Marie linked her arm through Jenny's as they walked into the boutique.
"Honestly, Jenny, if you keep sulking like this, people will think you're rehearsing for some tragic drama." She grinned.
Jenny rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. "You dragged me here against my will. Don't expect me to suddenly turn into a shopping queen."
Heidi, already browsing through a rack of scarves, looked back with a laugh. "Oh, please. We used to call you the 'queen of colors.' You'd match ribbons to pencils back in school. Don't act so innocent."
Jenny chuckled softly. "That was different. Back then, life was... simpler."
Marie sighed dramatically. "Simpler? You mean when the three of us were running around the schoolyard, plotting to save the world? Remember when the teachers called us the 'Three Musketeers'?"
Heidi smiled warmly. "I remember. And you two made me carry all the snacks."
Marie shot her a playful look. "Scholarship perks, darling. You had brains, we had money. A fair balance."
Heidi laughed, shaking her head. "And now look where we are. Me, stuck in the hospital with patients all day. You, Miss Political Science, ready to take over parliament one speech at a time. And Jenny-" She paused meaningfully, her eyes softening. "Still chasing her paints and brushes."
Jenny's gaze turned wistful. "Painting has always been my escape. Do you remember Adrian? He was the one who pushed me to paint seriously. Back then, I didn't even know who he really was. Just... the boy leading the art club. The one who taught me how to hold a brush properly."
Marie leaned forward, her tone teasing but affectionate. "The way you used to stare at him, Jenny. If looks could paint, you'd have covered the whole school wall."
Jenny blushed, lowering her eyes. "Stop it, Marie."
Heidi placed a hand on Jenny's arm, her voice gentle. "It's not silly. Sometimes the people who touch our lives when we're young... they stay with us forever. Even if everything else changes."
For a moment, silence hung between them as memories flooded back-laughter in school corridors, whispered secrets during exams, dreams about the future.
Then Marie clapped her hands, breaking the mood. "Alright, enough nostalgia. Jenny, today we are buying you something bright. Something that screams, 'I'm still alive and fabulous.' Because musketeers don't drown in sadness, they fight."
Jenny laughed, finally giving in. "Fine. But only if you two promise to help me pick. Otherwise, I'll end up with another boring white dress."
Heidi grinned. "Deal. But no white. You need colors, Jenny. Like your paintings. Like the girl who used to fill our notebooks with doodles and swore she'd paint the world."
Marie nudged her. "Exactly. So let's start with that red dress. It might just remind you of who you really are."
The girls had just finished their shopping and settled into a quiet corner of the restaurant when Marie suddenly waved at someone across the room.
"Christopher!" she called, her face lighting up.
A tall man with sharp features and an air of confidence walked toward them. He smiled warmly at Marie. "Marie. What a surprise."
Marie rose to greet him with a friendly hug. "It's been ages. Come, sit with us. Meet my friends."
Christopher glanced at the table, his gaze immediately landing on Jennifer. She shifted uncomfortably, her fingers tightening around her coffee cup.
"This is Dr. Heidi Shaw, my partner in crime since high school," Marie said cheerfully. "And this-" She paused with a teasing smile. "This is Jennifer."
Christopher extended his hand politely. "Pleasure to meet you, Jennifer."
Jennifer hesitated for a moment before shaking it. "Likewise." Her voice was soft, almost too careful.
Marie, oblivious to Jenny's unease, added with a laugh, "You probably already know who she is. Jennifer Smith."
Christopher's eyebrows lifted slightly, though his smile never wavered. "Smith?" His eyes lingered on her, sharper now. "So you're Peter Smith's daughter, Jason Smith's cousin?"
Jenny forced a polite nod. "Yes."
"Well, that's... unexpected. What a small world." His tone was light, but there was something calculated in his gaze. He leaned back in his chair, studying her. "Your father is a remarkable man. And now I see he has a remarkable daughter as well."
Jennifer flushed, unsure how to respond. "That's... kind of you."
Marie cut in, laughing. "Don't flatter her too much, Christopher. Jenny is already impossible when people praise her paintings."
Christopher's interest sharpened. "Paintings?"
Jennifer shifted, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's what I study."
"Then beauty runs both in your work and in yourself," Christopher said smoothly, his voice almost a whisper.
Jenny's eyes widened slightly. She wasn't used to such direct compliments-at least, not from someone like him. Adrian's voice, always laced with unspoken passion, flashed in her memory, making her heart twist.
Marie noticed the flicker in Jenny's expression and quickly spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "Don't mind him, Jenny. Christopher has been trained in the art of charming women since birth. Family talent, I suppose."
Christopher chuckled, unfazed. "Perhaps. But I only speak the truth." His eyes flickered back to Jennifer, a lingering softness hidden behind their calculating glint.
Heidi, who had been watching quietly, leaned forward with a curious smile. "So, Christopher, how long are you planning to stay in the city?"
Christopher leaned back in his chair, the confident ease of a man who already knew his next move.
"You know," he said casually, "I've been considering shifting more of my focus here. Davenport International has long roots in this country, and it feels... natural to return."
Marie brightened. "Really? So you're not just visiting this time?"
Christopher smiled, his gaze flickering briefly toward Jennifer before answering. "No. This time it's different. I want to establish a base here. Build, invest... and perhaps even settle down with a family of my own."
Jennifer's fingers froze on her coffee cup. Her throat felt tight, though she forced herself to keep her face neutral.
"That's wonderful," Marie said sincerely. "Your parents will be happy to see you take more responsibility here."
"Yes," Christopher replied, his voice smooth, but there was a quiet weight beneath it. "And I think... alliances matter more than ever now. Strong families, stronger ties. A good marriage is as important as any business venture."
His words weren't directed at Marie, nor at Heidi. His eyes rested firmly on Jennifer.
Jenny lowered her gaze, feeling heat rise to her cheeks. She knew what he was implying, and her father's voice echoed in her head-This is the man who can secure our future.
Marie, sensing the sudden tension, quickly added, "Well, I'm sure the right woman will be lucky to have you, Christopher."
Christopher's lips curved slightly, his gaze still unwavering on Jennifer. "Perhaps luck has nothing to do with it. Sometimes, destiny just... presents itself."
Jennifer's chest tightened. She gave a small, polite smile, trying to mask the storm inside her. To him, she was not just a woman-she was a key, a bridge, a prize. And yet, despite his charm, her heart whispered only one name. Adrian.