthew I came here today.”

Dolores smiled and said, “Okay.”

“I trust you.” Victoria had a thousand words to say to him, but she didn’t know where to start. She pulled a wooden box out of her purse and extended it toward Dolores, “This, I want to give it to you.”

Dolores didn’t want to accept it and pushed her back, “I don’t think I can accept this.” They didn’t know each other at all.

And Victoria’s identity…if Matthew found out they knew each other, she feared he would not be amused.

“You haven’t seen him yet but you want to turn me down?” Victoria looked at her, “Are you afraid Matthew will find out and be angry?” Dolores pursed her lips. She was right.

But there was another reason. It was only the second time they had seen each other and it was a little inappropriate to receive gifts. They weren’t that close.

Nor were they going to be in the future.

After all, their identity was in the way.

“I always have to keep her feelings in mind.” Dolores deliberately used Matthew as a shield.

But in reality, it wasn’t quite true. If Victoria and Matthew’s relationship wasn’t the way it was, she wouldn’t have rejected her.

It looked like an elegant, secluded lake with calm waters.

Victoria felt sad and happy at the same time.

She was sad because Dolores would not accept her kindness and happy because she thought of Matthew’s feelings.

“You don’t have to think that our relationship is too complicated. You are you and I am me, there is no other relationship between us. Today is the opening of your store and I have always shown you my true heart. Even though I consider myself a friend, I didn’t want to come empty-handed.” He pushed the box toward Dolores again, “Open it and see.”

“It’s not very appropriate…”

“Open it and see.” Victoria continued, indicating that she was going to keep saying it until Dolores agreed to accept it.

Dolores was left with no choice. She reached out and opened the box. A beautiful emerald green jade bracelet lay in an embroidered case. It looked pure and high quality and seemed very valuable even at first glance.

Dolores was even more hesitant to accept it, “It’s too expensive, I can’t accept it.”

What did Victoria mean by this?

Was she trying to bribe her with such an expensive gift?

Dolores thought secretly in her heart.

“There’s nothing you can’t accept. You’re the daughter-in-law of the Nelson Family; you can afford it.”

Dolores was speechless.

She didn’t even know what the relationship was between her and Matthew. Were they husband and wife? Lovers? Friends? None of those words accurately described their relationship.

Victoria pulled out the jade bracelet and placed it in Dolores’ hand. Dolores tried to pull her hand away but was caught by Victoria. The latter looked at Dolores with deep eyes, “Don’t refuse.”

Her tone was extremely repressed, as if she was trying to hide something unspeakable.

Dolores was stunned for a moment, “But…”

“I like you very much.” Victoria’s grip tightened on her hand, “If I get the chance in the future, I’ll tell you a story.”

Dolores could see the sadness in his eyes, she stopped struggling and let Victoria place the bracelet in her hand, “My mother-in-law gave it to me. Now, I give it to you.” Her mother-in-law?

Wouldn’t that be Matthew’s grandmother?

But didn’t she used to be a mistress before she became the wife?

Dolores was confused.

“You must be very busy today, I should go” When she got up, Dolores also got up with her, “I’ll walk you out.”

“Okay.” Victoria was overjoyed.

Dolores felt a little awkward, feeling embarrassed after accepting it.

She was going to give it back to her when she had the chance.

Victoria’s car was outside and Dolores helped her open the door. Victoria sat in the car, then rolled down the window and complimented Dolores with a smile, “You look very beautiful today.”

Dolores’ expression was a little awkward as she said, “Thank you.”

Victoria waved goodbye to her and then closed the window and turned to tell the driver, “Let’s go.”

Dolores stood at the edge of the road, watching the departing car with narrowed eyes. She wasn’t very familiar with Victoria; she hadn’t met her more than a couple of times and hadn’t had much contact.

But she could sense that she wasn’t a bad person.

There seemed to be a lot of things hidden in her heart, but she couldn’t talk about them.

That kind of restraint…

Dolores didn’t know how to describe it.

She thought there must be some secret hidden in her heart.

She was lost in her thoughts, unaware that a black car had just stopped not far from her.

The man who got out was wearing a tailored suit, with smooth edges and no wrinkles, which made him look rich and noble. The street was full of sunshine, but it was no longer hot. The sunlight was not hot and dazzling to the eyes; it was just the right amount of light and coolness.

His gaze rested on the exquisite and delicate body wrapped in the halo of light.

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