Rural Belle & Three Heirs

Rena's behavior left Chloe puzzled, so she decided to ask her about it.

Rena took Chloe's hand, her eyes brimming with a mix of complexity and helplessness. She kept her gaze lowered, her voice barely above a whisper, as if afraid the walls themselves might overhear. "Chloe, it's not that simple," she murmured. "The thing between me and Michael... it can't be out in the open."

"Why not? Back in Oceancrest City, Michael held your hand and told everyone you were his girlfriend. Why can't people know now?" Chloe was genuinely confused.

To her, dating was something to be proud of. If Michael chose to be with Rena, he should let Rena stand proudly in front of everyone.

What was he playing at now?

"Chloe, Michael is a celebrity. We have an agreement. I promised him I wouldn't make our relationship public," Rena explained.

Rena's words made Chloe think back to that time in Oceancrest City. Michael had grabbed Rena's hand to fend off Karlie's relentless pursuit, declaring Rena as his girlfriend. There were even a few reporters following Karlie.

Given Michael's fame, this should have been all over the internet by now. But months had passed, and there was still no news about Michael and Rena dating.noveldrama

The only explanation was that Michael had used his power to erase any trace of it.

He didn't want the public to know about him and Rena. This way, if he ever decided to break up with her, it would happen quietly, without any backlash.

What a player.

Chloe's brows furrowed deeply, her eyes filled with both concern and confusion for Rena. Unable to hold back, she pressed again, "Rena, don't you feel... wronged? You're his real girlfriend, yet you have to hide like this, sneaking around as if you're doing something illegal."

Rena shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. But that smile was laced with a quiet ache and resignation. "Chloe, I really don't feel wronged," she said softly. "Being with Michael makes me truly happy. As long as he's good to me, I'm willing to understand the challenges he's facing."

"Chloe, you're my best friend. You have to promise me you'll keep this secret. Okay?"

As they were talking, Michael's street photography crew happened to pass by. Michael posed for a few photos against the backdrop of Rena's still-under-construction small company, capturing a raw, edgy vibe.

Seeing Michael approach, Rena quickly pulled Chloe away like they were thieves.

With no classes in the afternoon, Chloe and Rena headed to a nearby mall for market research. As fashion designers, they needed to stay on top of trends.

Fall fashion was already out, and Chloe and Rena needed to get a handle on the upcoming winter trends.

They wandered through several high-end stores in the mall. Chloe found a few pieces she thought would look great on Rena and held them up against her.

"Rena, this top is perfect for you. Why don't you get it?" Chloe suggested.

Rena glanced at the price tag and quickly shook her head. She couldn't afford these clothes that cost thousands of dollars.

She made an excuse, "I don't need it. It's too expensive. Wearing it would be a waste for me."

"Besides, my new design company is just starting out. Every penny counts. Buying this would be a bit extravagant right now."

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"When we start making money, we can buy whatever we want. Maybe even buy out the whole store," Rena said with ambition.

Chloe teased her, "That's for the future. Right now, just try it on. If it fits, I'll buy it for you."

"No way. I can't let you buy clothes for me." Rena refused firmly.

Even though she and Chloe were close friends, and the Davis family was indeed wealthy, that didn't mean Rena was someone who relied on her friends to get by.

"Why not? We're best friends and business partners. What's a few pieces of clothing between us?" Chloe insisted.

Just then, Anissa and Isidora walked over, carrying several shopping bags.

Hearing Chloe's words, Anissa couldn't help but sneer. "You're quite generous, huh? Just casually gifting clothes worth tens of thousands of dollars. Well, it's not your own money, so of course you don't feel the pinch!"

Anissa's implication was clear: she believed Chloe was spending Grant's money.

Chloe understood the insinuation but couldn't retort as she would with Giselle. Anissa was Grant's mother, and with the Davis and Martin families having a marriage arrangement, Chloe had to tread carefully.

And If she really ended up marrying Grant, and if the relationship between her and Anissa as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law wasn't handled well, it was definitely going to put Grant in a tough spot.

Chloe replied, "Anissa, I'm spending my own money on my friend."

"Your own money? You're still in college. How could you have that kind of money?" Anissa's question cornered Chloe.

Anissa had met Nicholas before and knew he was strict about not allowing his children to be wasteful. Even Adelaide had a fixed monthly allowance during her school years.

A single piece of clothing costing thousands would take up several months of Chloe's allowance. How could she afford it?

"Anissa, it really is my own money," Chloe insisted weakly.

But Anissa pressed on, "And the luxury car parked outside? Did you buy that with your own money too?"

"Well..." Chloe hesitated. The car was a gift from Nicholas, not something she bought herself.

Her hesitation confirmed Anissa's suspicions. She assumed the car was a gift from Grant.

"At such a young age, you waste money like this-sending off clothes worth tens of thousands of dollars without a second thought. Even if you're a wealthy heiress, isn't that a bit too wasteful? You are still in college, driving such a luxury car, young people nowadays are really too flashy."

"If it were your own money, fine. But being so generous with someone else's money? That's something else," Anissa lectured, her disapproval clear.

Rena, already timid, was at a loss for how to respond.

On her way to school in the morning, she had already heard about the lady of the Martin Family from Chloe. Little did she expect that seeing her in person would be far more striking than any description. Her severity and demanding nature were such that even Chloe found it hard to handle.

Anissa's harsh words left Chloe dissatisfied. She had tried to avoid conflict because of Anissa's status, but now...