Chapter 558
Chapter 558:
With a playful wink, Fernanda teased, “So, Jalen, how many gowns did you sell?”
“Quite a few!” Jalen replied, his laughter filling the room. “They bought the ready-made ones, and even more exciting, many placed custom orders. I’ll be busy for a while—probably until next summer!” Another laugh escaped Jalen, his joy palpable.
Creating gowns was more than just a job for Jalen—it was his true passion. His designs kept that timeless style intact, unlike the trendier, modern pieces many shops favored. He often felt that new styles lacked substance.
Despite his passion, many people dismissed his designs as outdated, which was why Jalen had never invested much in advertising. He’d tried in the past, spending considerable amounts, but the results were always disappointing.
Through those experiences, he realized that his creations were meant for those who truly valued and understood them.
Jalen’s excitement was unmistakable. After all, how could he not be thrilled to finally attract such discerning customers?
Hours slipped by as Jalen and Fernanda chatted, lost in conversation. Before either of them knew it, lunchtime had arrived.
As they sat down to eat, Fernanda asked, almost absentmindedly, “Has Zane come back yet?”
At once, the atmosphere around the table shifted. A heavy silence hung in the air. Realizing her mistake, Fernanda immediately regretted the question.
Meilani was the first to break the silence, forcing a somewhat strained smile. “Zane is busy with work and couldn’t make it back today.”
“Yeah, Zane’s out of town. He mentioned his company has a new project, so he didn’t come back,” Carrie added, serving some food to Fernanda and urging her enthusiastically, “Try this. How does it taste today? Is it as good as last time?”
The table was filled with dishes, each as flavorful as the next. Fernanda nodded while eating, her face lighting up with praise. “Delicious, as expected.”
Lᴧtєѕt ϲhαptєrs 𝑖n g𝓪l𝑛ovєl𝑆.𝗰𝑂m
Meilani’s expression immediately brightened. “If you like it, have some more. Bobby helped me prepare the meal today!”
Hearing his name, Bobby perked up, patted his chest, and gave himself a playful thumbs-up.
“Well done,” Fernanda complimented, laughing.
Bobby took a large bite of food, only to nearly jump out of his chair from the heat. Laughter rippled through the table at his exaggerated reaction. Once he managed to swallow, he grinned. “If we come here a few more times, I’ll learn how to cook.”
“Yes, you have talent,” Meilani nodded in agreement. “Once you’ve mastered it, you can cook for Fernanda.”
Bobby promised, “I will.”
Through all this, Jalen remained mostly silent, his mood noticeably subdued. Fernanda couldn’t help but notice that his frustration seemed to begin when she mentioned Zane Gibson.
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