Chapter 428 Generosity
Several days had passed when Phillipe, having concluded his work affairs, decided to rent out an entire theater. He had planned to invite Abella for a private movie screening.
However, upon his arrival home, he was met with the sight of Abella, already dressed and prepared to depart.
"Are you going out with them again?" he asked, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
"Yes, Mrs. Bourbon has invited me to accompany her shopping," Abella replied, her tone nonchalant.
Phillipe was left speechless. How many days had it been now since they had spent quality time together?
Once Abella had left, Phillipe found himself reaching for his phone, dialing Claire's number. "When are you and dad leaving for your trip?" he inquired, a note of desperation creeping into his voice.
"We're not going anymore," Claire's voice chimed cheerfully through the phone. "I find spending time with Abella much more enjoyable."
Phillipe's voice hardened slightly as he pressed on, "Don't you enjoy traveling the world? Weren't you planning to leave after visiting grandpa and grandma?"
"No, I prefer being with Abella to the beaches of the Maldives. Abella won't be home for dinner tonight. You'll have to fend for yourself. I've got to go, if Abella calls me, she may not get through..." Claire's voice trailed off, leaving Phillipe in stunned silence.
Phillipe found himself reminiscing about the recent past. Just a few days ago, he had planned to take Abella to see the waterfalls, only for her to be whisked away by a single phone call.
Yesterday, he had hoped to show her the mesmerizing sight of rolling clouds at sea, but yet again, she had been scooped up before he could finalize the plans.
Today, he had intended to take her to a movie, but the moment he stepped into the house, she was already dressed and out the door.
Sitting alone on the couch in his empty house, Phillipe was left with a bitter mix of annoyance and helplessness, unsure of where to direct his frustration.
Meanwhile, Abella, arm in arm with Claire, was busy perusing the aisles of several luxury stores.
Thanks to Claire's status as a supreme VIP customer at many high-end brands, each store would immediately close its doors to the public, providing exclusive service to her alone.
Now, Claire, with Abella by her side, entered a top-tier brand clothing store filled with a variety of stylish garments.
Once the store manager had ensured the establishment was closed off, he, along with a team of seven or eight attentive staff members, followed Claire and Abella around. They eagerly pointed out various items, their interest piqued by Abella's identity.
The store manager couldn't help but compliment Abella, "I've never seen this miss before... She is quite beautiful and carries herself with an exceptional aura."
Claire, always pleased to hear praise for her daughter-in-law, smiled and asked, "Do we look like mother and daughter?"
The manager chuckled at her jest, "Claire, you are more like sisters. And this miss, with features as stunning as yours and a distinctive elegance, really does seem like your family."
"We are family," Claire declared, glancing over at Abella before affectionately asking, "Do you like this dress?"
"I have too many dresses already," Abella replied. She didn't want Claire to spend any more; she had already bought her quite a bit, anything that was attractive and suited her was purchased without hesitation.
Andrew couldn't carry all the shopping bags himself, so he had the driver take the carload of purchases home first.
Now, Abella was determined not to let Claire buy anything more.
But the shop staff were insistent, "This is a little something from Mrs. Bourbon. Please accept it."
They observed with a sense of wonder, "We've never witnessed Mrs. Bourbon personally selecting clothes for any girl before. It's evident she holds a great affection for you."
"Your skin, so fair and delicate, makes you appear as a celestial fairy when adorned in a dress such as this. You are a vision of ethereal beauty, utterly breathtaking."
"Should you stand beside Mrs. Bourbon in this attire, anyone would instantly recognize you as a member of the esteemed Bourbon family."
...
These final words struck a chord in Claire's heart, prompting her to declare generously, "I'll take it, in a small size."
"Yes, Mrs. Bourbon," the store manager responded, his joy palpable as he personally attended to the packaging.
The shop staff chimed in, "Mrs. Bourbon has an exceptional eye for quality; she's chosen the crown jewel of our collection."
"Miss, Mrs. Bourbon truly cherishes you, purchasing such an exquisite and costly dress."
"You're so lucky."
"Indeed, you are truly fortunate..."
...
The crowd lavished Abella with praise. As time passed, Claire selected several more items. Andrew, burdened with the weight of their purchases, dialed the driver to inquire about his location. "Ah, understood. I'll await your arrival at the mall entrance," Andrew relayed.
After the call, Andrew, laden with an array of shopping bags, informed Claire, "Darling, I'll take these down to Lee, then return to assist you with your shopping."
"Proceed," Claire replied, selecting a few more dresses and seeking Abella's opinion. She gestured towards Abella as if she wished she could gift her the entire mall.
Andrew, feeling somewhat neglected, juggled his parcels as he prepared to descend in the elevator. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his waist, a resurgence of a previous ailment.
Abella noticed his discomfort and quickly excused herself from Claire to investigate.
"It's nothing, just an old problem... the trials of aging," Andrew grumbled.
"Allow me to assist you with those," Abella offered, her unease growing as she observed the multitude of shopping bags dangling from Andrew's arms.
"No need, I can manage," Andrew insisted, unwilling to burden his daughter-in-law.
"You're in pain," Abella pointed out.
"I'm fine. Truly..." Andrew reassured her.
Suddenly, a girl's voice echoed in disbelief, "Abella?"
Abella turned to see Isla, arm in arm with a young man, gazing at her in surprise.
"Abella, is this a friend of yours?" Andrew prepared to greet her.
Unexpectedly, Abella averted her gaze and told Andrew, "I'm not well-acquainted with her. Allow me to carry those."
"You're too young to be burdened with these."
"I insist."
"No, no..."
Isla felt a surge of annoyance, realizing that Abella still didn't take her seriously, just as before.
"Isla, is this the sister you've mentioned?" Donovan Hart had heard Isla speak of Abella, who allegedly lived off the generosity of older men, indulging her vanity with their credit cards, and using cunning tactics that landed Isla's parents in jail, thus preventing Isla from leading a life of leisure, all while maintaining an air of superiority.
Today, they had encountered her unexpectedly!
"Some women can only rely on older, married men to afford luxury goods. Isn't it pitiful, Isla?" Donovan remarked, deliberately draping his arm around Isla's shoulders as if to console her and express his disdain for Abella.
Abella and Andrew shared a single thought: What's wrong with this man?
Unaware of the man's identity, Isla only saw his arms laden with dozens of luxury shopping bags, a clear indication of wealth.
Isla was astounded that Abella was still entangled with older men in messy relationships. Even more shocking was her ability to persuade an elderly man to shower her with such luxuries...
Isla could no longer afford such extravagances. Even with Donovan's comfortable lifestyle, he wouldn't splurge so recklessly.
Seeing the man's generosity towards Abella, Isla's envy intensified.
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