Third Person’s POV


    The manager was offering Gloria a way to save face. If she agreed, the jewelry could be stored under the pretense of consignment, allowing her to retain some dignity.


    Gloria visibly rxed, her iron–grey eyes losing some tension, and she smiled gratefully, tears still welling <ol><li>up<b>. </b></li></ol>


    But this smile looked kind of pitiful. Even her pheromones became softer.


    Before she could speak, Sabrina pouted and left shallow silver–grey w marks on the jewelry box. “No need for consignment. I’m taking this back to the pack today. You can send someone to our ce for payment.”


    The sulfuric pheromones turned sharp again, carrying an air of unquestionable stubbornness.


    The manager looked at Sabrina and said with a smile, “Ma’am, that’s perfectly eptable. We have many. more ruby hairpiece designs in our collection. Would you like to see a few more options?”


    Sabrina nced up to see a shop assistant entering with a silver tray.


    She immediately recognized that the jewelry on the tray was nowhere near the caliber of what she was holding–it must have been brought up from the first or second floor.


    She instantly clutched the jewelry box to her chest. “No, this is the one I want.”


    Rosemary was clearly growing annoyed. “Why bother looking at more? We’ve made our choice. What’s the issue here? We’ll go back with your assistant to get a check. Enough with the chatter.”


    The manager, experienced in dealing with all sorts of customers, knew this wasn’t an ordinary case of a mother and daughter shopping for jewelry.


    The elderlydy didn’t seem old enough to control the family finances. Typically, she would be the one authorizing such a purchase.


    Yet the youngerdy appeared on the verge of tears, clearly struggling to cover the cost.


    It seemed they were pressuring her into buying it.


    In a high–end store like the Golden Jewelry Store, where the youngerdy was hesitant to lose face, she was enduring her tears and feeling helpless.


    As the situation threatened to stall, ady in simple attire emerged from a private room.


    With a gentle presence and soft voice, she asked, “Manager, wasn’t this ruby hairpiece reserved for me? Why is it being sold to someone else?”


    Everyone looked up, and Gloria’s face drained of color.


    They recognized thedy–Lte, whose uncle was Dudley from the Royal Constabry.


    She had married Marsh, who had sacrificed alongside Eugene.


    After Marsh’s death, Lte stayed in the Hornbeam Pack and adopted a son.


    Lte had intended to help Gloria out of kindness.


    Unaware of the public’sparison between the two women following Gloria’s return to the Ironw Pack, Lte, still grieving her husband’s loss, hadn’t realized the external gossip.


    She stepped in, thinking fellow sufferers deserved mutual support, but her intervention backfired.


    Gloria immediately lifted her head and said, “The attendant didn’t mention it was reserved for you. If Sabrina wants it, then she shall have it. Manager, please send an attendant with me to the pack <i>to </i>collect the check.”


    Lte and the manager were taken aback.


    Meeting Gloria’s gaze, Lte saw coldness and a hint of resentment in her eyes.


    After a pause, she said softly, “Very well, I’ll choose another set,” and hurried back to the private room she’d been in, disappearing behind the beaded curtain.


    Paisley was stunned. Had Gloria lost her mind?


    Thedy had meant to help, yet Gloriashed out.


    Was there some grudge between them?


    Yet thedy seemed utterly harmless, with a kind–hearted expression and a look ofpassion towards


    Gloria.


    As Gloria straightened her back and escorted Rosemary and Sabrina downstairs, Paisley returned to the private room. Leaning on the disy case, she asked the shopkeeper, “Do you know who thatdy is?”


    The shopkeeper, though not having seen her, likely recognized the voice as most third–floor customers were regrs.


    He replied with a smile, “Ma’am, that was Lte from the Hornbeam Pack. She’s a very kind–hearteddy, and her husband, General Marsh, is highly respected and missed by the public.”


    The phrase “respected and missed” revealed much.


    Both had lost their husbands in battle, making them kindred spirits. Lte had only wanted to help Gloria, but her attempt had been rebuffed, leaving her embarrassed.


    Adide, upon hearing Lte’s identity, understood the situation but didn’t borate further.


    Instead, she asked Zelda which pieces she’d chosen and mentioned buying another gift for the somewhat naive Prisci, who hadn’t been brought along today and was likely upset.


    The reason for excluding Prisci was her past involvement in the Golden Jewelry Store with Wanda, where designs were copied from others. She didn’t want Prisci to feel ashamed or awkward.


    Once the pink diamond headpiece design was finalized and several other pieces selected, Zelda hugged


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    Adide and proimed her adoration.


    The shopkeeper, observing them, couldn’t help but smile unlike the carlier tension between Sabrina and Gloria, Adide and Zelda exemplified genuine closeness and harmony.