She let out a breath of relief.
Her eyes subconsciously searched for the person the bodyguards were following, and as they rounded a corner, she got a clear look at the man in the lead.
It was Winston Wyatt.
Beside him was a woman whose figure alone was stunningly beautiful, her long, dark hair swaying with her movements.
Because she was partially obscured, Victoria couldn’t see her face clearly.
Still, Victoria Sutton subconsciously felt it had to be Isla Chambers, even though she didn’t think the gentle yet stubborn Isla had such a powerful presence.
But the only woman Winston Wyatt would accompany on a shopping trip could be Isla Chambers.
“Are you all right?” Kian Blackwood came over and held Victoria Sutton’s shoulders.
Feeling his concern, a wave of sweetness washed over Victoria’s heart.
She shook her head.
“I’m fine.
I think I just ran into my best friend.”
A major reason she and Isla Chambers had become best friends was that their experiences were somewhat similar, allowing them to empathize with each other.
They were both daughters of wealthy families.
One’s parents had died, leaving her to be raised by the Blackwood Family; the other’s parents went bankrupt, leaving her to be kept by the Wyatt Family.
One had to face an unfeeling tyrant, the other a bloodthirsty monster.
Both of their freedoms were equally restricted.
“Should we go shop with them?” Kian Blackwood had also spotted Winston Wyatt, and his eyes lit up.
The Wyatt Family was no less powerful than the Blackwood Family.
Winston Wyatt’s influence was intricate and unfathomable; rumor had it he was the true master of The Underworld.
If Kian could get on Winston’s good side, his own path forward would surely be much smoother.
Victoria Sutton could be best friends with Isla Chambers.
So why couldn’t he, Kian Blackwood, become close friends with Winston Wyatt?
“No way.” How could their sweet, private date turn into a double date?
“Let’s just say hi.” With that, Victoria Sutton excitedly pulled Kian Blackwood’s hand and hurried forward.
But before she even got close to Winston Wyatt, Victoria noticed something was wrong.
Victoria’s eyes widened.
“How could that not be Isla?”
Realizing something was off, Victoria Sutton ducked to the side to observe, whipping out her phone and typing furiously.
Winston Wyatt!
And he’s with some strange woman!
Did you know he’s out shopping with another woman right now?!]
When Isla Chambers received the message, she was stunned and filled with disbelief.
‘Leon Sherman had said Winston Wyatt was out on extremely important business and wouldn’t be back for a while.
So this “important business” was escorting another woman?’
Biting her lip hard, Isla Chambers typed back, feeling humiliated and bitter.
[I didn’t know.]
Confirming that Winston Wyatt was indeed seeing another woman behind her best friend’s back, Victoria Sutton was instantly furious.
“Where did this shameless little hussy come from?
And that scumbag Winston Wyatt is actually cheating!”
Kian Blackwood said, “Could it be a misunderstanding?”
Victoria Sutton shot back, “How could it be?
What kind of relationship involves him going into a lingerie store with her to buy women’s underwear?” Such intimate items immediately brought words like private, ambiguous, and sensual to mind.
…
After following Aurora Rivers into the store, Winston Wyatt didn’t know where to look or what to do with his hands.
His handsome face, ears, and neck turned a visible shade of red.
As outgoing as he had been while picking out clothes earlier, he was now just as introverted and shy.
Aurora Rivers was amused by his beet-red appearance.
‘He’s grown up, but his tendency to get shy hasn’t changed.
He’s still as cute as when he was a kid.’
Aurora Rivers didn’t try anything on.
She just told the clerk her size and had them pick out a few sets for her to be wrapped up.
The moment she walked out, Victoria Sutton sent a candid photo of her to Isla Chambers.
Isla Chambers recognized Aurora Rivers instantly.
After all, they had just shared breakfast at the same table not long ago.
Isla Chambers had learned from the servants that Aurora Rivers was one of the calming masters.
What surprised her was that Aurora Rivers hadn’t been scared away after seeing Winston Wyatt’s monstrous side.
The previous calming masters had all wished they could grow extra legs to run away faster.
[Isla, don’t you think this woman looks a bit like you?]
Isla Chambers immediately zoomed in on the photo.
She hadn’t thought they looked alike at all, but now that Victoria Sutton had mentioned it, she examined Aurora Rivers’s features again and actually found a slight resemblance.
[So she’s your substitute?!]
The word “substitute” seared into her vision, and Isla Chambers’s breath caught in her throat.
It was because of that face, which was slightly similar to hers.
During the calming process, Winston Wyatt had likely mistaken Aurora Rivers for her.
Isla Chambers was instantly disgusted, her expression turning ugly.
[Did you have a fight with Winston Wyatt?
Is that why he’s deliberately using a substitute to piss you off?
His real goal is just to make you jealous, isn’t it?]
Reading that sentence, Isla Chambers felt as if she’d been suddenly enlightened.
The intimacy and familiarity between Winston Wyatt and Aurora Rivers now made sense.
How else could one explain why Winston Wyatt valued a woman who had appeared out of nowhere so highly?
She had recently refused to feed Winston Wyatt, refused to smile at him, refused to sit with him, refused to calm him, and had even called him a lunatic, a demon, a violent maniac, and a monster that was neither human nor ghost…
Isla Chambers felt a surge of irritation.
‘Winston Wyatt needs two more labels,’ she thought, ‘one for being unreasonable, and another for being incredibly childish.’
But because of this, the panic in Isla Chambers’s heart inexplicably subsided, and she also breathed a sigh of relief.
[How could Winston Wyatt do this to you?
Isn’t that big jerk afraid he’ll have to grovel to win you back later?]
Only then did Isla Chambers reply, [Don’t say that.
My relationship with Winston Wyatt isn’t what you think.
He can be with whoever he wants; it has nothing to do with me.]
Victoria Sutton: [Isla, do you really not care at all?]
Isla Chambers: [I wish someone would replace me.
Then I could escape from Winston Wyatt and wouldn’t have to be coerced by him anymore.]
[But you can’t just let a substitute walk all over you.
Isla, you might be magnanimous enough to not care, but I can’t stand it.
You have no idea how happily that woman was smiling.
She’s only standing next to a big shot like him because she’s riding your coattails, what’s she so smug about?]
[Don’t worry, Isla, I’ll definitely get even for you.
Just watch me tear that little bitch’s face off.]
Reading this, Isla Chambers knew that Victoria Sutton was going to cause trouble for Aurora Rivers, but she said nothing.
She figured Victoria was just joking and wouldn’t give Aurora Rivers too hard a time.
…
Aurora Rivers finished the nuts in the snack bag and, feeling a bit thirsty, bought a milk tea.
One sip was silky and cool.
Fresh milk infused with pure, white jasmine; a tempting sweetness bloomed between her lips and teeth—the ultimate flavor and enjoyment.
Seeing Winston Wyatt staring blankly at his milk tea, Aurora Rivers smiled and said, “Want to try it?”
“Okay.” Winston Wyatt took a sip through the straw.
He had never had milk tea before.
It had to be said, the first experience was a novel one.