Chapter <b>61 </b>
Jane hesitated for a moment, about to say something, but one of her friends suddenly called her over.
“I’ll be right back. You go ahead and hang out for a bit.”
“Okay.”
+15 <b>BONUS </b>
After Jane left, Liz sipped a few sses of fruit wine. Her head started to feel a little fuzzy, so she found a quiet spot to rest for a while.
She hadn’t nned on falling asleep, but before she knew it, she had dozed off. By the time she woke up, the private room was still buzzing with music andughter.
ncing at her phone, Liz saw that it was already past eleven. She had been asleep for over an hour. Since Jane didn’t seem anywhere near done for the night, Liz waved to let her know she was heading out and quietly slipped
away.
As she stepped outside the lounge, she was surprised to see snowkes drifting down from the sky.
A spark of joy lit up her eyes.
Winters in Stanley City were bitterly cold, but it rarely ever snowed. In all her years growing up, she could only remember it happening once or twice.
She stood at the entrance, gazing up at the falling snow as she waited for her driver. A soft smile yed on her lips. From the second–floor balcony of a private suite, a tall man stood by the window, silently watching her from above.
His face was half–shrouded in darkness, but the sharp lines of his features and the cold,manding air around him were still unmistakable.
Suddenly, a curious voice spoke from behind. “William, what are you looking at?”
“Nothing.”
He turned slightly, blocking the other person’s view.
“Tch. So secretive.”
The other man pretended to walk away with him, but then quickly doubled back and ran over to the balcony, trying to catch a glimpse of whatever had grabbed William’s attention.
But all he saw was the tail end of a car pulling away and the now–empty front entrance of the lounge.
Disappointed, he muttered, “Seriously? I thought you were checking out some girl. But you were just staring at the front door? What’s so interesting about that?”
William raised an eyebrow. “I already told you it was nothing. You’re the one who wouldn’t let it go.”
“Whatever.”
By the time Liz got home, it was nearly midnight.
While showering, she suddenly remembered that next Sunday was Jane’s birthday. She decided she would head to the mall the next morning to pick out a gift.
When she woke up and opened the window, the city outside had transformed into a winter wondend. Thick snow nketed the roads and sidewalks, and it looked like the snowfall overnight had been heavy.
Several snowmen dotted thewn below. Children wereughing and chasing each other through the snow, their excited shrieks ringing through the cold air.
Watching them bundled up in their coats, running freely across thewn, Liz felt her own mood lift without even realizing it.
By the time she finished breakfast and got dressed, it was already past ten.
She wrapped a thick cashmere scarf around her neck, pulled on a hat and earmuffs, and headed out.
She drove to thergest shopping mall in Stanley City, parked in the underground lot, and took the elevator up to the third floor. She walked straight toward a jewelry store in the northeast corner.
Jane had always loved diamond jewelry, so Liz usually bought her either a ne, bracelet, or pair of earrings each year.
As soon as she stepped inside, a friendly sales associate approached with a warm smile.
“Hi there, wee. Are you looking for anything in particr today?”
“I’m thinking of getting either earrings or a bracelet.”
“Of course. Right this way.”
Liz followed her through the store. But just as they turned a corner, she froze.
Not far ahead, at a case filled with engagement rings, sat Zac and Xena.
Xena was holding a ring in her hand, speaking to him in a low voice.
Zac was smiling as he looked at her, his expression soft and full of affection, not bothering to hide it one bit.
When she woke up and opened the window, the city outside had transformed into a winter wondend. Thick snow nketed the roads and sidewalks, and it looked like the snowfall overnight had been heavy.
Several snowmen dotted thewn below. Children wereughing and chasing each other through the snow, their excited shrieks ringing through the cold air.
Watching them bundled up in their coats, running freely across thewn, Liz felt her own mood lift without even realizing it.
By the time she finished breakfast and got dressed, it was already past ten.
She wrapped a thick cashmere scarf around her neck, pulled on a hat and earmuffs, and headed out.
She drove to thergest shopping mall in Stanley City, parked in the underground lot<b>, </b>and took the elevator up to the third floor. She walked straight toward a jewelry store in the northeast corner.
Jane had always loved diamond jewelry, so Liz usually bought her either a ne, bracelet<b>, </b>or pair of earrings each year.
As soon as she stepped inside, a friendly sales associate approached with a warm smile.
“Hi there, wee. Are you looking for anything in particr today?”
“I’m thinking of getting either earrings or a bracelet.”
“Of course. Right this way.”
Liz followed her through the store. But just as they turned a corner, she froze.
Not far ahead, at a case filled with engagement rings, sat Zac and Xena.
Xena was holding a ring in her hand, speaking to him in a low voice.
Zac was smiling as he looked at her, his expression soft and full of affection, not bothering to hide it one bit.