<h4>Chapter 176: Stayed Single</h4>


    Rain arrived at the boutique just in time, meeting her Aunt Mnie, who hade with Rico. Without wasting a moment, Rain whisked her aunt away and began picking out clothes—daily outfits, casual wear, formal attire, and much more.


    "Rain, this isn’t necessary! Look how expensive all these things are. It’s too much. I don’t need all this!" her aunt protested, but Rain brushed her off.


    "I’m only getting you a week’s worth of clothes, Aunt," Rain replied with a yful pout. "Come on, try everything on and choose more. Trust me, it’s better to pick what you like, or you’ll end up with a walk-in closet stuffed with random things!" she added with a grin, whispering to Aunt Mnie about how her father-inw had done that to her closet.


    "You see, Alexander brought us here, and it wouldn’t feel right to turn down his kindness. Please, make my husband happy and get everything you need." She then signalled the manager, who immediately came over to assist her aunt.


    While Aunt Mnie was in the fitting room, Rain sat beside Alexander, who had been quietly watching her from the couch.


    "I’m going to melt under your gaze," she teased, and Alexander simply smiled, pulling her closer. Rainfortably leaned on his shoulder, her eyes drifting to the dressing room where her aunt was trying on clothes.


    "You know, my aunt is the reason I’m where I am today," Rain said thoughtfully. "When I was twelve, she secretly gave me the money she had saved without my father knowing. My stepmother didn’t want me to continue high school, and my father refused to support me, but Aunt Mnie made sure I did."


    "Your aunt is a remarkable woman," Alexander said softly.


    Rain’s eyes welled up as she whispered, "Yes, she is. During senior high, I caught her skipping in buying things she needed despite the money my father gave her every month. She was saving it all so I could continue on to college. That’s when I pushed myself even harder. I applied for and got a schrship, and took on part-time jobs."


    "And you’re a remarkable woman too," Alexander praised as he patted and then kissed her head.


    Rain smiled, feeling a warmth she rarely experienced, especially after years of hearing nothing but harsh words in the yton household.


    "Ah, I guess I was lucky to have Clifford back then—he was great at managing my money. He managed to double or even triple what I asked him to keep for me," she added with a grin, half-expecting Alexander to join in the praise. But he said nothing.


    Curious, Rain shifted to look at him. "No praise for Clifford? Like how great he was?" she teased with a yful grin.


    Alexander frowned slightly before replying, "Yeah, I guess he’s good at his job."


    She chuckled, poking his side. "Don’t tell me you’re jealous of my friend! Clifford’s a nice guy. Be nice to him—I’m sure you two will get along just fine. You did when you were Chubby and Enigma, right?"


    "Well, I’ll try to be nice to him. But you’re right... I guess I’m jealous of him since he spent so much time with you. The two of you practically grew up together," Alexander confessed.


    Rain’s cheeks flushed deeply at his bold admission. He casually admitted he was jealous. Then again, he had told her before that he liked her. Could this mean they could toss the four-month marriage contract aside now? He’d even apologized earlier for ckmailing her into keeping the marriage if she agreed to have a baby.


    ’Maybe I should rify it with himter,’ she thought. It was better to know if they were on the same pagemunication was key, after all.


    It didn’t take long for Aunt Mnie to finish her fitting. She chose a few outfits, but Rain added more essentials like underwear andfortable daily clothes. After shopping, the three of them went to a fine dining restaurant with a stunning view of the city lights.


    "I can’t remember thest time I ate at a restaurant like this," Aunt Mnie said, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the smooth, rxing music yed by the pianist.


    "If you epted Uncle Ben as your boyfriend, I’m sure he’d take you to ces like this all the time!" Rain teased, making her aunt blush. "It’s obvious he’s smitten with you. Like Father-inw said, it’s love at first sight!"


    "Rain, stop that," Aunt Mnie scolded, ncing at Alexander, embarrassed. She quickly turned to him and asked, "Did Uncle Ben ever have a wife or girlfriend?"


    Alexander shook his head. "As far as I know, he’s stayed single since he started working as my father’s assistant. I remember Dad teasing him to move out and get a life—maybe find a rtionship or get married—but Uncle Ben always said he was toozy for all that. I think... he just hasn’t met someone he’s wanted to pursue."


    Rain’s eyes sparkled as she looked at her aunt, whose face was glowing and blushing. There was no way Aunt Mnie would react like that if Uncle Ben didn’t have some effect on her!


    In the middle of dinner, Aunt Mnie excused herself to go to the restroom. "I’ll go with you," Rain offered, but her aunt shook her head with a reassuring smile. "Rain, it’s not like I can’t go to the restroom by myself. Let me enjoy feeling like a normal person for a bit."


    Rain nodded, though she kept her eyes on her aunt until she reached the restroom area.


    Once Aunt Mnie was out of sight, Rain voiced something she’d been thinking about for a while. "The process of getting Aunt Mnie her freedom would be much easier if she got married. We wouldn’t have to fight for her shares in yton University Hospital or her inheritance from their parents—none of that matters. What truly matters is freeing Aunt Mnie from my father’splete guardianship over her."


    She paused, ncing at Alexander. "Finding someone reliable for her to trust with everything has been difficult, especially with my father’s influence. He could easily manipte any man Aunt Mnie marries—unless it’s someone like Uncle Ben."