Free Web NovelChapter 54: Chapter 54: Can’t Look, Can’t Look
Eloise’s pupils constricted. She never imagined she would run into the Lynch Family before the banquet.
After a moment of shock, she offered a faint smile and gave the same reply. "Maybe I just have one of those common faces."
Mrs. Lynch let out a chuckle. "Looking like a movie star, how could you have a common face? I can tell from your accent you’re not from around here."
"That’s right. We’re from Stroven City."
"So you’re from Stroven City. No wonder it didn’t sound like a local accent. Is this your first time in Jarden? Do you need any help?"
Eloise opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, Arabella Donovan had already burst out laughing.
’Hahahaha, her scheming is so loud I could’ve heard it back in Stroven City. Even if this woman isn’t from the Lynch Family, she’s definitely connected to my sister’s mother.’
Eloise’s fingers curled from the tension, her knuckles turning white.
"Wouldn’t that be too much trouble for you?"
"Not at all, not at all. We were out shopping anyway. It’s more lively with more people."
As if afraid the two might get the wrong idea, Mrs. Lynch let out a wistful sigh, her expression full of nostalgia. "My daughter is about your age. She used to take me shopping often, too. A pity she went to study abroad two years ago, and now she barely makes it back more than a few times a year. So whenever I see young ladies like you, I can’t help but pay a little extra attention."
"Oh, by the way, my surname is Lister. You don’t see it very often. If you don’t mind, you can just call me Miss Lister."
"Lister?" Eloise looked down, mulling over the rather uncommon surname, lost in thought.
For Arabella, however, that surname was all she needed to confirm the woman’s identity. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
’It really is Mrs. Lynch! Her maiden name is Felicity Lister, from the century-old Lister Family in Alvane. They lived just one street away from the Sullivan Family—where my sister’s biological mother, Rona Sullivan, is from. So the two of them knew each other since they were little, and then, by a strange twist of fate, they became sisters-in-law, making them even closer.’
’The "daughter" she mentioned must be Melody Lynch, right? Mr. Rhodes mentioned before that Melody was still abroad and couldn’t come back to get our second brother’s autograph herself, which is why she asked him to help. Tsk, tsk. It all lines up perfectly, doesn’t it?’
Hearing Arabella mention her biological mother again, Eloise was flooded with complex emotions and forgot to react for a moment.
Fortunately, Mrs. Lynch didn’t seem to mind and, to keep the two from getting suspicious, she took the initiative to start a new topic.
"I saw you tried on quite a few outfits but weren’t satisfied. Do you not like this store’s style?"
Eloise took a deep breath to calm herself, glancing at the clothes she had gone through. She sighed. "The clothes in this shop are very pretty, they just don’t quite suit me or my sister. And for a banquet, they’re a bit... too flashy."
Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Rhodes exchanged a look and couldn’t help but smile.
The store Eloise and Arabella had entered targeted women between twenty-five and thirty-five. Although the fabrics and cuts were good, the color selection was gaudy and eye-catching—definitely a little too mature for the two girls.
"I remember there’s a women’s clothing store two or three shops down to the left. The style is generally bright and fresh, more suitable for girls their age. And that shop also has gowns designed for evening parties. You should be able to find something you like that’s more fitting."
As the biggest landlord in the mall, Mrs. Rhodes quickly thought of a shop that would meet their needs.
Arabella and Eloise exchanged a glance, thinking it was a good idea.
"Then let’s go have a look. Miss Lister, what about you two...?"
Before Eloise could finish her sentence, Mrs. Lynch had already grabbed a random piece of clothing. "We’ve already finished our shopping. We can walk over with you to make sure you don’t get lost and waste time."
Eloise was left speechless.
Arabella, silently playing the part of a background prop behind Eloise, heard this and peeked out curiously like a little cat.
’Wow, if I’m not mistaken, that’s a low-cut, backless dress. Who knew? The lady has a spicy side!’
Mrs. Rhodes also noticed what her sister-in-law had grabbed. She was mortified. ’I can’t look, I just can’t look.’
The group paid as quickly as possible and left the store. However, before they could reach the shop Mrs. Rhodes had mentioned, they ran into an acquaintance.
"Mrs. Lynch, Mrs. Rhodes."
Mrs. Lynch and Mrs. Rhodes looked surprised. "Ms. Kerr? What brings you here?"
The woman they called Ms. Kerr looked to be in her early forties. She wore a professional white shirt and black pants, her hair cut to chin-length. Though she wore makeup, the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes betrayed her true age.
"One of the local stores had a small issue, so I came to take a look." Ms. Kerr pointed toward a nearby jewelry store.
Arabella looked up and immediately saw the large words on the storefront.
’House of Aethel Jade? Why does that name sound so familiar? Oh, I remember! The jewelry set our second brother gave me was from this brand. I think he’s their brand ambassador, right? But I still feel like I’ve heard the name somewhere else, and this Ms. Kerr, too...’
Arabella really couldn’t remember where she’d heard about this person, so she just stayed silent, pretending to be a mere passerby.
It wasn’t their place to ask about her store’s business, so Mrs. Lynch deftly changed the subject.
"Didn’t Kieran come with you? I heard he’s closed several big deals for the company recently, with brilliant results. The boy has finally grown up, and so accomplished. Your suffering is finally over; you can afford to relax a little now."
Hearing Mrs. Lynch mention her son, Ms. Kerr’s expression visibly softened.
"He went out west two days ago to confirm a shipment of raw materials. He won’t be back for a few more days."
"Oh, I see."
Mrs. Lynch had only been asking casually, so when she heard Kieran Kerr wasn’t in the country, she let the topic drop.
It was Arabella, however, silent on the sidelines, who heard this exchange and finally remembered where she had heard of this brand and Ms. Kerr.
’No wonder her Palace of Children looked so dim and lusterless when I glanced at her. Her son is that unlucky heir of the House of Aethel Jade—the one who got played by a catfish, and ended up dying abroad.’
Died abroad?!
Eloise’s eyes narrowed. She instinctively turned to look at the woman, who was still chatting with Mrs. Lynch.
This Ms. Kerr was a truly remarkable woman. She and her husband had built the House of Aethel Jade brand from scratch, enduring many hardships in their youth.
She didn’t have her son, Kieran Kerr, until later in life. But who could have predicted that before the boy was even three years old, her husband would pass away unexpectedly, leaving a lonely widow and her orphan son with no one to rely on.
Although she had co-founded the company with her husband, Ms. Kerr’s focus had shifted to her family ever since their son was born.
Her husband’s sudden passing was a devastating blow to both her and the company.
Furthermore, she had been detached from the company for three or four years, and many of the shareholders had developed their own selfish ambitions, hoping to use this opportunity to wrest the company away from the widow and her child.
Back then, Ms. Kerr was utterly abandoned and facing insurmountable difficulties. Yet she gritted her teeth and persevered, breaking up and restructuring the company into the House of Aethel Jade that existed today.
