NovelEnglishChapter 72 "Work never really ends, but you *have* to buy new clothes for the New Year. Out with the old, in with the new- that's how you invite luck and happiness for the year ahead!" As Julia spoke, she ushered Briony into the fitting room. "Go on, try these on. I'll wait right here." Briony had a great figure; with the right size, anything looked fantastic on her.
The last outfit was a dress-fitted and a little more tailored than the rest.
Julia stepped up and gently ran her hands over Briony's waist and stomach. "Is this one too snug?" Briony stiffened.
Her belly wasn't showing at all yet, but the way her mother's hand lingered there made her nervous.
Thankfully, Julia quickly withdrew her hand, frowning and shaking her head. "It looks gorgeous, but it's much too fitted. You'll be uncomfortable working in this- let's find something roomier." It was true; as a physical therapist, Briony needed clothes she could actually move in.
Briony shot her mother a sidelong glance. Julia's face was as calm as ever, and Briony let out a silent sigh of relief.
Maybe she was just being paranoid.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtIn the end, they bought all five outfits Julia had picked out-except for the fitted dress.
Briony paid for everything and then led Julia next door, into a boutique for women her mother's age.
There, she bought Julia five new outfits and two pairs of shoes.
As they were checking out, a mother and daughter walked in-it was Mack's aunt, Melody Lynn, and her daughter Ottilie Kensington from the second branch of the Kensington family.
The moment Melody and Ottilie entered, they spotted Briony and Julia. The two exchanged a look and stepped aside, quietly watching.
"Ms. Kensington, your total comes to one hundred fifty-seven thousand pounds," the cashier announced. Briony handed over her card.
Julia tried to stop her, flustered. "That's too much! Bryn, you're young and you own your own studio-designer brands make sense for you. I'm too old for that sort of thing, and I hardly ever go anywhere. Just getsomething simple!" Briony shot her a look. "Mom, that's not what you said when you were tellingto buy new clothes." Julia huffed. "I was just worried about you-" "And I'm worried about you," Briony replied, slipping her card to the cashier. "Please ring it up and have everything delivered to this address." "Of course, ma'am," the cashier said, accepting the card with both hands.
Once they'd paid, Briony led a very reluctant Julia out of the shop, oblivious to the four eyes following their every move.
"One hundred grand on clothes, just like that! Looks like Briony's living the good life," Melody muttered, her voice dripping with envy as she watched Julia's retreating figure. "That woman really did raise a golden goose, didn't she?" Ottilie said nothing, but she'd already snapped a photo and sent it to Mack.
Given how much Mack hated Briony, finding out she was living it up like this would probably make him furious.
While they were at the supermarket, Briony's phone rang.
She stepped aside so Julia wouldn't overhear and answered.
"Briony, you've got the nerve to go shopping?" Mack's voice spat through the line, barely controlled. "This is your last warning. If I don't see you at the Kensington house tomorrow, I'll destroy that bone marrow-I won't donate it, no matter what!" Click.
The dial tone buzzed in Briony's ear, leaving her chilled to the bone.
How did Mack know she'd been shopping? Was someone watching her? She scanned the store, but saw nothing out of the ordinary.
Just then, her phone vibrated again. It was Stewart.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmRemembering what she'd overheard outside the lounge last night, Briony declined the call and slipped her phone back into her bag.
Whatever happened now, she wasn't going to Stewart for help.
After finishing at the supermarket, Briony took Julia back to Dolphin Cove.
That day, the two of them spent hours decorating the new apartment, working straight from noon until well after sunset. By the end, the place looked festive and welcoming, and they couldn't help but embrace and laugh together.
For dinner, Julia suggested they make dumplings. Neither of them was particularly skilled, so the M dumplings cout with questionable looks and flavor-but they still ate every last one, laughing the whole time. After dinner, Briony said she needed to head back to the hospital. But Julia insisted on spending the night in the new place, no matter what.
Briony picked up on something odd and frowned at her mother "Mom, you're acting strange. Is there something you're not telling me?"
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