Chapter 183 Finished, Can't Explain
Having spent so much time with Alexander, Liam surely knew more about him than she had realized.
Liam looked up, blinking in surprise. "Violence?"
Max asked eagerly, "Mommy, did he bully you?"
Grace quickly waved her hands. "No... I was just asking."
"Mommy, if he bullied you, don't hide it from me! I won't let him get away with it!" Max declared.
Grace smiled wryly. "He really didn't! I just wanted to see if he would hit Liam when Liam misbehaves..."
Liam looked puzzled. "I’m always well-behaved."
He pursed his lips, looking aggrieved. "Does Grace think Liam is naughty?"
Grace quickly reassured him, "No! I've always thought Liam is the most well-behaved—more so than Max."
Max's face fell. "Does Mommy think I’m not good?"
Oh no—this was going badly.
Liam suddenly spoke up, "Daddy never hits me or yells at me."
Then he looked at Max. "But Max hits me sometimes."
Max smacked him on the head. "Don't badmouth me in front of Mommy!"
Liam wrinkled his little face pitifully, rubbing his head. Even though Max's slap didn't hurt, Liam knew that making a fuss might get him attention.
Sure enough—
Grace immediately stood up, scolding Max. "Don't bully Liam!"
She scooped Liam in her arms, cooing softly over him.
...
At the office, Alexander had barely stepped inside when Jeremy approached him. "Mr. Hayes, did you measure Ms. Foster's neck size?"
Alexander’s expression darkened as he glared at Jeremy.
Jeremy looked baffled by the glare. "Mr. Hayes, what's wrong? Didn't it go smoothly?"
"You didn't give me a measuring tape yesterday," Alexander remarked sharply.
Jeremy realized his oversight and laughed awkwardly. "My mistake! I brought one today."
He produced a new measuring tape. "If you didn't measure yesterday, you can do it tonight."
Alexander suddenly held up his hands to show the length. "About this long."
"Mr. Hayes, don’t tell me you measured with your hands?"
"I measured her while she was sleeping."
Jeremy chuckled. "Good thing Ms. Foster didn't wake up—she might have thought you were trying to strangle her!"
Alexander's expression darkened once more.
Jeremy took out the measuring tape and measured according to Alexander's gesture, noting the size.
"Mr. Hayes, when should we go choose the necklace?"
"Today," Alexander replied curtly.
...
At the Cartier boutique in the mall.
The store manager approached, her eyes widening in surprise at the sight of two handsome men standing at the counter.
In all her years at the boutique, she had seen many men accompany women to shop for jewelry, but she had never seen two men come together like this.
"You choose," Alexander said.
Jeremy nodded and started browsing the display cases.
Several sales associates huddled together, whispering, "Those two men are incredibly handsome!"
"Do you think they're a couple?"
"Looks like it. The one picking out the jewelry seems more submissive."
"Are all the attractive guys pairing up these days? No wonder I can't find a boyfriend."
Halfway through his selection, Jeremy overheard their gossip, and his eye twitched violently.
Were these people really thinking that he and Mr. Hayes were a couple?
He felt deeply wronged.
The most insulting part was—why did they assume he was the bottom?
He wasn't as tall or imposing as Alexander, but he had masculine traits too. He wasn't some delicate bottom, was he?
Alexander had obviously heard the whispers as well. He turned to Jeremy. "What's a bottom?"
Everyone went silent.
The store manager gave the sales associates a sharp glare.
How could they gossip so loudly that the customers could hear?
The situation was painfully awkward.
Jeremy pressed his lips together, unsure how to explain. "A bottom is..."
How could he possibly explain this to a straight man?
Alexander raised an eyebrow. "What does that mean?"
Jeremy stepped closer, lowering his voice. "Mr. Hayes, I think they've mistaken us for a couple."
"A couple?"
"A bottom is the partner who takes the receptive role in a same-sex relationship."
Alexander’s expression betrayed clear discomfort.
Jeremy, equally embarrassed, said, "We probably shouldn’t explain this—it might only make things worse."
After all, the sales associates were just gossiping.
If they insisted on clarifying, it would look like they were overreacting.
Alexander said with obvious distaste, "Don't stand so close to me."
Jeremy stepped back two paces. "Why don't you choose yourself, Mr. Hayes?"
Alexander moved to the counter, his eyes fixed on the diamond necklaces displayed before him.
The sales associates got excited again. "They look so loving! The husband is personally choosing a diamond necklace for his wife."
"The husband is so tall! He must be over six-three, and he looks wealthy—that suit is custom-made, probably costing at least fifteen grand."
"Such a tall, handsome, wealthy heir… and he’s gay?"
The sales associates let out disappointed sighs.
Alexander looked up, casting them a sharp, intimidating glare.
They instantly went silent.
The store manager said awkwardly, "Sir, is there anything specific you’re looking for? I can provide some recommendations."
"I'm buying a diamond necklace for my wife," Alexander stated.
Jeremy quickly stepped forward, pointing to a Creative Collection diamond necklace. "Mr. Hayes, I believe this one would suit your wife perfectly."
The store manager’s eyes widened in surprise. "This gentleman is... Mr. Hayes?"
Jeremy nodded gravely. "Yes, this is Alexander Hayes. I'm his executive assistant."
He made a point to clarify their relationship.
The store manager’s tone turned especially respectful. "Mr. Hayes!"
As a shareholder of Starlight City Mall, Alexander's name was naturally familiar to many.
But was he married?
As the Hayes family heir, the public knew only of his brief marriage, his divorce, and his one son. No one had heard of him remarrying.
The store manager didn't dare ask further questions. She immediately retrieved Jeremy's selection from the Creative Collection and smiled. "Mr. Hayes, your assistant has excellent taste! This is Cartier's newest Creative Collection diamond necklace, a favorite among sophisticated women."
She donned black velvet gloves and carefully lifted the diamond necklace out.
Alexander accepted it.
His large hands made the delicate necklace appear even more exquisite.
The diamond, meteor-like in brilliance, was a full 3 carats, its fire and sparkle cascading across his fingers.
"If this is for your wife, the Creative Collection certainly won’t disappoint. Women love diamonds, especially Cartier diamonds," the store manager said.
"What's the price on this necklace?" Jeremy asked.
"The Creative Collection diamond necklace is priced at $998,888."