The Crisp, Masculine Scent
"Ma'am, what size would you like?" The sales clerk standing nearby stepped forward immediately.
"Size C," Jack replied without hesitation.
Alison blushed and whispered, "I've always worn a B."
Jack's gaze swept over her chest. "Don't you have any idea whether you've grown or not?"
Alison blushed even more. "Fine, a C cup it is. It shouldn't be too big."
"Sir, which color would you like?" the sales clerk asked.
"Get one of every color," Jack replied.
"Sure."
Six pieces in total.
The sales clerk handed over a clear plastic bag.
Just as Alison was about to take it, Jack snatched it away.
It was odd to see a grown man walking around the mall with women's lingerie.
Alison tried several times to take the bag back, but, seeing the determined look in Jack's eyes, she eventually gave up.
If he wanted to carry it, so be it.
They went to buy baby bottles—the kind for storing breast milk.
Alison bought twenty of them.
They had bought everything on their list, but Jack showed no signs of leaving.
He even picked out a few outfits for her.
She was about to go to work, and dressing too casually or wearing old clothes might make him look bad.
After their shopping trip, the two acted as if nothing had happened, as if they were back in the early days of their marriage.
As she got into the car, Alison glanced at the time and asked, "Jack, by the time you drop me off and head to the office, it'll be almost noon. Are you sure you don't need to go to the office first?"
"Yukon's there. It's fine," Jack replied.
Alison wrinkled her nose.
Okay, she was overthinking it.
However, as soon as she got in the car, Jack's phone rang.
Alison glanced at the caller ID and saw that it was Yukon, so she said, "It's Yukon. Do you want me to answer it for you?"
"No, thanks," Jack said.
He picked up the phone and held it directly to his ear.
"What's up?"
"Mr. Winston, something's happened to Gwendolyn," Yukon said.
"Go ahead," Jack said.
"Samuel Parker went to her place. Gwendolyn said Samuel was going to take her away, but she hung up mid-sentence. He probably snatched the phone from her," Yukon reported.
Jack said nothing, continuing to grip the steering wheel with one hand.
However, his gaze, fixed straight ahead, betrayed a chilling coldness.
Jack and Samuel had been competing for Gwendolyn's affections for some time, but Samuel had never shown up when Jack was present.
If he rushed over now, he was certain to run into Samuel.
After all, Samuel was just a few minutes' drive away from Gwendolyn's apartment.
"I'm on my way right now." Jack hung up, pulled the car over, and ignored the honking behind him. He told Alison, "Get out and take a cab. I have an urgent matter to attend to."
Alison was taken aback but quickly regained her composure.
She turned, opened the door, and got out.
The Lamborghini sped off instantly, vanishing from her sight.
Only then did she realize that everything Jack had helped her buy was still in the trunk of his car.
She turned and walked across the crosswalk.
Along the way, she was lost in thought.
No matter how urgent the matter was, he should have taken care of her, his wife, first when he took a call from Yukon.
She'd only been walking for a short while when a drizzle began to fall.
Alison ran up to a stall, picked out a decent-looking umbrella, and was about to pay, only to realize she didn't have any cash.
"Ma'am, this umbrella is at a good price. You won't find one this affordable at any other store," the vendor said as he approached her.
"Sorry, I won't be buying it," she said.
Then she turned and ran off into the rain.
She quickened her pace and soon returned to the mall.
Seeing her return drenched, the sales clerk from earlier hurried over. "Ma'am, is there anything else you need?"
Alison nodded. "Baby bottles for storing breast milk."
"But ma'am, didn't you already buy twenty? Aren't those enough?" the clerk asked, somewhat surprised.
Alison gave a wry smile. "Well, no, they're not enough."
She quickly bought the bottles and picked out an umbrella.
After the payment, the rain was still falling, and the wind had picked up.
Alison opened her newly purchased umbrella, but her clothes and hair were already soaked.
She stood shivering by the roadside, waiting for a taxi, but every passing one was already occupied.
After waiting for over ten minutes, she still hadn't seen a single empty one.
She frowned.
Was everything really going wrong today?
"Miss, would you like a ride?" Suddenly, a private car pulled over in front of her.
"You're..." She looked at the man in the car as he rolled down the window.
He had a handsome, slightly mischievous face.
She felt like she had seen him before but couldn't remember who he was.