Chapter 187 His Fiancée Is Right Here
Jerry handed the box to me and said calmly. "Take a look."
As soon as I saw the medication's name on the box, I wished the ground would swallow me whole. I quickly got up and babbled, "Just give me the medicine. I'll apply it myself after I take a shower."
Had it not been for Jerry, I would have entirely forgotten about my earlier tumble.
Jerry's eyes sparkled with amusement as he smirked, "Alright. I've already asked the waiter to bring Elissa Wilson up. If you can't apply it yourself, let her help."
From the beginning, Jerry had considered that the place where I fell was... quite private, while I gauged the heart of a gentle man with my own mean measure.
The more I dwelled on it, the more my embarrassment grew into simmering anger. I pushed Jerry out of the room in a huff, ready to slam the door behind him.
Jerry held the door with one hand and suddenly, just like last night, he pinched my face and said in a seductive voice. "Hope Royston, happy holidays."
"And don't run away again," he added.
Christopher had made innumerable promises, all of which had turned out to be empty. But when it came to Jerry, he acted swiftly. Before long, the Valence Group aggressively snatched several key projects from the Hammer family.
Not one to back down, the Hammers was the first to release a groundbreaking electronic product. It featured core technology that the Valence Group had planned to unveil in their first quarter. Despite extensive promotional efforts, the Valence Group's plans were now in shambles, suffering significant losses.
Meanwhile, Elissa was busy with meetings in Maple Valley, negotiating potential partnerships. So, instead of returning to Jacquar, we treated this as an impromptu vacation.
One day, while Elissa was browsing the news online, she looked up at me, puzzled. "Do you think Jerry Hammer is really going to keep this open-and-secret feud with Christopher Valence over you?"
"I don't know." I shrugged.
After that night, my interactions with Jerry had been minimal. We barely spoke, save for the occasional messages where he'd check in casually. I wasn't even certain Jerry was doing all this for my sake.
Past experiences had stripped me of my faith in relationships. I simply couldn't believe a man would go to such lengths for me. It might just be business rivalry.
Elissa was engrossed in her phone when she suddenly straightened up. "Did you know?"
I was puzzled. "Know what?"
"The DNA test results are out." Elissa handed me her phone, concern etched on her face. "She is indeed a Harris."
I nodded. "That's good."
At least, Claire could finally find some peace.
Elissa probed further, "What about you and Jerry Hammer? Do you really believe he will call off the engagement?"
"It doesn't matter whether I believe it or not." I chuckled, put down my drawing board, and walked to the window to stretch my shoulders and neck. "What matters is what he does. I'm not a naive girl who lets her emotions be swayed by him all the time."
Elissa pressed on. "Don't you like him, even a little?"
I corrected her. "Let's call it a fondness for now."
Later, I suddenly received a call from Claire.
Even over the phone, I could feel Claire's unmistakable joy. "Hope, you are truly a blessing to our family! We've been searching for Bella for so many years without success, and as soon as you appeared, we found her."
I smiled. "I haven't had a chance to congratulate you."
Claire continued, her tone bubbling with excitement. "Thanks to you for bringing good luck! But Bella seems to have had a rough time while she was away. She's always so timid. I want to care for her, but I’m scared of overwhelming her."
I comforted her, "Maybe she's just a bit introverted? With time, things should get better."
Claire sighed, "I just feel something is off. Bella was so assertive as a child. No matter how much she has changed, she shouldn't be this timid."
Before I could respond, Claire sighed again. "Forget it, let’s not dwell on it. It’s still a happy occasion. Are you still in Maple Valley?”
I answered truthfully, "Yes, I am."
Claire’s tone lifted. "That's great! I'll arrange for a driver to pick you up. We're having a welcome party for Bella tonight. You must come. I've been wearing the clothes you designed for me these days, and many people have asked where they were made. I'll introduce you to them, and I guarantee you won't have to worry about business for a year!"
"Alright, thank you very much!" I hesitated for a moment but agreed for the sake of business.
Pursuing a career in custom design meant engaging with high society, and this was the perfect opportunity. Refusing would have meant closing off a valuable avenue for my work.
Claire chuckled, "Jerry mentioned you have a friend in Maple Valley. Ask her if she’d like to come. If so, you both should.”
After hanging up, I didn't even have to ask Elissa. She interrupted me with a determined look. "Take me with you. I can help with business or have your back if necessary."
I replied gratefully, "Thank you."
Elissa and I changed into more elegant outfits and applied some makeup. The hotel’s front desk called to inform us that the driver was waiting downstairs.
The atmosphere at the Harris household was more relaxed than usual. At this hour, there were no other guests yet, just close relatives of the family. Claire had the butler waiting for us at the door. As soon as we stepped out of the car, he led us to Claire's garden.
The banquet hall was decorated festively, making it clear who the star of the day was.
"Hope!" Claire waved cheerfully as we walked in, calling me over.
Inside, Grace was also present.
"Hello, Claire, Grace." I smiled warmly, immediately noticing Bella sitting next to Claire.
I recognized her from the photo in the news a few days ago. Bella had undergone a transformation, now wearing a striking red dress with her hair cascading naturally. She clutched the hem of her dress tightly, her movements revealing a mix of anxiety and uncertainty.
Her features were delicate and pretty, but her lipstick was almost gone from frequent licking, exposing her pale lips. When Bella met my gaze, she quickly glanced away.
I took Elissa over and introduced her to the others. Elissa quickly hit it off with Grace, their conversation flowing effortlessly.
Claire pulled me to sit next to her and looked at Bella with a warm smile. "Bella, this is Hope. She shares the same birthday as you. Isn't that a coincidence? Later, let Hope take your measurements and make you some more clothes."
I smiled slightly. "Ms. Harris, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you." Bella's eyes darted around nervously, as if I were some kind of monster.
The next moment, she suddenly stood up and ran toward the door, softly calling, "Jerry!"
Instinctively, I looked over and saw Jerry walking in, dressed in a flight jacket and brown casual pants. The moment our eyes met, I quickly looked down, feeling a rush of panic.
Jerry's fiancée was right here.
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