Facade of Love

Chapter 311 Suddenly Close

If my arms were not already overflowing with bags, I would have visited more booths.

I glanced at the mountain of trinkets that Charlie was disappearing under and finally tamed the wild shopping beast inside me.

We got t

got to the sidewalk, but a problem arose.

“Getting a taxi with all this loot will be a nightmare,” I mumbled, thinking about how we would get back. Charlie’s muscle guy had left us here to fend for ourselves.

Just as I said that, a shiny black Bentley pulled up like it was on cue. Two dudes in matching black suits got out and made a beeline for Charlie. “Mr. Yates,” they said, all serious.

Charlie gave a quick nod and handed his shopping bags to the bodyguard. That was when I clammed up, realizing I had been fretting over nothing. The wealthy really were in a league of their own. They could live it up without a single worry. As the bodyguards helped Charlie into the car, he spotted me lingering on the curb and called, “Hey, aren’t you coming?” I grinned at him and said, “I’ll catch a taxi soon. Head back to the hospital, okay?” We were going in opposite directions, and it just did not make sense for me to crisscross the city.

His smile was warm, his voice a mix of comfort and resolve, “I’ll drop you off first. Catching a cab here is a nightmare.”

He was spot on. The night market buzzed with folks scrambling for rides. Without a peep, hopped into the car.

stepped out and waved to Charlie.”

Hen

neatly tied box. “I got something for

surprise. “What’s in it?”

softly. “Just a little token. Go on,

I

of me, and I popped open the box. Inside, I found the cutest necklace, which looked like it was spun from cotton candy. It was delicate, with tiny, intricate

was not the kind of thing you plan to buy; it seemed like a spur–of–the–moment find. A necklace

gave me a signature mischievous smile and dodged the question with a simple,

a ton. Realizing the potential value of the necklace, I squinted at him, “What’s with the out–of–the–blue present?” He just shrugged, waving the half–munched cotton candy and a Superman mask in the air, ” Hey, you got

think a stick of candy and a mask were on

this necklace has got to be super pricey. I

in his eyes. “You…

find the right

get the words out. “Then it’s a done deal.” He steamrolled right over my protests, saying, “Look, it’s not about how much it costs. It’s about the thought behind it. I love what you picked out for me. It means the world to me. So, just take it, will you? If not, it’s like saying we are not even pals.”

become a friendship