With a heavy heart, Jane Sullivan accompanied Doreen to the mall, with no desire to shop.
Because she had to go to the hospital with Ethan to visit his grandmother in the afternoon.
Arriving at the fourth floor shoe section, Doreen, with sharp eyes, spotted Joanne trying on shoes in one of the stores and excitedly pulled Jane Sullivan"s hand, "Jane, we came on the right day, Joanne is also here, she can help us pick some nice shoes." As she spoke, Joanne"s gaze fell on them, and she stood up with a slight smile.
Although her smile seemed gentle, Jane Sullivan felt uncomfortable, especially remembering Ethan"s anxious expression when he heard about her twisted foot...
As she was thinking, Joanne had already walked over, "Sweetie, it"s been a while since I"ve seen you, I thought you went abroad."
"Joanne, my mom said that I should be raised frugally, even if I want to go abroad, she won"t give me money, told me to travel cheaply."
After Doreen complained, she suddenly remembered Jane Sullivan beside her, "Oh, Joanne, I forgot to introduce her, this is my college classmate and best friend, Jane Sullivan, I call her Jane."
"Oh, so it"s your best friend." Joanne pretended not to know Jane Sullivan"s real identity as Mrs. Grayson, warmly greeting Jane Sullivan like a big sister, "Hello Jane, nice to meet you. I don"t know what gift you"d like, so why don"t you and Sweetie pick a pair of shoes, I"ll gift them to you."
"There"s no need, Joanne, I have plenty of shoes at home."
Jane Sullivan had just refused when Doreen grabbed her arm, "It"s Joanne"s kindness, just accept it."
Saying this, she pulled Jane Sullivan towards the shoe store.
*
As a designer, Joanne indeed had a unique eye.
She could quickly find shoes that suited someone"s outfit and temperament.
Wearing them, one would perfectly match their clothes and aura.
Jane Sullivan watched Joanne bring over a pair of gray high heels, "Jane, try these, I think they suit you."
"Thank you, Joanne, I"ll try them on."
Jane Sullivan took the shoes, took off her own, and started trying them on.
Joanne, always smiling patiently, helped Jane Sullivan put them on, then led her to a mirror, "How do they look? Do you like them?"
Jane Sullivan nodded, "I like them."
Her opinion of Joanne changed completely.
Such a humble, approachable, dignified, beautiful, and charismatic woman, receiving Ethan"s protection and affection, was not by chance.
If she were Ethan, she would also like a woman like Joanne.
...
Watching Joanne patiently picking shoes for Doreen, Jane Sullivan sat on the sofa, looking at herself in the mirror. Despite her delicate makeup and expensive clothes, standing next to Joanne, she felt like night and day.
Feelings of inferiority surfaced, lingering for a long time.
Until they went to a restaurant near the mall with Joanne for a meal.
Joanne"s conversation was humorous and unpretentious, her behavior revealing the grace of a well-bred lady.
No wonder Doreen often praised Joanne, saying if she hadn"t married Uncle Ethan, she would have wanted Joanne as her aunt.
After ordering, seeing Jane Sullivan lost in thought, Joanne pretended to suddenly remember something, "I just realized, Jane, you look familiar. Have we met before? Did you have this hairstyle before?"
Doreen answered for Jane Sullivan, "Jane used to have black, ear-length hair. She just got a perm and dyed it dark brown a few days ago."
"No wonder, I was wondering why you looked familiar. Jane, did you work at Ethan"s company before?"
Hearing this, Jane Sullivan knew she couldn"t hide it, nodded, "I interned at Uncle"s company for a few days, but I didn"t know you then, Joanne, so I didn"t greet you."
"That"s it, I knew I had seen you before."
Joanne smiled gently, handing her business card to Jane Sullivan, "If you have time, come visit my studio. You and Sweetie are both beautiful, you could be my models, try on some dresses. I recently designed a youth series for young girls like you. I haven"t found the right people to try them on, but you and Sweetie fit the bill."
Jane Sullivan hesitated for a moment, then took the card.
Doreen already started exclaiming, "Yay, Joanne, you know I"ve always wanted to walk the runway. If Jane and I don"t have plans before the Spring Festival, I"ll take her to your studio."
"Great, let"s agree on that. You two should definitely come."
Jane Sullivan nodded, putting the card in her bag.
*
After the meal, Jane Sullivan and Doreen, carrying the shoes gifted by Joanne, got into the driver"s car.
They continued discussing going to Joanne"s studio.
Especially Doreen, excitedly saying, "Jane, let me tell you, Joanne is such a nice person, not at all like Sophia, who always acts superior, seeing everyone as if they were rivals in love."
"Although Joanne often has rumors with Uncle, she never pays attention to them. I think what she and Uncle have is more than a simple male-female relationship, pure friendship. So you really don"t need to worry, there"s nothing ambiguous between them."
Jane Sullivan nodded, smiling slightly, "I know, I won"t take it to heart. Joanne is really nice. If Uncle really likes Joanne, I would bless them."
"Uncle likes you, I haven"t seen him treat anyone else as well as he treats Joanne ,
"Anyway, don"t overthink it. Uncle"s heart will eventually come back home."
...
Watching the Grayson family"s car drive away, Joanne took off her sunglasses, sat in the driver"s seat, and began to reapply her lipstick from her makeup bag.
Her face was full of smugness.
Remembering Jane Sullivan"s restraint and her manners, no wonder Benjamin often said she was a "little white rabbit." Such a naive girl, how could she possibly match up to a business tycoon like Ethan?
Men might like younger women, but it"s often just a novelty that wears off after a while.
Besides, even if Ethan did fall for her, what of it?
Joanne knew she had ways to make him despise her.
She knew well what Ethan hated most...
Jane Sullivan might have crossed the line once, but what about the second or third time?
Repeated mistakes, even if Ethan liked her, would lead to disappointment.
So, Joanne took out her phone, found Ken" s number, and dialed it.
Once connected, her lips curled up, and in a soft voice, she said, "Director Ken, are you free tonight? How about dinner together?"