Chapter 9: Good baby knows how to make sweet sounds

[Holy crap... I remember now!]

[Isn't she the woman Master Julian carried from the speedway to his car last night?]

[But... didn't someone say he dumped her?]

The group chat was rife with speculation, but the three people currently picking out clothes remained blissfully unaware.

"This one’s not bad."

Julian held up a cinched-waist shirt and tucked it into Clara’s arms.

"This set is good too."

Alistair stuffed a pink outfit into Clara’s growing pile.

Within minutes, Clara was nearly buried under the mountain of clothes they had selected.

"Enough, enough! This is more than enough!"

Clara protested weakly. Alistair and Julian exchanged a brief look.

"Right. Go try them on first."

A sales associate stepped forward to help Clara carry a portion of the clothes into the fitting room.

"I’m picking clothes for my sister. Why are you picking them?"

Julian muttered in dissatisfaction. Alistair replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "Your sister is my sister."

Julian shot him a suspicious look, sensing that the bastard had a hidden meaning behind those words.

"When is the banquet?" Alistair asked.

Julian thought for a moment. "We’re planning for the 23rd of this month, but we haven't told Clara yet."

"That’s only four or five days away. Are the gown and jewelry ready?"

Julian shook his head. "They were ready, but we didn't expect Clara to be so thin. The waist is far too loose. We’re having them remade on an emergency schedule."

"I have a way, but you have to lend her to me for a day."

"A day?!" Julian’s face darkened instantly. "No way!"

Alistair nodded, bargaining down: "Half a day, then. I can't exactly manifest a custom gown out of thin air."

Julian bit his lip. Though his gut told him that handing his sister over to Alistair was like leading a lamb into a tiger's den, he also knew Alistair’s connections were unmatched.

"How is it? Does it look okay?"

Clara emerged wearing a small dress. The pale yellow fabric made her look incredibly sweet and obedient—so gentle she seemed to have no temper at all.

Alistair stared at her, suddenly feeling that she resembled a soft, sweet little cake.

"It’s beautiful! Perfect!"

Julian circled Clara excitedly, finally understanding why girls enjoyed dress-up games so much.

Clara stole a glance at Alistair, only to find him watching her with a gaze that was heavy and thick with flirtatious intent.

She turned away quickly, retreating to change into the next outfit.

Noticing her attempt to avoid him, a satisfied smile flickered deep in Alistair’s eyes.

They spent the morning wandering that floor, buying several items from almost every shop.

Since the mall belonged to the Vance family, Alistair simply waved a hand, and the bags were immediately dispatched to the Jian residence.

"It's noon. Let's get lunch," Julian said, rubbing his stomach. "I'm starving."

"There are plenty of restaurants upstairs. Do you want Western or Chinese?"

Alistair seemed to be asking Julian, but his eyes were fixed squarely on Clara.

"Western!" Julian exclaimed.

"Chinese, maybe..." Clara said at the same time.

A smile played on Alistair’s lips. "Alright. Chinese it is."

As the three went upstairs to eat, the group chat exploded.

[I heard it with my own ears! Master Vance said: 'Your sister is my sister'!!!]

[Crap, does that mean the woman we were badmouthing is actually Julian’s sister?]

[But doesn't the Jian family only have one daughter, Mia?]

After arriving at the restaurant, Clara ordered stir-fried pork with peppers. The food arrived quickly after Alistair and Julian placed their orders.

Buzz... buzz...

Clara glanced at her phone. Her heart seized the moment she saw the caller ID.

"Who is it? A telemarketer?"

Julian noticed her pale face and asked out of concern.

Clara shook her head with a strained smile, clutching her phone tightly. "No, it's a friend from Veridia. I'll step out to take this. You guys keep eating."

With that, Clara walked quickly toward the restrooms.

"Clara, are you having a good time over there? Do you want to see your dear friend Ciri?"

Clara went cold instantly. She closed her eyes, fighting to suppress the primal fear rising from her soul.

"Don't touch her. And don't hurt my family. I'm already doing exactly what you told me to do."

"You're calling them 'family' so easily now? Father is truly heartbroken, Clara..."

"Clara? Clara?"

Alistair’s voice drifted from outside the restroom. Clara immediately hissed into the phone: "Don't call me again if you don't want me to get caught!"

She hung up abruptly and walked out, clutching her stomach and feigning pain.

Alistair was leaning against the railing by the restroom entrance in a lazy posture.

Seeing her clutching her abdomen, he arched an eyebrow. "Stomach ache?"

Clara nodded. "Yeah... my stomach started hurting right after that call."

Alistair didn't say a word. They stared at each other, neither willing to be the first to look away.

Clara knew that if she looked away first, she would definitely trigger Alistair’s suspicion.

Alistair, meanwhile, was judging whether she was lying.

Yet her eyes remained crystal clear as she stared back at him without blinking.

It made his heart... flutter.

"Come on. I'll help you back."

Alistair walked over. Clara expected him to take her arm, but instead, his large hand slid directly around her waist.

"What are you doing?"

Clara looked up at him, finding his narrow, dark eyes half-closed as he watched her with a teasing smirk.

"Nothing... thank you."

"Thanking me?" Alistair murmured. "A good girl knows what she should call me."

Clara’s ears turned red, her lowered lashes hiding the turmoil in her eyes.

"Thank you... Brother Alistair."

Alistair finally let out a satisfied smile, his arm tightening around her as he practically carried her forward.

"That's a good girl."

His voice was thick with flirtation, his warm breath fanning across the back of Clara’s neck, sending a shiver through her entire body.

Julian was on his phone but dropped it the moment he saw Alistair helping Clara back. "What happened? Does your stomach hurt? Come on, I'm taking you to the hospital!"

"No need. I think it was just the cold drink earlier. I feel much better now."

Clara explained quickly, afraid Julian would actually drag her to the ER. Julian nodded half-doubtingly. "Alright, but you have to tell me if you feel worse."

Clara breathed a sigh of relief, suddenly realizing how different a family's concern felt.

"Let's go. Silas called; he wants Alistair and me to play some pool. Do you want to come along?"

Clara nodded. "I didn't get a chance to properly say hello to Brother Silas last time."

"Sure. Your 'Brother Silas' definitely has a massive welcoming gift ready for you."

Julian turned to lead the way. Just as Clara was about to follow, she felt the back of her neck being pinched. Her body was pulled back two steps by the force of that hand.

" 'Brother Silas'? My, that sounds so sweet coming from you."