Rebirth Into My Second Chance

"You don't like the dress I prepared?" Claude's voice was low but couldn't hide his irritation.

I shook my head and said, "I do, but Kate said I've grown up, I'm not a Barbie doll anymore."

While saying this, I purposefully widened my eyes, looking at Claude with a pitiful gaze and added, "Do you think I'm still a kid, Claudy? A little doll?" He looked slightly taken aback, then pointed at the shawl draped over my shoulders, "If you've chosen a dress you like, what's with the shawl then?" I gathered the shawl around me, looking down cautiously, "Kate picked it out for me."

The shawl was grey with a few large flowers on it, giving it a country girl vibe that seemed quite out of place in the sophisticated setting we were in. The people around us were giving me looks, likely thinking my attire was too plain, especially given that I was known as Claude's sister.

I hadn't refused the shawl when Kate handed it to me, exactly for this moment.

"Take it off."

I stepped back fearfully, looking towards Kate for help. "Kate, can I take the shawl off?"

"So this ugly shawl was Ms. Goodwin's choice for Ms. Floyd," someone remarked.

"Good thing Ms. Floyd is beautiful. Anyone else would've looked terrible in that shawl. It's all her beauty holding it up," another whispered. Kate's gaze darkened, but she maintained her ladylike smile:

just worried the air conditioning might be too cold,

Goodwin is so considerate towards Ms.

really take it off?" I still looked at Kate for confirmation, and she reluctantly stepped forward,

a pitiful look, and a docile demeanor was an unbeatable strategy

she still smiled

a moment,

thought Claude would get angry at my

revealed, the crowd murmured in appreciation, "Ms. Floyd is truly beautiful,

Hart family has raised

took off his jacket and quickly walked over. The look in his eyes was without anger, but rather,

draped his jacket over

Id

tug at Claude's sleeve, "Claude, I did the dress was pretty, but it was

Claude hummed in response.

protective gesture made everyone whisper, "Mr. Hart seems to have a special

"Very protective, indeed."