CHAPTER 5: CHAPTER 5: MR. PRESTON’S LITTLE DAMSEL

"Lane, go to the housekeeping company and find a few reliable maids, the kind that can cook really well, preferably with a nutritionist certificate." I sat in the backseat with a pile of tonics and instructed Lane after much thought.

"Got it, ma’am," Lane responded.

After marrying Henry Preston, both sets of parents suggested hiring some servants to clean, maintain the garden, and cook, but my love-struck brain at the time refused.

In my love nest with Henry, even one more person felt like an eyesore, affecting my romantic interactions with him, like from the living room to the kitchen and such.

The result was as expected; I lived a life that was neither single nor married.

Since I’m reborn, it’s time to stop having such nonsensical dreams.

When I got home, I walked ahead with my Prada handbag while Lane followed behind, carrying a bunch of medicinal packets. As soon as the door opened, Henry was coming downstairs, adjusting his cufflinks in that casually charming way.

"Lane, you can leave now." I put down my handbag and instructed Lane.

Lane placed the tonics on the table, bowed respectfully to Henry, and then hurried off.

"There’s a cocktail party in an hour, and your parents will be there too. Get ready to go with me," Henry informed me, uninterested in what I brought back.

He never wanted to take me to any event unless it was one where I could be useful, like when my parents were attending.

Since being reborn, I haven’t gone back to see my parents. Not because of disobedience, but because of the events of the past life, I still feel guilty towards them and a bit afraid to face them.

"Oh, okay." I went up to the second floor.

For the past two weeks, I haven’t exactly been idle. I acquired a new wardrobe, completely different in style and design from the previous monotony.

I picked a little red dress, off-the-shoulder, with a somewhat open V-neck design, but there’s a thin layer of gauze, revealing yet concealing, with a fishtail hem showing off slender straight legs.

Though I’m excessively thin, I can’t deny that my fair complexion and height of 168 make me feel quite good about myself, except for the chest area.

That kind of sweet and innocent style like Azure Vaughn’s just doesn’t suit me. After all, I’m not in my twenties.

After doing my makeup, I put on a set of crystal earrings with a matching necklace. Under the spotlight, they’d definitely blind someone. I used to be reserved, but now I’m more flamboyant.

Henry was waiting for me downstairs, talking on the phone. He didn’t even flinch at the sound of my footsteps coming down, not even a glance. I didn’t care and went to wait in the car alone.

A few minutes later, Henry came out. From getting in the car to leaving, he didn’t cast a single glance my way.

Along the way, Henry and I didn’t exchange a single word.

He drove while I played on my phone. I had added Joel Sutton on WeChat and was exchanging pleasantries.

Me: Sutton, if you don’t like the hospital cafeteria food, I can send someone to bring you meals.

Joel Sutton: No need, no need, sis, I’m fine with it.

Me: I forgot to buy you some supplements today. I’ll bring you some tomorrow when I visit.

Joel Sutton: Really, there’s no need to be so polite!

Me: It’s not about being polite; it’s because I hit you, causing your hospitalization. Don’t feel embarrassed, just let me know if you need anything.

Joel Sutton’s family background is similar to Azure’s. To Azure, Henry is a wealthy and handsome elite, so I can be a wealthy beauty in front of Joel Sutton.

It seemed quite balanced when I thought about it, with a subtle sense of equilibrium in my heart.

The car stopped at a red light, and Henry finally moved his neck, glancing at me, belatedly noticing my change today. Yet as expected, "This dress is wasted on you."

Turns out, the TV dramas where the female lead amazes the male lead with a style transformation are fake.

I put down my phone, adjusted my chest with my hand, and asked, "Is it really that small? I wore a thick padding today on purpose."

This overly bold action successfully darkened Henry’s expression again. He coldly said, "Zoe Hathway, watch your behavior."

"Why?" I retorted.

I’ve been mindful for so many years, has it helped? Having died once, one tends to see things more openly. Rather than restricting myself, I’d rather embrace my feelings.

"Don’t forget your identity," Henry’s tone was already very poor.

He hasn’t treated me as a wife, yet expects me to have the discipline of one with this identity.

I turned to gaze at the scenery outside the window, not wanting to speak. In the past, if Henry had taken the initiative to talk to me, I would’ve been overjoyed, making sure to keep the conversation going.

At the cocktail party, Henry and I played pretend couple for a while. After a few chats with some familiar business partners, I found a spot to sit and rest alone.

Unfortunately, a young lady was sitting next to me. Upon a closer look, wasn’t she the little daisy that recently made headlines for checking into a hotel with Henry?

"Chloe, why are you sitting here alone?" Another woman walked over, asking the little daisy, Chloe Payne.

"I’m just resting here a little, come sit with me, Louise," Chloe Payne’s voice was excessively sweet.

It seemed Henry liked women with pleasant voices. Azure Vaughn was the same, as were all his rumored flings.

The two of them started chatting beside me, seemingly oblivious to my presence.

Lucy Cheney kept teasing Chloe Payne, "Your Mr. Preston is over there, aren’t you going to greet him?"

"Don’t talk nonsense, what do you mean my Mr. Preston, he has a wife," Chloe Payne replied coquettishly.

"His wife is practically non-existent, no one has seen her in forever. Everyone knows you’ve been close to him recently. I heard he bought you a house?" Lucy Cheney said, full of envy and jealousy.

"Yes, he’s very generous with me," Chloe Payne said with a hint of pride in her voice. "I don’t even know why he’s so good to me. I feel lucky to have met him."

Henry’s generous to everyone, except me, his so-called wife.

Every woman who’s been rumored with him praises him after their fling ends. This is the charm of money.

Just then, my parents arrived, seeing me sitting alone. They asked, "Zoe, where’s Henry? Why isn’t he with you?"

Hearing Henry’s name, Chloe Payne and Lucy Cheney immediately turned to look at me. Their expressions must be quite something.

I stood up, hooked my mom’s arm, and said in a spoiled tone, "What’s the fun in being with him? It’s just business talk with a group of people. Chatting with you two is much more enjoyable."

My mom looked at me in surprise. I haven’t acted spoiled like this in years.

"You two have a daughter-mother talk, I’ll go chat with Quinn and the others," My dad, a straightforward man, didn’t notice my changes, happily went to find his old friends.