Find me in your labyrinth (Stella and Jonathan)

Chapter 2116

"What else do you fancy? Pick out a couple more things."

Evelyn immediately shook her head, "This one piece is already quite a splurge."

The salesperson briefed Evelyn on the daily care of the jewelry set, and Evelyn listened attentively. Finally, she asked softly, "How much does this set sell for?"

The associate replied, "For our premium members, we offer a 10% discount. After the discount, it's $1,566,000."

Evelyn gasped for air.

Even holding the jewelry box felt substantially heavy.

Harriet personally saw them out and, spotting Gabriel descending from the car, exclaimed in astonishment, "Having Mr. Carnes as your driver? Well, then this jewelry set is indeed a worthy gift."

Gabriel offered a wry smile, "Ms. Harriet, you always have such a way with words. No wonder Estelle entrusts you with managing everything."

"It's my honor to have your trust, Mr. Carnes," Harriet replied with a warm smile. "As long as she doesn't send me away, I'm with her for life."

After exchanging pleasantries, Estelle and Evelyn got into the car and left.

As dusk approached, Estelle asked Evelyn if she wanted to continue shopping.

Evelyn, still a bit exhilarated, replied, "What else is there to see in J City?"

Gabriel glanced at his wristwatch, "Let's go grab some dinner first, then we can decide what to do next."

Estelle peered out the window, remembering Courtney's Yum Yum Bakery was nearby, and suggested, "I know a place around here that serves up authentic J City cuisine. Let's try it out."

Gabriel set the GPS for the address Estelle provided and they drove off.

Just then, Jonathan called Estelle to ask if she was at the Quintin family residence.

Estelle laughed, "I'm out shopping with Gabriel and Evelyn. We're heading to Courtney's for dinner. Come meet us at Yum Yum Bakery." Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

"Alright, I'll be there in about half an hour. You go ahead and order." Jonathan said warmly.

"Okay."

Once they arrived at Yum Yum Bakery, Courtney came over to take their order personally upon seeing Estelle. Estelle introduced Gabriel and Evelyn to Courtney.

After a brief greeting to the distinguished Gabriel, Courtney didn't dare to linger too long, but she chatted with Evelyn a bit more, learning that she had grown up in Azeroth City. Courtney made a point to order a couple of Azeroth City-inspired dishes for Evelyn.

After Courtney left, Evelyn poured a cup of herbal tea for Gabriel, "Gabriel, thank you for all your efforts today."

Gabriel, with his cool and collected demeanor, simply smiled, "I'm just driving. It's Estelle who deserves thanks for not being a fan of shopping and yet spending the whole afternoon with you."

Evelyn quickly poured another cup of tea for Estelle and said with a playful giggle, "I'm treating Estelle like family."

Estelle responded, "From now on, we are family, so please don't be formal."

"Of course." Evelyn nodded with a laugh.

While waiting for the food, Gabriel left Estelle and Evelyn to chat and stepped outside for a cigarette.

Yum Yum Bakery, with its garden-style private dining, had a small courtyard that couldn't compare to the vast estates of Old Mr. Quintin and the Jarvis family. However, with its rockeries and water features, it was evident that the owners cherished life; even in winter, there were deliberate touches of beauty.

Unmelted snow rested on a rockery, dotted with red plum blossoms, offering a sense of rustic charm.

Leaning against an osmanthus tree, Gabriel smoked and noticed a few rabbits nestled in the nearby bushes, prompting him to take a longer look.

Through the open window of the adjacent private room, a mix of warm air and soft laughter floated out. Gabriel glanced over and caught sight of Sylvia.

She was wearing a light blue sweater, her wavy hair casually pinned up, her beautiful eyes glistening with a subtle smile as she listened attentively to her companion, her eyes curving into a laugh that added luster to her radiance.

Perhaps it was her time in J City, but Sylvia seemed to have gained a touch of N City's refined grace, which felt somewhat alien to him.

Gabriel couldn't see the person sitting opposite Sylvia, but was curious about who could make her so happy.

Sylvia lowered her gaze to sip her tea, and a lock of hair fell beside her ear. An arm reached out from across the table, gently tucking the stray hair back into place.