Ch46 - Correct him

The sales associate bowed slightly, voice full of apology.

“Ms. Haverford, right this way, please. I’m terribly sorry for keeping you waiting. We’ve already prepared the pieces you requested to see.”

Lydia swept in with a stony face, heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The nerve of them—to make her wait? She’d spent six figures in this boutique just this season, and they dared let her stand outside for even a minute? Unthinkable.

Truth was, her mood had been foul all day. Ever since that night at the villa, she’d barely left her room. Her father had scolded her, said she was thin-skinned, spoiled, that if she couldn’t even handle a small scandal, she’d run the company into the ground.

She’d cried, of course. And as usual, her father’s temper melted; he’d handed her his black card and told her to “go buy something nice.”

Fine, she would. She’d buy everything.

If not for the fact that she still had to pick up a previous order, she would’ve already walked out. The salesgirl called out just in time, inviting her into the VIP suite. Before step in the room, she caught a glimpse of someone already inside. Her temper flared. She never shared a VIP room.

Then she recognized the woman.

Serena.

Instantly, Lydia’s expression flipped from thundercloud to sunshine. She swept forward with a radiant smile, arms already outstretched.

“Oh my God, it’s you! Serena, why didn’t you tell me you were shopping today? You always ask me to help you pick things out!”

Every word dripped with honey. It was impossible to dislike her when she turned on that charm.

The sales associate, tense as a statue, finally exhaled in relief.

Serena’s lips curved into a practiced smile as she took Lydia’s hands. “Aren’t you busy learning the ropes from your father? I figured you’d be exhausted, so I didn’t want to bother you.”

“You’re treating me like a stranger,” Lydia pouted playfully.

“My mistake,” Serena said smoothly, leading her to the sofa. “If I’d known you were free, I’d have called. Look—I haven’t found a single thing worth buying yet.”

She gestured toward the array of open boxes before them. The room smelled faintly of leather and white tea, the kind of understated fragrance that whispered money.

Lydia glanced around, eyes catching on a mannequin in the corner. “That coat,” she said, pointing. “It’d look amazing on you.”

Serena followed her gaze and nodded approvingly. “It is lovely, but they’re out of my size.”

At that moment, a staff member rolled in a trolley with pastel macarons and a bottle of champagne.

Then Lydia suddenly leaned toward the salesgirl, whispering something into her ear. The girl nodded quickly and slipped out of the room.

A few minutes later, she returned—this time carrying a brand-new garment bag. She unzipped it carefully, revealing the exact same coat Lydia had just pointed out.

Serena blinked in surprise. “Wait… that’s—”

“I ordered it a month ago,” Lydia said with a soft laugh, taking it from the salesgirl. “And you and I are practically the same size. You should try it—it’ll fit perfectly.”

She didn’t let the staff assist. Instead, she personally unfolded the coat, holding it open with both hands.

Serena rose gracefully, sliding her arms into the sleeves. Lydia stepped behind her, gently pulling her hair free from the collar.

The coat was ivory cashmere, the fabric so fine it seemed to glow under the light. The waistline was subtly shaped, the cut impeccable, and the buttons—antique gold with embossed detailing—were quiet but unmistakably luxurious.

The satisfaction on Serena’s face said it all. She turned twice before the mirror, admiring the reflection that stared back at her.

“I can’t possibly take this,” she said finally, pretending reluctance. “You waited a whole month for it.”

Lydia’s hand came to rest lightly on her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror.

“It’s not giving, Serena,” Lydia said sweetly, voice dripping with affection. “It’s gifting. Your birthday’s coming up, isn’t it? Please—accept it as a present from me.”

Her smile could have melted gold; every syllable gleamed like honey.

Serena’s smile widened, soft and syrupy. “My dear, you really do have a silver tongue. If only I had a daughter as sweet as you.”

The words were casual, but the implication ran deeper. They almost had become family once — Lydia had been engaged to Julian’s older brother, Victor, before his death. When that happened, the engagement naturally dissolved. Julian had still been a boy back then, and no one had ever thought to tie the two of them together… but now, years later, Serena’s tone hinted otherwise.

If only things had been arranged differently.

Lydia gave a breezy smile, playing it cool. “But don’t you already have a daughter-in-law? She’s practically half a daughter, isn’t she?”

Serena’s expression froze for a second, her lips stiffening. “I’ve never accepted her,” she said flatly. “You were there the night of the wedding—you saw. I didn’t say a single word to her.”

“Don’t get upset.” Lydia’s tone softened, coaxing. “Come on, sit down. Let’s talk about it properly.”

She gave the sales associate a quick nod. The girl caught on immediately.

“Please take your time, ladies. If you need anything, just press the bell.”

With a polite bow, she slipped out, closing the door quietly behind her.

Now it was just the two of them.

Lydia guided Serena back to the sofa, pouring her another glass of champagne before asking, carefully, “Does she really bother you that much? Or… did she actually do something?”

“Her existence bothers me.” Serena gave a disdainful little snort, lifting her flute for a sip. “If only you had married Julian instead.”

Lydia froze for a heartbeat, covering the flicker of tension with a small, awkward laugh. “I’m four years older than Julian. He’s always treated me like family. That’s not really possible…”

Serena arched an eyebrow, resting her manicured hand lightly over Lydia’s.“So that little nobody can marry him, but you can’t? You — with your background, your looks, your family name?”

It was one thing to think it; hearing it spoken aloud made Lydia’s pulse skip. Her cheeks warmed as she turned away, smiling shyly. “Let’s not talk about that. He’s married now anyway.”

“Married people get divorced all the time,” Serena said smoothly, her tone a blend of silk and persuasion. 

“If Julian made the wrong choice, then it’s only right we help him fix it. Even if it’s not about pairing you with him—just keeping that Violet woman around is dangerous. Who knows what kind of trouble she might cause him someday?”

Lydia’s fingers twitched in her lap, curling slightly. She hadn’t forgotten her original reason for getting close to Serena—to keep an eye on Julian’s stepmother and report anything suspicious. But if she started helping Serena, wasn’t that betraying the very thing she’d promised to protect?

Serena’s hand came to rest lightly on her arm. “If you think I just dislike her because she’s lowborn, you’re wrong. It’s not just that.” 

Her voice dropped, conspiratorial. “Her family is the real problem. A gambling uncle who picks fights, a sick cousin desperate for money—those people are ticking bombs. You really think a woman raised in that kind of mess won’t bring disaster with her?”

“Really?” Lydia frowned. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. If Violet’s family was a liability, and Violet herself was of no real use to Julian—then exposing her wasn’t betrayal. It was protection.

“You can check for yourself,” Serena said, feigning a weary sigh. “I still can’t believe Julian married someone like her.”

Lydia hesitated. “But… I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

For all her usual boldness, she still hadn’t shaken off what happened at the villa. The memory left her cautious, almost timid.

Still, Julian hadn’t said a word about it since then — which could only mean two things: either Violet never found out it was her, or she did, and Julian didn’t believe a word of it.

Lydia leaned toward the latter. After all, with everything she and Julian had shared over the years, it wasn’t something a mere outsider could break that easily.

“Don’t worry,” Serena said, leaning closer, her voice low and coaxing. “There are many ways. It just depends how far you’re willing to go.”

She beckoned Lydia forward, whispering something directly into her ear.

When Serena leaned back, Lydia’s eyes were wide, her heartbeat loud in her ears. For a few seconds, she couldn’t even find her voice.

Finally, she swallowed hard. “I’ll… think about it.”