A Graduation Gift

The exquisite gown was sure to catch everyone's attention. Cassandra was as calm as ever, looking at the mirror. Her beauty was breathtaking.

She politely nodded her head to the designer.

"Michelle, thank you so much. May I get my tailored dress?"

Michelle nodded in acknowledgment. She pointed to one of the inner rooms proudly.

"It's there in that room. Try it out and see."

Then she looked at Cloris, mildly curious.

"You are... ?"

Cassandra was about to introduce her sister to Michelle, but before she had a chance, Cloris extended her hand and introduced herself, "Nice to meet you, Michelle. My name is Cloris. I am the younger sister of Cassandra!"

To her surprise, Michelle didn't shake her hand. She just nodded, acknowledging Cloris in a half-hearted manner.

Cloris pulled her hand back in embarrassment. She was dreaming of connecting with this famous designer but got a flat-out rejection. She couldn't believe it, having been the center of attention all her life.

Cassandra had heard about how proud Michelle was. Now she had witnessed it in person. This side of Michelle was really unique from other people.

'If Rufus hadn't asked the favor from Michelle to customize my dress, I might have not even been able to see her.

But... How did Rufus get to know about Michelle?' Cassandra wondered.

Pulling herself back from the reverie, she spoke to break the awkward silence, "Cloris had heard about you a long time ago. She is an admirer of you! I have brought her to ask a favor from you. Could you help her select a gown to the wine party next week?"

Cassandra glanced at the luxuriant dresses hanging in the room, beaming with adoration.

"It is an honor to have the opportunity to wear a dress designed by you," she added.

Michelle looked at Cassandra from head to toe, then at Cloris, paused for a short while, and turned to retrieve a dress.

for a tailored one, it would take at least one month. It's impossible to make it this soon. So I will select one from my collection. This one should

of Chinese symbols, with lace strips decorating the

and told Cloris, "Try it out

took the gown and dashed to

conundrum. 'If customizing a dress takes one month, does that

advance for

in her eyes, she said, "Try your dress as well. Rufus gave me your measurements. Let's see if it

blushed. 'Did Rufus give Michelle my measurements? How could he reveal such private information to another

her body. 'Could he measure out my sizes with bare hands?' Suddenly she went red at the thought. 'Gosh, how could I think of such a thing?' She blamed herself for the shameless thoughts.

Cloris had already finished dressing and was checking how the dress fit

Cloris could hardly believe her

It was covered with a thin voile, as

scattered with shiny diamonds that looked like pearls floating on the ocean. a

her fair shoulders, covered under a voile. The translucency of the voile added

she needed was just one glance to judge the fitness of the dress. She commented, "It fits you well. I

piece. However, when she saw how beautiful her older sister

feigned smile, she praised Cassandra, forcing sincerity,

compliment and whispered into Cassandra's ear, "Rufus has a great

which looked like the dress of a fairy-tale princess. The face of Rufus

anxious to see me

of the door. After they left, her assistant walked briskly towards Michelle and whispered into her ear, "Just now, before they left, I

moment

the dress," she ordered coolly.

and walked away. An ironic smile crept on

envious girl... You'll soon be in great trouble, ' Michelle warned

went back to their own rooms. The moment Cassandra stepped

"Are you

dark, Rufus' eyes pierced hers, which made her shudder.

really

as if to pretend that he didn't notice anything wrong with the her. It was his quaint way of protecting her