Chapter 7

The moment Hailey settled into the car, Samuel looked at her through the rearview mirror.

“Young Madam, where would you like to go?”

Hailey glanced at Travis.

He sat beside her with his eyes closed, looking completely uninterested.

A small smile appeared on her lips.

“Cirrus Embroidery.”

Samuel's hands tightened around the steering wheel.

The car gave a slight jerk.

Hailey raised an eyebrow.

“Something wrong?”

“Sorry, Young Madam. My hand slipped.”

Hailey didn't believe him.

Neither did the bodyguard sitting beside Samuel.

The two men exchanged a quick look.

Then Hailey noticed something else.

Travis had opened his eyes.

Interesting.

He turned toward her.

“Why are you going there?”

Hailey almost smiled.

There it was.

The reaction she had been waiting for.

She put on her most innocent expression.

“My mother's birthday is coming up. I thought I'd have a traditional dress made for her.”

It was a lie.

She had no intention of spending money at Cirrus Embroidery.

Not after everything that had happened there.

But Travis didn't need to know that.

His gaze moved over her simple clothes.

Hailey immediately noticed.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

“That didn't look like nothing.”

Travis ignored her.

“If you're having a dress made, order one for yourself too.”

Hailey blinked.

“Why?”

“You're part of the Blake family now.”

“So?”

His eyes moved over her clothes again.

Hailey's mouth fell open.

“Are you insulting the way I dress?”

“I haven't said anything.”

“You don't need to. Your face already did.”

Samuel suddenly became very focused on driving.

Travis remained completely calm.

“Have two dresses made. Send the bill to Briley Group.”

Hailey stared at him.

“A gift?”

“If you want to call it that.”

Hailey nearly laughed.

She had a different explanation.

Everyone knew Cirrus Embroidery had connections to people Travis cared about.

Maybe this wasn't generosity at all.

Maybe he simply wanted an excuse to involve himself with the shop.

“No, thank you.”

His eyes narrowed.

“I hate traditional dresses.”

That wasn't entirely true either.

But rejecting Travis Blake was surprisingly satisfying.

“Then forget it.”

Hailey smiled.

“Gladly.”

Silence returned to the car.

Hailey turned toward the window before Travis could see how amused she was.

She couldn't wait to see what happened when she reached Cirrus Embroidery.

Especially if Luna or Annie was there.

Unfortunately, Travis seemed determined to ruin her fun.

As they approached Lotus Road, he suddenly spoke.

“Stop here.”

Samuel pulled over.

Hailey looked outside.

“Cirrus Embroidery isn't here yet.”

“I know.”

She slowly turned toward Travis.

“You're making me walk?”

“It's close.”

Hailey stared at him.

A faint trace of amusement appeared in his eyes.

“Didn't you insist you enjoy walking and taking the bus?”

Hailey couldn't believe him.

This man held grudges over everything.

The bodyguard stepped out and opened her door.

“Young Madam.”

Hailey gave Travis her sweetest smile.

“Thank you so much for your generosity, Mr. Blake.”

“You're welcome.”

Her smile tightened.

Childish man.

She stepped out.

The door closed behind her.

Before the Bentley drove away, Travis lowered the window.

“Hailey.”

She turned.

“What?”

“Don't cause trouble.”

Her eyebrows rose.

“I never cause trouble.”

Travis looked at her for a long second.

Then the window slowly rose.

Hailey glared at the departing car.

“What was that supposed to mean?”

---

Inside the Bentley, Samuel glanced at Travis through the mirror.

“Eldest Master, should I arrange another car to collect Young Madam later?”

“Yes.”

Travis paused.

“And find her two stylists.”

Samuel almost smiled.

“Yes, sir.”

“The way she dresses is too simple for someone representing the Blake family.”

Samuel wisely kept his opinion to himself.

Travis looked out the window.

For some reason, he found himself wondering what Hailey really wanted at Cirrus Embroidery.

Her explanation about her mother's birthday had sounded innocent.

Too innocent.

And Hailey Stewart was many things.

Innocent was not one of them.

---

Lotus Road was lined with old three-story and four-story buildings.

Cirrus Embroidery stood quietly among them, its polished wooden storefront and delicate window displays giving it the appearance of a business that had existed for generations.

Hailey stopped outside.

Her earlier amusement disappeared.

For several seconds, she simply stared.

She knew this place too well.

The wooden doors.

The embroidery displayed behind the glass.

Even the faint smell of fabric and dye drifting outside.

Memories stirred.

Hailey pushed them down.

She wasn't here to remember.

She was here for something else.

She walked inside.

The ground floor was busy with customers choosing fabrics while tailors worked nearby.

Conversations slowly faded.

One person noticed Hailey.

Then another.

Several older apprentices immediately recognized her.

Their expressions changed.

But instead of greeting her, they looked away.

Hailey noticed.

Of course she did.

A young shop assistant approached.

“Welcome, miss.”

Her smile was polite, but her eyes quickly moved over Hailey's inexpensive clothes.

Hailey almost laughed.

Some things never changed.

“I'd like to see your boss.”

The assistant's smile weakened.

“Our boss doesn't personally meet every customer. But we have several excellent tailors available.”

“I'm not here to order clothes.”

That made the assistant pause.

“Then what do you need?”

“Your boss.”

The woman's expression became less friendly.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No.”

“Then I'm afraid I can't help you.”

Hailey was about to answer when one of the older tailors hurried over.

“It's fine. I'll handle this.”

The assistant frowned.

“But…”

“I said I'll handle it.”

The young woman reluctantly walked away.

Hailey looked at the tailor.

She knew him.

And judging by the discomfort on his face, he definitely knew her.

“The bosses aren't here,” he said quietly.

Hailey glanced toward the back of the shop.

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Interesting.”

Her gaze moved toward two women standing farther away.

They immediately looked elsewhere.

Hailey smiled.

“If nobody is here, why does everyone look so nervous?”

The tailor lowered his voice.

“Hailey, please.”

So much for pretending not to know her.

“You should leave.”

“Why?”

“You know why.”

“No. Explain it.”

The man sighed.

“They have powerful people behind them now.”

Hailey's expression didn't change.

“The weak can't fight the strong,” he continued. “You've already lost enough. Why come back and make things worse?”

For a moment, Hailey said nothing.

The words hurt more than she wanted to admit.

She had once known these people.

Worked beside them.

Trusted some of them.

Now they could barely look her in the eye.

And apparently Luna had found herself a powerful supporter.

Hailey already had a very good idea who that supporter might be.

Travis Blake.

How ridiculous.

She had just gotten out of his car.

“I didn't come here to fight anyone.”

The tailor looked unconvinced.

“Then why are you here?”

Hailey's eyes moved around the shop.

Nothing had changed.

And yet everything had.

Finally, she looked back at him.

“Because I have something Luna wants.”

The tailor's expression changed.

“What?”

Hailey smiled faintly.

“Tell her Hailey Stewart is here.”

His face went pale.

“Hailey…”

“She'll see me.”

“How can you be sure?”

Her smile disappeared.

“Because she knows exactly what she took from me.”

The tailor froze.

Hailey held his gaze.

“Go tell her.”

For several seconds, he didn't move.

Then footsteps sounded from the staircase above.

Slow.

Measured.

Coming closer.

Hailey looked up.

Someone was coming down.