“I’ll do it, you shouldn’t be touching dish soap.” Katrina pushed Ivy aside, her face drawn with concern.
Ivy stayed close, chatting to keep her company. “Your dad’s trying to set you up again?”
“Yeah. He wants me to mingle with the upper crust at some reception. Even wired me ten grand, told me to buy a designer dress for the occasion.”
Ivy frowned. “So, are you actually going?”
“I am…” Katrina’s voice trailed off.
Her mother still needed money for the nursing home, and Katrina’s share in the family company was tied up–she hadn’t received a cent yet.
It wasn’t time to burn bridges with her family, not yet. All she could do was play along for
now.
“I haven’t been out in days myself,” Ivy said gently, trying to comfort her. “How about I come with you? I could use a new outfit, too.”
“Alright,” Katrina agreed with a faint smile.
Ivy’s skin condition hadn’t fully healed. The new skin was sensitive and fragile, so the doctor had told her to avoid sunlight as much as possible.
So, she wore long sleeves and pants, with a black face mask and oversized sunglasses.
A few weeks of rest at home had done her good–she’d put on some weight, lost that gaunt, sickly look. Her figure was lean but curvy in all the right places.
Masked and covered up, at a glance, she looked like some celebrity dodging the paparazzi.
Given that they were heading to a high–end mall known for luxury boutiques and couture, her getup barely raised an eyebrow. It was the kind of place local celebrities actually frequented, often in hats, masks, and big shades.
Katrina needed a couture gown, so they went straight to one of the flagship designer
stores.
Neither of them expected to bump into anyone they knew.
But there he was–in the VIP lounge, Micah sat alone.
He didn’t recognize Ivy at first, but when he spotted Katrina, he took a second look. Only then did it click: the woman so thoroughly bundled up was Ivy.
He stood up, looking surprised, and her name slipped out in a half–whisper. “Ivy…”
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The moment Ivy spotted him, she inwardly cursed her luck.
It wasn’t that she feared him–she just found him irritating, an eyesore.
She didn’t spare him a glance, pretending he didn’t exist.
Katrina noticed, too. She lowered her voice. “Micah’s here. Think Emma’s around? Should we bail?”
Ivy picked out a long dress and held it up to Katrina, sizing her up. “Why should we? This dress would look great on you–go try it on.”
Katrina took the dress, still uneasy. “You’ll be alright on your own?”
“Relax. He won’t bite.”
Katrina nodded and headed for the fitting rooms.
Micah couldn’t take his eyes off them.
The moment Katrina disappeared, he looked around nervously, then hurried over.
“Ivy… you’re shopping too?” he asked, forcing a smile and lowering his voice.
Ivy busied herself admiring the clothes, not even acknowledging his presence.
“Ivy?” Micah trailed after her, still whispering. “You called me last night–what was it about? I tried calling back, but you didn’t answer. Did you block my number?”
“Ivy… Even if we can’t be together, we can still be friends, right? You don’t have to shut me. out like this. Besides, you were the one who reached out–doesn’t that mean-”
He was cut off by a voice from behind. “Micah.”
He jumped, startled like a guilty schoolboy, and spun around.
“Emma…” he said, plastering on a smile and eyeing the couture dress she wore. “How’s
that one? Do you like it?”
Emma was sharp. She noticed he wasn’t lounging in the VIP area with his coffee–he was over here, talking to someone. Immediately, her guard went up.
“Who were you talking to?”
“No one, really…”
She shot him a skeptical look and walked a few steps further.
Even though Ivy was bundled up, with only her eyes showing, Emma recognized her instantly. Her expression turned to shock.
“Ivy?” She didn’t even bother with a fake–friendly “big sister” this time–just called her by
name.
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