The children couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words. Hence, the topic ended there.
After paying for the clothes, we set about our journey home.
When the elevator came to a halt at the underground parking lot, I moved to step out but was stopped by Anthony.
Audrey took two steps and realized that we weren’t following, so she tugged Summer to a stop and asked in confusion, “Mommy, aren’t you coming back with us?”
Before I could answer, Anthony beat me to it. “Wait for us in the car. Your mother left something in the mall. I’ll go with her to get it back.”
“I didn’t…”
I had only managed to say two words when Anthony stepped forward to press for the elevator. Hence, I could only swallow back my words.
Only when the elevator door closed did I speak. “I only brought one bag here, and it’s obviously still in my hand. What did I leave behind?”
Anthony calmly watched the increasing numbers displayed in the elevator, but as though he hadn’t heard me, he gave no reaction.
Hence, I followed behind him in silence. Soon, we returned to the luxury store area in the mall, but this time, Anthony stopped at the men’s section.
Don’t tell me… He wants me to buy new clothes for him just like how I did for Gregory?
While I was still trying to figure it out, Anthony had already strode in.
Anthony’s face was like a pass for ordinary citizens to hit the jackpot in K City. As soon as he stepped through the entrance, a salesperson immediately guided him to the most luxurious area of the store. Each clothing here was designed by world-renowned fashion designers and was one of a kind.
Of course, the price was one of a kind as well.
After giving some recommendations, the salesperson was about to start promoting. “Mr. Featherstone, would you like our professional stylist to help you select?”
“That’s not necessary,” Anthony flatly refused before turning to face me. “You choose.”
“Me?” I pointed at myself in bewilderment. “Are you sure?”
Children’s clothes were matching overall, so it was quite impossible to go wrong. But Anthony was constantly under public scrutiny, so I wasn’t confident in selecting his clothes for him.
Anthony shoved a hand into his trouser pocket, his expression turning serious. “My dear wife said that my clothes are ridiculously boring. To make my wife happy, of course I’ll have to follow her wishes. If I continue wearing those boring clothes, I’m worried that she’d lose interest in me sooner or later. How can I bear for something like that to happen?”
Ah, I see what this is. As usual, he’s being all petty about it.
But why did he make it sound like I’m going to divorce him if he doesn’t change his clothing style?
The sales manager’s eyes widened at me in shock, probably not expecting to receive two explosive news back to back in such a short period of time.
I could almost imagine what she was thinking. The richest man in the city stepped off his pedestal to grace them with his presence and even brought the wife he married in secret with him.
However, the customers who visited luxury stores were of high social standings, so such things were not all that uncommon. The salesperson’s expression swiftly went back to normal and she started to flatter me. “Mrs. Featherstone, do you need me to give you some recommendations?”
Thanks to Anthony, my “strong independent woman” and “perfect” image couldn’t be more obvious, so of course I would feel embarrassed if there was someone watching.
“It’s fine. I can handle it myself.”
With that, I dived straight into my task, selecting two sets of moderately casual clothes even though I wasn’t really sure what I was doing. The clothes were of the same color tone as Gregory’s, so they could somewhat be considered a father-son matching outfit.
Anthony had a perfect figure, so he didn’t need to try them on. After asking the salesperson to take his measurements, the bill was settled in a haste and I left right after.
And why was I in such a hurry?
It was because I was the one who paid for it!
Although Anthony had quit his job at Featherstone Corporation, he wasn’t at the point where he couldn’t afford to pay for his own clothes, but when the bill came out, he played the dumb card. “How could I have money? I always spend whatever amount you give me, isn’t that right, Honey?”
As soon as those words left his lips, not just the manager, even the staff who were getting the bill for us looked at me strangely. This was practically a public execution.
From then on, I swore to never go shopping alone with this man again!
Drawing in a deep breath to calm myself down, I forced a smile and took out John’s card. “Settle the bill.”
The staff took the card and swiftly swiped it, then returned it to me with both hands. “Here’s your card, Mrs. Featherstone.”
“Mm.” I accepted it calmly and decided to play along on a whim. Steeling myself, I reminded them, “I assume you know where to send it?”
“Don’t worry. It’s easy to search for Mr. Featherstone’s residence,” the manager replied with an ingratiating smile.
I nodded in satisfaction and walked off without looking back, not even bothering to check if Anthony was following behind.
Once I was certain that the staff could no longer see me, I quickened my pace toward the elevator.
Pressing the button, I darted in the moment the doors opened and inhaled sharply when they slid close.
Phew.
He’s obviously the one who should feel embarrassed for living off his wife, but why does it feel like I’m the social outcast?
I couldn’t help but feel indignant.
Right before the elevator doors closed, Anthony caught up with a gloating smile playing on his lips.
I rolled my eyes at him and refused to speak throughout it all.
As soon as the elevator stopped, I stepped out without hesitation, went to the car, picked Audrey up, and sat inside.
“Mommy, what did you leave behind?” Audrey asked innocently.
Her question left me even more exasperated. I’m pretty sure I left my dignity behind.
“Nothing.” The last thing I wanted to do was recall the reactions of those store employees. Hence, I hastily changed the topic. “Let’s go home now, okay? I’m exhausted and don’t have the energy to talk anymore.” I purposely inserted a whine in my tone.
“Mm, okay!” Audrey got down from my lap and sat obediently. Mimicking the way adults spoke, she instructed Joseph, “Mr. Campbell, you may drive now!”
Anthony bent over to get into the car just in time to hear Audrey’s words, casting her a wounded expression as he settled down in his seat, as though saying, “Don’t you want your father anymore?”
Audrey stuck out her tongue at him and cheekily hid behind Summer, pretending to ignore him.
At that moment, how I wished I was sitting in the same car as John. At least there, he would expose the “true colors” of this sly and shameless man.
Previously, he intentionally let Anthony believe that he was the Stanhope family’s live-in son-in-law just for the fun of it, but I ended up getting the short end of the stick.
No, I have to find a way to cure him of his unhealthy tendency of living off his wife!
Fully absorbed in coming up with a solution, I didn’t realize we arrived home until after a good few seconds.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.
Leave a Reply