CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 164 ACCOMPANYING HER TO CHOOSE AN EVENING DRESS

"Yes! I can now buy my baby any gift she desires. Baby, what gift would you like?"

Noah Phillips currently handled businesses worth hundreds of millions, yet he had never felt as accomplished as he did at this moment. He finally had the means to buy his little bride any birthday gift she could possibly want, not just a cheap stick of candied hawthorn.

Sienna Johnson remembered the past, and Noah Phillips hadn’t forgotten it either. He recalled that his little bride hadn’t even had a cake on her birthdays.

"I happen to need an evening gown. Could you get me one?" Sienna Johnson asked candidly.

"Sure," Noah Phillips agreed readily.

"We’ll meet at F.I.Y across from Havens Department Store. If you can’t find it, use your GPS. The store is very famous; you’ll find it with a quick search," Sienna Johnson provided the address.

Noah Phillips’ clear and pleasant voice came over the line, "Be there or be square!"

"Be there or be square!"

After Sienna ended the call, Kiki couldn’t resist asking, "Is it that Mr. Phillips again?"

Sienna Johnson had a sweet smile on her face. "Yes, my brother has come to Sileria City to celebrate my birthday with me."

"Are you...?"

The door was ajar. The elegant and graceful Sabrina Johnson walked in, the first thing she saw being Sienna Johnson’s foolish grin. Smirking, Sabrina said, "Sienna Johnson, what are you laughing at? You look like an idiot. So ugly."

Hearing Sabrina Johnson’s voice, Sienna Johnson’s smile vanished. She said menacingly, "What are you doing here? Aren’t you afraid I might strangle you in a fit of rage?"

When no one else was around, the tension between them was always palpable.

"I came to remind you: don’t embarrass the Johnson Family in front of everyone during the opening dance tonight."

"Sabrina Johnson, you should worry about yourself. It’ll be cold and windy tonight. Careful you don’t have another heart attack—twitching all over, foaming at the mouth. That would be truly embarrassing."

Sabrina Johnson looked rather smug. "Mom personally brewed ginger tea for me and even got out a fox fur shawl. Sienna, do you know? That fox fur shawl was a gift from Dad to Mom. Mom usually can’t bear to use it. The temperature will be low tonight, and Mom’s worried I’ll catch a cold, so she specially took it out for me."

Ordinarily, the two of them would have bickered for a while. But today, Sienna Johnson was filled with joy. The thought that Noah Phillips, after so many years, could still celebrate her birthday with her meant she naturally had no desire to waste time arguing with Sabrina Johnson.

"Oh, then you’d better keep it on tight," Sienna Johnson said nonchalantly.

"Kiki, please look after Curly Baby for me. I’ll be back soon."

Huh? Just like that?

Sabrina Johnson, dressed in delicate pink like a princess, wore the expression of a wicked queen. She glared at Sienna Johnson’s retreating, cheerful back, gritting her teeth. "Sienna Johnson, why didn’t you just die at sea!"

「F.I.Y」

Sienna Johnson sat in the main waiting area, flipping through a magazine. Her mind wasn’t on it, though; her gaze kept drifting to the glass window.

About half an hour later, Noah Phillips arrived as promised.

The car stopped. A man in a suit opened the back door. Noah Phillips stepped out, looked up, and their eyes met.

Sienna Johnson put down her magazine, looking at the strikingly handsome man. At first glance, he exuded an air of scholarly elegance. He wore a simple yet dashing, well-tailored white casual suit. He wasn’t wearing a tie; the collar of his black shirt was fashionably turned out over his jacket, its points spreading elegantly like butterfly wings. He had very handsome eyes, slightly upturned like feathers, their depths calm and unruffled, yet hinting at a powerful presence.

She gazed at him, her eyes filled with an undisguisable pride.

Noah Phillips walked in. A staff member approached to greet him, but he waved them away and headed straight for Sienna Johnson. "Sorry, I was held up by traffic. How long have you been waiting?"

"Baby?" Seeing her just staring at him with bright eyes, not answering, Noah Phillips leaned down and waved a hand in front of her face. Only then did Sienna Johnson break into a smile.

"What are you looking at so intently?"

"I’m looking at you, Brother..." Sienna Johnson tilted her head, still sizing him up. "Brother, you’re so handsome. My future sister-in-law must have saved the entire solar system in a past life to be lucky enough to marry you."

Noah Phillips’ expression stiffened; the smile on his face faltered.

Noah Phillips’ gaze deepened as he looked at her. After a long moment, he finally said, "Baby, I..."

Sienna Johnson didn’t let him finish. She stood up and naturally linked her arm through his. "Let’s go. If we don’t hurry and pick out my gown, I’ll be late."

The stylist’s name was Xi. Xi had styled many A-list domestic celebrities, and this was Sienna Johnson’s first time seeking his services.

"This white gown suits your temperament..."

White is much better than pink, but I don’t want an innocent style. I need something grand and dignified to make an impact at tonight’s event!

"Hmm, not bad. It’s very pretty," Noah Phillips said, propping his chin on his hand as he looked at the white gown. "Very pure and cute."

"Good heavens, I’m already twenty-two..." Sienna Johnson eyed the ’pure and cute’ style gown with disdain, then shot Noah Phillips a scornful look. "This kind of dress is something I’d save for my daughter to wear."

"Miss Johnson, Mr. Phillips is right. This dress truly suits your temperament. You’re so young, as lovely and fresh as a lily..." the stylist gushed in her ear, his compliments making her skin crawl.

"That dress is beautiful. I want that one!" she declared, pointing to a shimmering gold gown on a hanger.

"Uh, that dress isn’t suitable for you!"

The stylist glanced from the gown to her, a troubled look on his face. He tried to dissuade her professionally, "This style and color are more suited for mature career women in their thirties or forties. Girls your age often aspire to this mature look, but it genuinely doesn’t suit you. Wearing this gown would be like a little girl teetering in her mother’s high heels—completely out of place!"

"I want this one!" Sienna Johnson was stubborn—or, to put it more charitably, principled.

She was firm. Pretending to be pure and cute had never been her style.

She couldn’t stand Sabrina Johnson’s taste in clothes. That overly sweet style—bows in the hair, puffy skirts—it made her shudder.

"I’ve styled countless people, and I’m telling you from my extensive experience: this gown isn’t for you. You’re too young. That dress requires maturity, rich life experience, and a powerful presence to carry it off."

"I want this one!"