Chapter 551
Chapter 551:
His attention shifted past her shoulder. Sunlight spilling across the floor had grown stronger, and it revealed a trail of sharp, mud-caked footprints. Awareness tightened his eyes for a fraction of a second, though calm never left his tone. “We’re attending Declan Harding and his wife’s celebration dinner tonight. A gown will arrive soon p>
“I’m not going,” she said without hesitation.
“That wasn’t a request. It was a notice p>
Relief loosened Kailey’s shoulders once he walked away, and exhaustion settled in behind it. Dealing with him drained every ounce of patience she had.
Then came a familiar figure.
Nadine hauled an extravagant gown up the stairs, the sweeping skirt nearly swallowing her frame while uneven breaths mixed with soft muttering in a strangely charming rhythm.
Kailey watched as Nadine approached and struggled to hang the dress on the rack.
Nadine caught that amused stare. “Why are you looking at me like that? Do I really seem that ridiculous p>
“Not ridiculous. You look adorable p>
Dissatisfaction pulled Nadine’s lips into a pout. The compliment clearly failed to impress her. “Stop talking and get ready. Honestly, you already resemble a doll, so my work is easy p>
𝖨𝘯𝘵𝗲𝗻𝘀e 𝗋𝘰𝗆𝖺n𝖼e 𝘰𝗻
Though it sounded like an insult, Kailey smiled. “Lyman doesn’t strike me as someone who would give such instructions p>
“You’re right. I made that part up.” Nadine spread out her tools and kept chatting in a casual tone. “He likes you because of your face, doesn’t he? You don’t have any special skills anyway. He used to avoid gatherings like this p>
Kailey didn’t argue. Since Lyman had given the order, she simply needed to comply.
She had heard of Declan before. His origins traced back to Splugut, and most of his work was based abroad. His wife’s love of travel had led him to retire early and accompany her across the globe. Curiosity lingered in Kailey’s thoughts as she pictured the pair, wondering whether their decades of devotion truly matched the stories people told.
The gown Nadine had brought far outshone anything Kailey usually wore. White fabric shaped a strapless embroidered bodice that seemed modest at first glance, yet the skirt stole all the attention — its oversized, layered folds soft enough to pass for drifting clouds.
“The makeup I created today suits you beautifully,” Nadine said proudly, continuing to brush color across Kailey’s face. “If Mr. Vasquez ends up pleased, make sure you mention my effort p>
Amusement flickered across Kailey’s expression as she opened her eyes. “You don’t think I’m good enough for him, do you p>
“No, I don’t,” Nadine replied. “But what can I do? The choice was never mine. If it brings him joy, there’s no harm in it p>
For a brief moment, Kailey couldn’t quite find the right word for Nadine.
When the final touches were complete and her hair had been arranged, the airy, delicate style looked as though it had been crafted solely for her, and her distant gaze added a ghostlike charm to the whole effect.
Satisfaction showed in Nadine’s smile as she clapped her hands. “We’re finished. I won’t be going with you today, though. The driver will handle the trip.” She turned away without hesitation and began gathering her tools.
A beat passed before Kailey spoke. “Did Lyman tell you to stay behind p>