Chapter 551 William and Hayden
Isabella strolled around leisurely without a care in the world. After a brief perusal, what caught Isabella's eye was a limited edition long dress of the current season. The dress was simple in black and white tones, adorned with lustrous deep-sea pearls at the neckline and cuffs, elegant yet striking.
"Madam, you have a keen eye. This dress is our latest addition for the season, with a flattering fit that would certainly suit you. Would you like to try it on?" Amy Parker, a salesperson, approached Isabella after noticing her interest in the dress.
Isabella nodded, "Sure, I'll try it on."
"All right, this way to the fitting room, please!" Amy nodded with a smile, gestured towards the fitting rooms, holding the dress.
"Wait, is this dress still available?" Just as Amy was about to accompany Isabella to the fitting room with the dress, another voice interrupted.
Amy turned to see a lovely woman accompanied by a well-dressed man walking towards them.
"Sir, madam, hello. This dress is a limited edition for the season, only 100 pieces worldwide, and this is the last one in our store." Amy politely informed the approaching couple.
"The last one!" The woman, holding onto the man's arm, reached out to touch the dress in Amy's hands, admiring it before glancing at Isabella.
Isabella had injured her right big toe earlier in the day when a crystal vase was knocked over by a cat, so she had spent the entire day resting at home. In the afternoon, she received a call from Hayden inviting her out for dinner. Assuming it was a casual meeting with a good friend, Isabella had simply slipped on slippers and dressed casually before heading out.
After eyeing Isabella, the woman turned to Amy and said, "I'll take this dress, please wrap it up for me."
A dress worth tens of thousands of dollars, the woman decided to purchase it without trying it on. Amy was naturally delighted and nodded, "Of course, madam, right this way!"
The woman smiled brightly, and with the man in tow, followed Amy towards the cashier.
"Stop!"
However, as they took a step forward, a displeased voice rang out.
The woman, the man, and Amy all turned to see it was Isabella who had spoken.
"I saw this dress first. Why should you sell it to them the moment they arrive?" Isabella slipped her hand into her pocket, squinting at the three individuals with a displeased expression.
"Madam, even though you saw the dress first, this lady here said she wanted to buy it first. You just wanted to try it on without committing to a purchase, isn't that so?" Amy explained with a smile, albeit with a hint of disdain in her eyes.
Coming to their store wearing slippers and casual attire, Isabella didn't seem like a potential buyer for the dress Amy held in her hands.
"Did I say I wouldn't purchase it?" Seeing the disdain in Amy's eyes, Isabella became even more infuriated. "Even if I don't buy it, you should wait until I explicitly say I won't before selling it to someone else."
As Isabella's voice trailed off, a sneering laughter was heard.
Isabella looked up to see the woman who intended to snatch the dress laughing derisively at her.
The woman looked scornfully at Isabella, then turned to the man beside her, "Sweetheart, I really like this dress. I intend to wear it for tomorrow's business gala."
"Hear that? Wrap the dress for me, no matter the cost." The man commanded Amy after casting a glance at the woman, who was acting coquettish.
"All right, sir, please proceed to the payment here." With a smile, Amy made a respectful gesture towards the approaching couple.
"I stated my intention to buy the dress first. I paid first, so it rightfully belongs to me." Facing Isabella, the woman looked triumphant and disdainful, continuing with her explanation. "This dress has been hanging here for days, admired by many. However, I am the only one who has decided to purchase it. So, there's no need for unnecessary fuss here."
"Yes, yes." Immediately, Amy concurred with the woman, smiling.
"You mean I can't afford this dress?" Isabella suddenly felt a surge of anger but couldn't help but laugh. This was the first time in her twenty-seven years that she had been mocked for not being able to afford a dress.
The woman raised her eyebrows, her tone mocking, "And what if you can't?"
*Buzz, buzz, buzz.*
Isabella's phone vibrated, she glanced at it, seeing Hayden's call, and immediately answered.
"Hayden."
Hayden.
Upon hearing Isabella utter this name, the woman's pupils constricted suddenly.
Could it be, Hayden?
Can it be a coincidence? After more than five years, she wouldn't happen to bump into Hayden here today, would she?
Or perhaps it's someone with the same name.
"Michelle, what's up?" The man noticed the woman's unusual reaction and asked, looking at her.
The woman who was trying to snatch the dress from Isabella is none other than Michelle, Hayden's former classmate and roommate at Southern Business School.
"It's nothing." Michelle smiled, quickly composed and nervous, then turned to Amy, "Forget about her, hurry and wrap up the dress for me."
"Alright, this way for the two of you." Seeing that Isabella was on the phone, Amy didn't bother with her anymore and escorted Michelle and her boyfriend to the checkout counter.
"Hayden, this!" Just as the three of them took a few steps, Isabella suddenly shouted towards the entrance and waved.
Hayden.
Could it really be Hayden?
Michelle heard the call and turned her head abruptly towards the entrance.
At just one glance, Michelle was somewhat stunned, frozen in place.
Walking towards Isabella at the entrance, the woman who commanded the attention of everyone in the room was none other than Hayden.
Michelle hadn't seen Hayden for more than five years. Once arrogant and dismissive towards Michelle, Hayden now carried herself akin to a queen. As she entered, she immediately attracted all the attention, with her presence overwhelming everyone in the room.
Michelle looked at Hayden, and as their eyes met, Hayden seemed to not recognize Michelle at all. Her expression and eyes remained unchanged.
'What's going on?'
Even if Hayden wanted to ignore Michelle, she wouldn't pretend as if she had never met her before.
"I am the deputy CEO of the Solum Group, Nicholas Matrix. Here's my business card, Ms. Hayden. I've admired you for a long time," Nicholas said as he let go of Michelle's hand and extended a business card to Hayden with a beaming smile.
Hayden glanced over and didn't acknowledge them, nor did she take Nicholas's proffered card. She then turned to Isabella, extended her hand to shake hers, and asked with concern, "Isabella, what happened?"
Isabella shook her head, saying, "It's nothing. I simply received a snide comment for being unable to afford a Chanel dress." She then took a deep breath and suddenly smiled, saying to Hayden, "Isn't it ludicrous for me to quarrel with a bunch of nobody? Let's go have dinner."
Hayden chuckled at her and nodded, saying, "Let's go."
With that, Hayden led Isabella, and the two of them left without a backward glance.
"Michelle, what's your angle with Hayden?" Michelle, feeling slighted, muttered as she watched Hayden walk past her without acknowledging her.
Hayden came across as aloof, not acknowledging Michelle and even displaying disdain towards Nicholas, leaving Michelle infuriated.
Upon hearing someone shouting her name, Hayden halted, turned around to look, and met the gaze of a furious Michelle.
Instantly, Hayden's brows furrowed slightly.
"Miss, do I know you?"
"What's with the act? Just because you're from the Bush Smith family doesn't make you all that." Michelle glared at Hayden, her teeth clenched in anger.
Nicholas and the onlookers were taken aback by Michelle's reaction.
Hayden looked at Michelle, offering a faint smile, without saying another word. She walked away with Isabella, leaving Michelle bewildered and angered.
"Michelle, do you know Hayden?" Once they were gone, Nicholas asked Michelle with curiosity.
Michelle nodded, still frustrated. "She was my classmate at Southern Business School and even my roommate for a while. I can't believe she's acting like she doesn't recognize me now."
"I heard that about five years ago, she suffered from selective amnesia, forgetting everything that happened in the past year. She probably genuinely doesn't remember you," Nicholas explained.
"Selective amnesia?"
"Really?!" Michelle exclaimed in surprise.
If this was true, would Hayden not remember her or even William?
Nicholas nodded, "That's what I heard from the Bush Smith Group’s staff. It's most likely true. Afterward, she went straight to Sherlock Valley Academy without returning to Southern Business."
Listening to Nicholas, Michelle's anger gradually turned into excitement. It seemed she would have to investigate whether Hayden truly had amnesia and if she had separated from William.
'If that's the case...'
"Sir, madam, do you still want this dress?" Amy, watching them, timidly asked.
"Yes, wrap it up for me," Michelle said, immediately in good spirits.
"Of course, this way, please."
