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Novel Catalog
Chapter 33
“Very good,” Shawn said, standing up and walking toward her. “Follow me.”
Gale had no choice but to obey, under his complete control. There was no time to say goodbye to Summer, no chance to explain.
Shawn’s voice was cold as he spoke. “I’ll take you shopping tonight. Leave.”
He remembered the first time they met—Gale had been calm, never desperate or wild. She had bloomed like a flower among thorns, growing more beautiful over time. The only difference now was her figure—no longer thin, but curvy, womanly.
Shawn closed his eyes, pushing aside the thoughts that threatened to overwhelm him.
After work, Gale rushed to Shawn’s car, her nerves on edge, hoping not to be seen. The car was parked outside a high-end clothing store—a VIP-only boutique where private designers created bespoke pieces. It felt entirely out of her world.
She hesitated. “Are you sure you want to buy me clothes here?”
“Yes,” Shawn replied, his tone indifferent.
Gale bit her lip, uncertain. “But… do you get a discount?”
Shawn shot her a cold glance as he stepped out of the car. “Funny.”
Inside the store, Shawn handed her off to the clerk before settling into the lounge to sip his coffee. The store manager personally attended to Gale, spending the next hour transforming her from head to toe.
When the curtain finally opened, Gale stepped out in a dazzling new dress.
“Mr. Wood, look. She’s truly beautiful,” the store manager said, beaming.
Shawn lifted his gaze, his expression momentarily stunned. The hem of the dress was adorned with diamonds, glinting in the light as Gale walked. The one-shoulder design highlighted her graceful collarbone and slender neck, while the dress hugged her curves perfectly.
“A natural,” the store manager continued, “The dress fits her even better than a model. Her skin is so fair, and her hair is stunning. She would be the belle of any ball!”
Gale stared at her reflection in the mirror, feeling a little uncomfortable. The woman she saw before her was breathtaking—ethereal. She hadn’t seen herself like this in so long. The last time she had felt this way was on her twentieth birthday, when she was still her parents’ little princess.
Shawn’s eyes lingered on her, and he didn’t look away for a long time. The first time he saw Gale, he had known she was a beautiful duckling, but now, she had truly transformed into a swan.
“Is this okay?” Gale asked, her voice almost a whisper. “What do you think?”
Shawn snapped out of his trance, lowering his gaze to the magazine in his hands. “It’s ugly.”
“Ah?!” The store manager gasped, clearly taken aback.
Shawn didn’t flinch. “Change it. Make it more elegant.”
He couldn’t bear the thought of other men looking at her in this dress, admiring her. The idea made him want to hide her away, away from prying eyes.
Eventually, Gale was dressed in a simple pale pink gown. It was understated but still highlighted her beauty—her fair complexion and gracefulness shining through. Shawn pushed her toward the waiting driver. “Send her to the venue.”
Then, he turned to leave, heading off to pick up Susan.
Gale couldn’t help but feel like Cinderella, wearing a beautiful dress and riding in a pumpkin carriage. She knew that when the clock struck midnight, the magic would fade, and she would return to being that same simple girl she had always been.
The charity auction was a high-society event, packed with influential people. Gale felt like an outsider, out of place, her presence unnoticed by anyone. She was just one more face in the crowd.
As she approached the entrance, the doorman stopped her. “Not everyone in a dress can enter. Stay here.”