Leap OF Fate novel Chapter 83

Mary closed her boutique for Crystal’s fitting. She’s such a big consumer of her clothing line, she did not mind giving her the white glove treatment.

As a rising celebrity, Crystal wearing her clothes was free advertisement she needed to float her name in the circle. She knew that hers and Justin’s engagement party would put her creation in the spotlight and would open opportunities for her.

“Ms. Lewis, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Rain is here,” her secretary advised. She frowned a little. Justin’s here? He must love Crystal so much to accompany her in a fitting, it’s not even her wedding gown yet. Her lips stretched into a bitter smile. Truly, nothing is permanent. Five years ago, this man doted on her best friend. Now, he’s here accompanying another woman to fit a dress which was hand painted by his former lover no less. What a twist of Fate!

“Crystal, Justin,” Mary greeted the two who quietly sat side by side on the couch.

“Mary,” Crystal said and getting out of her seat to give her a hug.

Justin just continued sitting and looked as if the world owed him money. Mary just ignored him and guided Crystal into the changing room where her dress hung by the window.

Crystal could not help but give a little scream upon laying her eyes on the dress. She already loved Mary’s dress as it is, but with the hand-painted flowers, it elevated the dress further. She couldn’t wait to try it on.

Crystal stood in front of the full-length mirror and admired herself. She did not know how many times she told Mary how much she loved it. She looked like a nature sprite. The painting gave an illusion that the flowers danced at her every move.

“Do you want to show it to him?” Mary asked.

“Yes.”

“Ok. Do you want me to call him over or do you want to go out of the dressing room?”

Crystal thought for a while and said, “I think it’ll be more romantic if I walked out of here, what do you think?”

“You’re right. I’ll tell him you’re going out then.”

Mary walked out the dressing room and cleared her throat exaggeratedly, successfully getting Justin’s attention.

“Mr. Rain, Ms. Smith is coming out.”

As if on cue, soon as Mary uttered the word ‘out’ Crystal glided out of the dressing room. She’s tempted to roll her eyes on Crystal’s exaggerated walk.

Justin’s eyes surveyed the dress with an expressionless face. It’s exquisitely made. Truly, the best friends were an example of a great partnership, and their talents complemented each other. He saw how detailed the painting was. Indeed, it’s masterfully crafted. As a son of an artist, he knew how much work a piece of art entailed, and just looking at all the details done on the dress, he felt his heart swell with pride for Serene. Art was indeed her domain.

“Well?” Crystal asked when she could no longer wait in suspense.

“This is it?” Justin spat, his brows raised as he surveyed the dress in disdain. “Is this all the world-renowned Felicity Pax could do? I’ve seen better wallpapers,” he said, sounding bored.

Both Mary’s and Crystal’s jaws dropped at his comment. Both women looked at each other, then at Justin. Mary’s face was red as an apple at his comment. She could accept if he said that the dress was unflattering or ugly even, but Serene’s painting? Is he kidding her? Didn’t he see the details her friend put on each piece of flower? It looked so realistic, it wouldn’t be a surprise if somebody tried to pull a petal off from it.

“Jus-Justin, are you sure? Maybe you need to have a closer look to appreciate the details—”

“I’m a son of an artist, in case both of you have forgotten. I know art when I see one. And this,” his hand pointed at the dress, his nose scrunched as if he smelled something foul, “this is garbage.”

“Excuse me, Mr. Rain, but I don’t quite agree with you. Let’s forget that it’s Felicity Pax who made this and just look at the craftsmanship—”

“What craftsmanship are you talking about, Ms. Lewis? I think both of you were just blinded. Crystal, by the fame behind the name, and you for being her best friend. But if you’ll be objective about it, you’ll see how tacky it is.”

“You!” Mary’s nose flared in anger. Her nails dug into her palms as her hands balled into fists.

“I’m not as bad as you think I am, Mary. I’ll give you and your friend 3 days to make another one,” he said as he walked closer to Mary. “Tell her to hand over my children,” he said for her ears only, then again loudly, “that, or you can say goodbye to your design career because I will make sure that you won’t have a single client come to your doorway.”

Mary paled at his demands. Her eyes met his, and all he saw was rage.

Justin strode out of her boutique, not even bothering to wait for Crystal to change back into her clothes.

Mary felt her strength leaving her and just slumped on the floor like a pool of goop.

“Mary, I’m sorry. I don’t understand why he said those. But you saw how much I appreciated the dress. Yours and Serene’s work are exceptional. Men don’t appreciate these things,” Crystal sat beside Mary and stroked her back, but Mary heard none of them.

Justin’s putting a pressure on her. He wanted her to choose between Serene and her career. She did not have to choose. It’ll always be Serene. She’s her sister, but she felt sorry for the career she painstakingly worked. It’s her life’s work. She did not doubt Justin’s words. Although her family had some clout of its own, she did not want to drag them into the mess.

She hated Justin more now than she hated him five years ago. He’s ruthless and treated Serene as if her feelings did not matter. Hand over the twins? Did he know what he was talking about? Serene almost died for those two. Did he expect her to just deliver them to him wrapped up with a bow?

Justin knew how much Mary mattered to Serene. He’s more than a hundred percent sure that she’d come to him to plead for Mary. He hated what he did to Mary. But then all is fair in love and war.