Chapter 368: Dress to the Nine

This trip to the small town filled a void in Zoey's heart and allowed me to enjoy a few peaceful days. After we landed, Carter resumed his pretense of being disabled. As we emerged from the arrival gate, Zoey, still exhilarated, glanced down at her phone to inform Bill and her mother of her arrival. Looking up, she saw Harlan's cold expression, and her cheerful demeanor instantly vanished. “Damn it! What bad luck!” she muttered.

Harlan stared at her silently before striding over, his face rigid. He practically ground his teeth as he asked, “Did you have fun?”

“Anywhere is paradise without you and that b*tch around,” she retorted.

I anticipated a fight, but surprisingly, Harlan restrained himself. “Grandma wants us to have dinner at the family house tonight,” he said.

I recalled Zoey mentioning that after the original Janice had fallen into the water, she'd become seriously ill. When Harlan's grandmother, Grace Pearson, heard, she immediately came to check on her, even summoning a medical team. Zoey, deeply caring and filial, treated the elderly couple with respect despite her intense dislike for Harlan.

“Alright. I’ll go check on them, and while I’m at it, I’ll tell them about our divorce,” Zoey said, then looked at me. “Sis, we’ll catch up later.”

“Okay, call me if you need anything.”

“Don’t worry; I won’t let him get the better of me.” I had no doubt. Bill now knew her true identity and wouldn't let Zoey suffer. Even though Bill wasn't in Jaford, the Gardners were a powerful family there, with plenty of watchful eyes on his daughter. He wouldn't allow her to suffer. If Harlan pushed her too far, I could easily imagine Bill arriving by helicopter to… well, let's just say things wouldn't end well for Harlan.

We parted ways. Carter and I got into the car. Looking out at the bustling city, my mind felt stranded in that peaceful, secluded place.

“How much longer do we need to stay in Jaford?” I asked.

“Around a week. There’s a lot to handle here,” Carter said, playfully ruffling my hair. “If you get bored, you can meet up with Zoey for some shopping. By the way, the Whites are having a banquet tomorrow night. Do you want to go?”

“Are you talking about the Whites we’ve been investigating?” I asked.

“Yes.”

“Sure, let’s see what we can find out.” I smiled faintly. “Since I married you, I’ve never had the chance to attend a banquet with you.”

“This will be a good opportunity to announce our marriage,” Carter replied. “I’ll have someone bring over your dress later.”

The past few months had been like living in a shadow. Since the night I was attacked by the river, I’d confined myself to the memory of that moment, forgetting that winter’s snow had melted and spring had arrived. Zoey had begun a new life. It was time for me to embrace my new role as Mrs. Bolon. This was Carter's world, his domain, his network. His friends were all here in Jaford. I wanted to understand him better.

I cared a great deal about the upcoming banquet. I even used a face mask, trimmed my nails, and applied nail polish. Thankfully, Zoey's physical condition was excellent; she was young and beautiful and didn’t need much preparation to look great. But for me, this was my first public appearance with Carter, so I wanted to be meticulous.

When Carter entered, he found me applying body lotion, struggling to reach my back. “I’ll help you,” he said.

His warm palm against my lower back sent shivers down my spine. His actions grew bolder. “Carter, not tonight. I have to wear a dress tomorrow.”

“I’ll be careful. I won’t leave any marks.” He pushed me against the bathroom counter, and his lips found mine.

The next day, Carter was busy in the office. I received a message from Zoey asking if I wanted to go to the banquet. I replied that I was going, and she quickly responded that she would join me. I didn’t know anyone here, so having a companion made sense. Besides, given her temperament, she wouldn't want to go with Harlan.

After all, Harlan had married the original Janice three years ago and never once taken her out. People only knew he was secretly married but had no idea what his wife looked like. This would be their first public appearance as a couple.

Zoey ignored Harlan and came to my house in the afternoon for styling. After more than a day without seeing her, she rushed into my arms like a child. “Chloe. I missed you so much.”

I smiled at her, this girl with the emotional age of someone eight years younger than me. “Did you finalize the divorce?”

Her expression fell. “Don’t remind me. Grace’s health isn’t great. She’s still in the hospital after a heart attack. If I bring up the divorce now, I’ll worsen her condition. So, I signed a one-year contract with him. After a year, we’ll divorce.”

“He agreed?”

“He had to, for Grace. But for the next year, we’ll have to pretend to be happily married in front of them. It’s disgusting.”

I couldn’t comment on other people’s relationships, so I just smiled. “Just treat him like air. Let me see your dress.”

She showed me a silver, cut-out dress. “It’s beautiful, right? I tried something different, just like you suggested.” I sighed with relief. Thank goodness she didn’t go for the dark, edgy style. The dress had a slit, and the back was connected by five thin silver chains, shimmering and seductive.

“I guarantee that in this dress, everyone at the party will be mesmerized by you,” I said.

Zoey’s eyes sparkled. “Great! Dad told me not to get stuck on just one guy, to keep my options open, and to find a caring man. After a year, we can smoothly transition.”

It was hard to imagine those words coming from Bill, but considering Zoey’s past, I understood. In her previous life, she'd been blind to Ashley’s true nature, unwilling to let go of that toxic relationship. If she'd had more options, she might not have clung to him so desperately. Bill's thinking was simple: it was better for his daughter to disappoint the world than for the world to disappoint her.

My dress was simple yet elegant: an ivory mermaid gown with sparkling diamonds scattered along the flared bottom. Almost nothing was exposed except my neck and arms. Carter had a hand in it; he didn’t want me revealing too much. His possessiveness didn’t bother me at all.

Zoey was drop-dead gorgeous tonight. I knew she would look beautiful in the dress; Janice already had a fiery figure. The open back showcased her smooth, fair skin and slender waist. The slit revealed her long, toned legs. With the jewelry and makeup, I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and I could only imagine the way men would be captivated tonight.

But Zoey, despite her beauty, was oblivious. “Do you think this is too revealing? I feel like I’m an old house with leaks; the wind is coming in everywhere, and it’s so cold.”

I chuckled softly and said, “It’s perfect.”

When Harlan found out Zoey was with me, he arrived with Carter to pick her up. As Zoey stepped out the door, his eyes, initially full of impatience, widened in disbelief. He stood there, stunned.