CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: STILL HUNG UP ON HIM

For some reason, upon seeing it, the image of it pinned on Blake Sinclair’s suit popped into her mind.

It would look perfect.

She tapped the counter, "This one, please. Wrap it up for me."

The shop assistant opened her mouth in surprise, "Miss Crowe, this brooch is twice as expensive as the tie you reserved."

Celia Stiles turned her head sharply, "Senior!"

Holly Crowe smiled at her.

Blake Sinclair had helped her a lot recently, giving her dresses and treating her to meals. It was only normal to return the favor.

What worried her more was that someone like Blake Sinclair likely used only custom-made items.

Then she remembered the rumors about him refusing gifts.

Holly felt a little apprehensive.

Would he accept it?

Celia thought she was giving it to Zion Pence, anxiously pulling her hand, "Senior! You’re not still giving it to that jerk, are you?"

Holly patted her hand, "Don’t worry, it’s not for him, it’s for another friend."

Celia still looked skeptical.

Holly smiled, looked at the shop assistant, "Wrap it up, please, I’ll pay with my card."

"Sure! Right this way!"

Ten minutes later, Holly walked out of the store with a gift bag in hand.

Not far behind a pillar, Zion Pence silently watched her leave.

"Zion, what are you looking at?"

Mia Chapelle stepped up and took his arm, following his gaze, seeing only passersby.

Zion snapped back to reality, shaking his head.

Mia pointed to a nearby store, "My belly’s getting bigger again; let’s check out the clothes there."

She pointed to the store Holly had just left.

"Let’s go," he said blandly.

Once inside, Mia began trying on clothes under the enthusiastic recommendations of the staff, spinning around to ask if she looked good each time she came out.

Watching her, Zion felt inexplicably irritated.

Ever since Holly had discovered his relationship with Mia, she’d become more brazen, especially now that her pregnancy was known to his family.

His mother, upon learning of it, insisted he must have the child.

With newfound confidence, Mia began spending money lavishly.

Watching her try on outfits, seemingly never tiring, he thought of Holly.

Holly never spent money so extravagantly. Each time they went shopping, she’d never suggest buying things but would always buy for him.

Holly’s heart and mind were always on him; even his casual remarks stayed with her...

The more Zion thought about it, the more his chest felt heavy.

He got up, using a cigarette break as an excuse to head for the door.

As he passed the accessory counter, a clerk approached, "Sir, please have a look at our tie accessories, they suit your style well."

Zion offered a polite smile and glanced casually.

"Please take a look at this brooch, it’s a new arrival today, and the other one just got purchased."

Zion’s eyes narrowed, "Just bought?"

He remembered Holly carrying a bag just now.

The clerk smiled politely, "Yes, just purchased by a lady, looked like it was for her lover."

Lover?

Zion’s Adam’s apple bobbed, "Was it a woman with long hair, in a black dress?"

The clerk was taken aback, "Do you know Ms. Crowe?"

Zion’s heart found confirmation.

"Which one did she buy?"

"Pardon?"

Zion: "I want to see the brooch she bought."

The clerk smiled apologetically, "The last one in the store was purchased. May I show you the product picture instead?"

Zion nodded.

The clerk retrieved an iPad, pulled up the image, and presented it to Zion.

The moment he saw the picture, Zion’s chest thudded.

The design outline of the brooch looked very much like the letter ’Y’.

Yeh.

The answer in his heart was obvious.

His heart suddenly raced, his chest warming involuntarily.

Holly had bought this brooch for him.

His birthday was just a week away, and Holly still remembered.

Zion felt a vague delight.

Yes, you can’t just end a seven-year relationship so easily.

Thinking about it, what she said about canceling the engagement must have just been a fit of anger.

Thinking of this, the breath stuck in his chest suddenly dissipated.

Zion Pence looked down. Since Holly Crowe had given him a way out, it didn’t make sense for him not to take it.

Just as he was thinking this, he heard Mia Chapelle calling him.

He turned his head and saw Mia lifting her skirt as she walked over. She affectionately took his arm, "What are you looking at?"

Knowing that Holly hadn’t moved on, Zion’s mood improved greatly.

"Nothing much, just browsing around."

Mia’s inquisitive gaze shifted between him and the store clerk, her words carrying an unclear implication, "What’s so good to look at? People or ties?"

Zion frowned slightly, pulling his hand away.

He increasingly felt that Mia was no match for Holly and even suspected that her previous understanding demeanor was an act.

Did she think he didn’t know?

The last time she snooped through his phone without reason was bad enough; now she’s becoming suspicious just because he talks to someone else, so petty, nothing like the person she used to be!

Mia noticed he was upset and tugged at his sleeve, coaxing a bit as she apologized, "Alright, I know I was wrong. Emotional fluctuations are normal during pregnancy."

No matter how he felt, Zion wouldn’t argue with a pregnant woman, so he held back his temper.

Mia nudged his arm, "Alright, then accompany me to pick out some clothes."

With that, she took his arm, pulling him towards the women’s section. As they turned a corner, she casually glanced back, giving the clerk a harsh warning.

"Crazy," the clerk muttered, looking bewildered. "Paranoid, acting like your man is a treasure."

Zion accompanied Mia to buy four dresses and two pairs of shoes before they left.

Mia’s mood improved significantly.

After getting in the car, she shifted her weight to the left and leaned closer, startling Zion, who was fastening his seatbelt.

Pretending to be intimate, Mia leaned on his shoulder, "Zion, I didn’t mean it just now; I just care too much about you. After all, a successful young entrepreneur like you is quite popular with women out there."

No man dislikes hearing flattery and praise from a woman.

Zion was no exception.

At that moment, his male pride peaked.

"Alright, don’t do that next time."

"Mm, alright!"

Mia rubbed her head against his shoulder twice, then planted a kiss on his cheek.

The car slowly drove away.

Mia glanced at her phone, then turned off the screen, "Zion."

"Hmm."

"Grandma Pence’s birthday banquet is coming up soon. When do you plan to take me home?"

The traffic light turned red.

"Screech..."

Zion suddenly slammed on the brakes, and the tires screeched against the road.

Inside the car, the two were thrown forward by inertia.

"Ah!"

Mia screamed, instinctively protecting her belly. Luckily, the car stopped just a few centimeters from the car in front.

"Zion Pence, what are you doing!" Mia’s face was pale, and she was so anxious that she called out his full name.

But when he looked over, she gently touched her belly, looking as if she was about to cry, "I was just worried about the baby."

Zion said nothing, but his grip on the steering wheel turned white.

His mind was full of what Mia had just said.

Would Holly come to Grandma’s birthday?

After leaving the hospital that day, he found out that Holly had blocked him on WeChat and phone calls, withdrawn from all workgroups, as if trying to erase seven years of emotions.

He felt somewhat uneasy.

But then he remembered that today she had intentionally bought a brooch with his initials on it, so he felt there might still be room for reconciliation.

He knew Holly minded this child’s existence, but he had his own ways to handle it.

The family only wanted a grandson; it didn’t matter who the child’s mother was!

Thinking of this, he somehow felt more confident.

Zion turned to look at Mia in the passenger seat, "You’d better stay home for Grandma’s birthday."

"Why?" Mia instinctively retorted.

"What if you hurt yourself at such an event while you’re pregnant?"

"I’ll be careful. Besides, if Grandma knows she’s about to have a great-grandson, she would be very happy..."

Zion became a bit annoyed. If it were Holly, she would definitely listen to him. He interrupted her, "Enough! I said you can’t go, so you can’t go! Listen to me!"

Mia’s nails dug deeply into her palm, her chest heaving with anger.

Don’t think she didn’t know he still hadn’t moved on from Holly.

If Zion wouldn’t let her go, she had her ways! The child in her belly was her biggest leverage!

She had to attend Old Mrs. Pence’s birthday banquet, and she had to let everyone know she was the future mistress of the Pence family.

The Cayenne continued down the road.

The atmosphere inside the car was eerily calm!

In the enclosed car, for the first time, Zion felt that Mia’s perfume was so sickly sweet!