Falling For My Accidental CEO Husband-Chapter 239: Shopping

Ella wandered through the store, her eyes scanning the racks of the latest collection. The designs were exquisite. Normally, she would have felt a thrill of excitement, the simple joy of discovering something new and beautiful. Yet, as her gaze lingered on a particularly striking dress, her heart clenched.

The shopping trip, which she’d hoped would lift her spirits, had done little to soothe the turmoil swirling inside her. Instead, it only highlighted how off-kilter she felt. No amount of retail therapy could silence the words Aiden had thrown at her, the ones that had left a deep ache in her chest. "You’ll only ever be Charles’ daughter from now on," he’d said. The sting of those words reverberated in her mind, still sharp and unrelenting.

But still she’d gone ahead and spoken to her father, begged him, really, to accept the conditions. She had thrown herself into convincing him, desperate to make him see reason. Her arguments had been impassioned, her pleas heartfelt. She had even dared to hope that he would relent, that for her sake, he would agree to come back.

Ella had promised herself she would continue to fight for him, rally on his behalf no matter what it took. But deep down, she couldn’t ignore the gnawing doubt that had begun to creep in. What if he didn’t? What if her efforts weren’t enough? A nd what if in this stubbornness she ended up losing them both? She shook her head. No. Once they were together, things would be fine. Her father had asked for some time to think things over, hadn’t he? That was a relief. In the past, he never would have agreed. So maybe things really would change for the better.

Ella reached for a bracelet absently, her fingers brushing over it. It was a delicate piece, elegant yet understated. She held it up to the light, trying to focus on its intricate details, but her thoughts kept wandering back to her father and the fragile hope she clung to.

"That one won’t do," a soft voice remarked from behind her. "It’s beautiful, yes, but far too mature for someone like you. It would age you by at least ten years."

Startled, Ella turned to find herself face-to-face with a beautiful woman.

"Try this one instead," the woman said, plucking another bracelet from the display and holding it out to Ella. The new piece was more contemporary and something she would not have chosen for herself. "The color matches your eyes perfectly. Trust me, it’ll look stunning on you."

Ella hesitated, caught off guard by the stranger’s confidence. She accepted the bracelet with a small smile and slipped it onto her wrist. To her surprise, it did look good on her—better than the piece she’d chosen herself.

"You were right," Ella admitted, looking back at the woman. "It’s perfect. You have an excellent eye for these things."

"Years of practice," the woman replied with a laugh, raising her hands to reveal two handbags, one in a soft blush tone and the other a bold emerald green. "Speaking of which, I’m hopelessly torn between these. Care to return the favor and help me decide?"

Ella chuckled, some of her earlier tension easing as she studied the bags. Finally, she had a distraction from her chaotic thoughts. "Both are gorgeous, but the emerald one really makes a statement. It’s bold, just like you."

Bold, huh? I like that." She hooked the green handbag over her arm, setting the other one aside. "Thanks for the help. I’m always second-guessing myself when it comes to accessories."

"Hard to believe," Ella said, genuinely impressed. "You seem like the type who knows exactly what she’s doing."

The woman grinned. "Appearances can be deceiving. But I like to think I know a good thing when I see one."

The two of them laughed at that and then the woman slipped her arm through his and said," I am Kimberlee, by the way. Would you like to go shopping with me?"

Ella grinned and patted her hand," I am Ella and I would love to have a shopping partner like you!"

Ella and Kimberlee wandered through the store together. Kimberlee had a knack for picking out pieces that suited Ella perfectly, urging her to step outside her comfort zone.

"You have to try this one," Kimberlee insisted, holding up a sleek, deep cut black dress. "This is your color, trust me."

Ella hesitated, glancing at the dress. "It’s a bit much, don’t you think? I don’t really have anywhere to wear something like that."

"Nonsense," Kimberlee said. "You’re gorgeous, Ella. Why not dress like it? Even if it’s just for you. And we can go clubbing together. I’ll take you and you can wear this dress. I’ll watch all the men swoon over you."

Ella giggled and was about to say that Aiden would probably get rid of any man who tried to approach his baby sister but suddenly swallowed the words. He would not. He said he would not be her brother anymore. Without another word, she walked into the changing room, not wanting to break down and cry in front of her new friend.

As the curtain swished shut behind her, however, Ella did not see that Kimberlee’s playful smile faded into something sharper and much more calculating.

Kimberlee sat down on the couch in the dressing room and smiled to herself. "What luck. I think the fates are also on my side in this one Aiden. Seeing this girl storm out of your office earlier in the day had been unexpected but not unwelcome. I’ve waiting for an opportunity like this, and now here it is, practically handed to me on a silver platter. Becoming friends with your sister is such a perfect way to get closer to you sooner on a personal level..."

Kimberlee sighed as she saw the curtain move. Ella had been upsert about something and whatever it was, she’d affected Aiden as well. He’d been barely holding onto his composure when she’d gone to see him. And this was the perfect opportunity for Kim. An upset woman was an open door for manipulation. A little kindness here, a little flattery there, and soon enough, Ella would trust her completely.

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