Unexpected Fiancée

Chapter 31: Jane Won

Florence couldn't believe her eyes as she witnessed the unfolding drama before her. The boutique manager, Mr. Franklin, was apologizing to Jane in person. How was this possible? Erica couldn't contain her curiosity and questioned Mr. Franklin in an attempt to make sense of the situation. "What's happening? Did you make a mistake? Why are you apologizing to her? Florence wants this dress. You know her; she's Old Doyle's favorite granddaughter. Offending her is equivalent to offending the entire Doyle family. Do you realize the consequences of such an action? Can you beat them?”

But Mr. Franklin seemed oblivious to Erica's inquiries. He wiped away his sweat and addressed Jane, “Miss North, as part of our apology, we would like to offer you this dress for free. I sincerely hope you can accept our apology.”

Earlier, Mr. Franklin had received a call from Nana, who was overseeing Loe Studio's operations. Nana had expressed her dissatisfaction with Jane's treatment at RD Boutique and urged him to rectify the situation to Jane's satisfaction. The stakes were high; Loe Studio was a valuable partner for RD Boutique, and any rift in the relationship would lead to significant losses.

Florence, however, was stunned by this offer. The dress was worth ten million dollars; why would Mi Franklin give it to Jane for free? She interjected, "Wait! Are you sure you want to give up all that money?"

"Have a look at other clothes; we have several other high-end dresses that-"

“I want this one!" Jane asserted firmly.

Frustrated and incensed, Florence found herself in an unprecedented situation. She had always bee accustomed to getting what she wanted. Seeing that Florence was being unreasonable, Jane decided it was time to leave the boutique, saying to Mr. Franklin in an authoritative tone, "You don have to give it to me for free. I'll have someone deliver a check tomorrow."

Jane didn't want to engage in further arguments, especially with Florence, as she had an evening appointment with Carl, and she didn't want to be late. Florence, however, couldn't resist pursuing Jane. She called after her, "Jane North, stop!"

"Did you get Patrick to intervene?" Florence inquired. Unbeknownst to Florence, it was Nana who had stepped in to resolve the situation, not Patrick. In her mind, Jane was merely a country girl with no connections or influence apart from Patrick. She was left puzzled as to why Patrick was so invested in Jane and willing to stand up against the Doyle family on her behalf.

Seeing the anger on Florence's face, Jane was secretly pleased. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you think?"

"You shameless woman! What can you do other than seduce men? Do you honestly believe Patrick loves you?" Florence seethed with jealousy and rage.

Jane countered with a sneer, "If he doesn't love me, what makes you think he loves you?"

"You..."

Florence was livid, her face contorted with anger. She raised her hand, seemingly intent on slapping Jane, but Mr. Franklin swiftly intervened, positioning himself between the two women. Understanding the unusual relationship between Jane and Patrick, he realized that no one could afford to offend Patrick. Consequently, he instructed the security guard to keep Florence and Erica at bay.

"Miss North, I apologize for the inconvenience,” Mr. Franklin said with a bow.

Jane left with a triumphant grin, leaving Florence fuming with frustration.

As the evening unfolded, Jane arrived punctually for her appointment at Allure Bar. This upscale establishment was frequented by the rich and influential of Guavo. "Jane, over here!" Carl waved, seated with his friends from the entertainment industry, engaging in drinks and finger-guessing games.

Jane greeted Carl with a smile, commenting, "Carl, your new film is already complete? Congratulations!”

Carl offered her a chair, and Jane declined wine, preferring a soft drink. However, Carl was persisten and filled a glass for her. "Come on, just a little. It's my birthday."

Jane conceded and raised her glass for a toast. "Happy birthday!"

She downed the glass in one gulp, eliciting a round of applause. Jane and Carl engaged in conversation, and suddenly, a beautiful voice filled the bar as a young girl in a red dress sang on the stage. With curly shoulder-length hair and a melodious voice, she enraptured the audience with her sweet song.

Observing Jane's admiration for the performance, Carl introduced the singer, named Angel. "She sings beautifully,” Jane remarked, and Carl agreed.

"Yes, she's good, but not as good as you, Jane. I haven't heard you sing in a while. Can you sing a song for me as a birthday gift?"

Encouraged by Carl's request and his friends’ enthusiasm, Jane agreed. It was, after all, a bar where customers were encouraged to sing. She gracefully made her way to the center of the stage, wearing a white dress. "This song is for my good friend Carl. Happy birthday!"

The song was in French, exquisite and enchanting. Jane's voice filled the room with its melodic beauty, leaving the audience spellbound. On the second floor in a dimly lit VIP box, a tall, imposing figure remained hidden from view, intently observing the enchanting young woman on stage. Patrick had come to the bar for a business meeting, unaware of Jane's presence. Recalling her appointment, he felt a surge of irritation. To his dismay, Jane was singing for someone else, Carl. He wondered if she realized the implications of her actions. Formally, she was his fiancée, but she was at a bar, singing for another man. Patrick's face darkened with anger, though his client was left perplexed, unsure of what had irked him.