Chapter 67 Too Sexy—Try Another One!
Emily was trying on a brand-new haute couture piece from a prestigious designer.
Still in her first trimester, her body showed no signs of weight gain—if anything, she looked even more delicate than before.
The limited-edition feathered gown, worth a small fortune, made her look absolutely angelic.
It had to be said, she was perfectly suited to this kind of pure, ethereal styling.
Arabella, on the other hand, would never pull it off.
Not because Arabella wasn't beautiful enough, but because her figure was too curvaceous for this particular cut—the bodice would never work with her fuller chest.
"Gabriel? What are you doing here?" Looking up to see Gabriel, Emily startled, then lifted her skirt and spun gracefully in a circle. "Gabriel, what do you think? How do I look in this dress? Everyone says it's stunning on me."
Just like in years past, she sought his approval without any self-consciousness, completely forgetting that their relationship was nothing like it used to be.
Sure enough, Gabriel's expression remained distant. He didn't even bother to really look at her, just gave a polite nod. "It's nice."
Emily's smile immediately dimmed considerably. Only then did she notice Arabella standing beside Gabriel, and her gaze turned rather pointed—part disdainful, part jealous.
After a few glances, she addressed Gabriel again. "Gabriel, you brought her shopping?"
Gabriel caught her tone and seemed to instinctively defend Arabella. "What's wrong with that? You're pregnant and still shopping. Why shouldn't I bring my wife to buy clothes?"
Emily bristled at his words. "Gabriel, what's that supposed to mean? Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean I can't buy clothes! I want to look beautiful even while pregnant, okay?"
Gabriel realized his comment had come out wrong and backpedaled. "Right, you should buy several pieces. Better yet, max out Dominic's credit card."
"Hmph! I have my own money—I don't need to use his card," Emily muttered sulkily.
Gabriel said nothing more, but Arabella, listening to this exchange, wondered silently if Emily and Dominic still hadn't reconciled.
"Wendy, show Arabella around. See what style suits her." Ignoring Emily, Gabriel instructed the boutique owner.
His phone rang before he could finish speaking. He glanced at the caller ID and stepped aside. "I need to take this call. Browse around and see what you like."
"Don't worry, I've got this covered." After studying Arabella carefully, Wendy went to select some gowns.
This was Arabella's first time in such an establishment. Looking around at the spacious hall—as large as a football field—filled with mannequins wearing exquisite haute couture, she was genuinely awestruck.
Emily caught her amazed expression and couldn't resist a cutting remark. "Lucky girl. Meeting Gabriel changed your whole life. Otherwise, you'd probably never even see luxury goods like these."
Arabella knew Emily was mocking her, but couldn't be bothered to respond. Fortunately, Wendy returned with a gown and beckoned to her. "Arabella, why don't you try this one?"
"Alright." She turned and followed the assistant toward the fitting rooms.
When Gabriel finished his call and returned, Arabella was nowhere to be seen, so he knew she was trying on clothes.
To avoid any impropriety, he deliberately kept his distance from Emily, looking down at his phone with an air of being busy.
But Emily approached him anyway. "Gabriel, you're so attentive to her now—have you fallen in love with her?"
Gabriel looked up at the woman he'd been infatuated with for over a decade, puzzled by her question. He simply replied, "She's my wife. The mother of my child."
"So you don't love her, right? It's just about the baby."
"Why are you so insistent on asking this?"
Emily's expression grew rather dejected, as if she'd been hurt somehow. "No reason. Just curious. Maybe I'm unhappy with my own situation, so I envy other people's happiness."
Gabriel picked up on the subtext. "You and Dominic still haven't worked things out?"
Emily pursed her lips. "Same as always. I want a divorce, but he won't agree to it."
Gabriel spoke up for Dominic. "Dominic knows he was wrong. He does care about you—give him another chance."
Emily wasn't just a pretty face; she was quite perceptive. "Does he really know he was wrong? He's just making the choice that benefits him most. All his apologies and gestures now are just to make me stay. But if I actually do stay, he'll go back to ignoring and neglecting me like before. If he truly cared about me, he wouldn't have been willing to break my heart, wouldn't have forced me to terminate the pregnancy, wouldn't have let our relationship deteriorate to this point."
Gabriel was surprised. He hadn't expected Emily to see through their relationship so clearly.
Truth be told, he'd long suspected that Dominic had married her simply to legitimately access everything the Davis family had to offer—using the Davis family's influence and connections as leverage to secure his position within the Kingsley family empire.
But since neither spouse brought it up, he couldn't point it out, no matter how close they all were.
Yet Emily had figured it out herself.
"Your marital issues aren't really my place to comment on. Just take care of yourself and the baby. Pregnancy is hard on women—try to stay in good spirits." That was all the comfort he could offer.
Emily felt consoled seeing his concern and wanted to chat longer, but sounds came from the fitting room area.
Gabriel looked up and immediately walked over.
It was a pale blue chiffon gown with hand-embroidered details on the outer layer that caught the light beautifully without being gaudy.
The shoulder design connecting to the sleeves was unique—cape-like but not actually a cape. The flowing sleeve ends lacked the rigid heaviness of a true cape while still projecting an aura of feminine power. The balance was perfectly executed.
Arabella's features had a naturally regal beauty that matched the gown's elegant sophistication perfectly. The two complemented each other, amplifying her commanding presence.
As Gabriel approached, his eyes filled with amazement and admiration.
He'd known that once properly styled, Arabella would shine with dazzling brilliance.
But as Gabriel neared Arabella, his gaze dropped to her chest, and his expression immediately changed.
"Gabriel, what do you think? Gorgeous, right? You should take Arabella shopping more often. With such a beautiful face and such a sexy, stunning figure, she should show it off!" Wendy praised her handiwork enthusiastically.
But Gabriel didn't compliment her work. Instead, he asked with obvious displeasure, "You think this dress is appropriate for her?"
"Of course! Arabella looks even more stunning in this haute couture than the models on the runway!"
Wendy still didn't realize what the problem was.
"No. Too sexy. Try another one!" Gabriel declared possessively.
This was Arabella's first time wearing something so glamorous, and she felt rather self-conscious standing there, as if she were an item on display at an auction.
Hearing Gabriel say it was too sexy, she looked down at herself and pressed her lips together slightly.
When she'd put it on in the fitting room and looked in the mirror, she'd noticed the issue herself.
The bodice was indeed a bit tight, which made her chest more prominent. But the waist and shoulders fit perfectly, which meant the dress design wasn't flawed—the problem was with her measurements.