Chapter 961 You’re Not Jealous?
Dragging Sonia by her hand, Toby walked toward the seating area with Sonia in tow. “I knew my Little Leaf was smart. After I knew you had ordered a blue custom-made dress, I picked out a piece of blue-colored jewelry from my mother’s keepsake that would match your dress. But, I never gave it to you and decided to pick another piece out due to the incident.”
“When did this happen?” Sonia asked while walking beside him.
Toby’s expression grew stern. “It was the day when Anya ruined your dress. Don’t you remember I went back to the Fuller Residence on that day?”
As Sonia instantly understood the full picture, she looked at him in a daze. “So, the reason you went back there was to get the jewelry?”
“That’s right.” Toby raised his chin slightly.
“The box you brought back that night was the jewelry?” asked Sonia again.
Toby replied, “Yes, it was supposed to be a surprise for you. However, I decided not to give it to you after that incident.”
“It’s better that way.” Sonia’s eyes flashed a hint of coldness. “If you had given me the jewelry then, I might have been much more upset. You trusted me to bring your dress back to you and had even prepared jewelry for me, yet I couldn’t even do a simple thing of watching over the dress. I’ve really let you down in the end.”
Toby stopped abruptly before he turned to Sonia and lifted her chin.
Looking at the man’s frown and displeased expression, Sonia blinked dumbfoundedly before she asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Don’t talk about yourself that way,” Toby said. “You did not let me down, since you successfully brought the dress out of the store. It is not your fault that the dress was ruined. After all, how could you stop someone’s malice? So, you do not have any need to feel ashamed.” Saying that, he caressed her lips with his thumb.
Glaring at the man, Sonia slapped away his hand which was taking advantage of her.
Toby chuckled. “Looks like you’ve cheered up.”
Sonia was slightly stunned. “So you took advantage of me just so I would stop feeling ashamed?”
“Of course.” Toby nodded. “Since you’re a sensitive person, words of assurance won’t be enough to help you get over your feeling of shame. That’s why angering you is the best way to stop you from dwelling on such things.”
“You’re really… Pfft!” Sonia had wanted to tell the man off, yet couldn’t stop herself from smiling. How could she? After all, Toby was sincerely trying to cheer her up, yet she was going to tell him off. That would just be ungrateful of her.
“Looks like you finally smiled.” Toby gently pinched her soft cheeks. “You look much better smiling than when you are depressed. My Little Leaf is the most beautiful when she smiles.”
“Tell me something I don’t know.” Sonia blushed before she broke free of his grip and strode forward.
As Toby stood still looking at Sonia quickly walking away in embarrassment, he chuckled in adornment before following her.
Back in the seating area, Sophia and her assistant had been patiently waiting for their return. Upon noticing the couple coming back, they hurriedly put down the coffee and snacks they had in their hands before they stood up. “President Fuller, Miss Reed, welcome back,” Sophia said with a smile.
Sonia returned a smile of her own.
“Miss Reed, President Fuller, what do you two think of the dress? Is there anything that needs to be altered?” asked Sophia.
Shaking her head, Sonia answered, “I think it’s very good and there’s nothing that needs altering. What do you think?” She turned her attention to the man beside her to seek his opinion, as she knew that Toby was a jealous man. Although the dress wasn’t that revealing, the area around the legs and shoulders was slightly revealing. Hence, she had thought that it was possible for him to dislike the current design and want to alter parts of it.
Despite the fact that he had no problem with her dress currently and had even complimented her by saying she was beautiful, Sonia thought that it was because the few people here were all female with Toby being the only exception. Naturally, he wouldn’t need to be jealous and worried over other men looking at her. However, that would not be the case during the night of the party, as there would be other men there that would inevitably have their eyes on her. Hence, she couldn’t be sure that he wouldn’t be jealous at that time.
Nevertheless, Toby’s answer was completely out of Sonia’s expectations, as he said that he had no problems with the dress, so there was no need to alter the dress, which made Sonia look at him in amazement.
“What’s wrong?” Toby asked while he gently brushed the bridge of her nose upon noticing the look she gave him.
Sonia slapped his hand away. “And here I thought you would be asking Ms. Sophia to make some alterations to the dress, especially around the skirt, since it is a split design.”
“I know, but the dress looks better with this design. Why would you think I would want to alter it?” asked Toby.
Sonia chose not to hide her thoughts and answered truthfully, “Because I thought you would be jealous.”
Toby, who had now understood Sonia’s reason for her question, chuckled. “I am indeed unhappy that other men would look at how beautiful you are in that dress. However, I cannot deprive you of your right to wear such beautiful clothes just because I dislike having others look at you. So, you don’t have to worry about it and just wear this dress. And as for those that would lay their eyes on you, I would give them a stern warning, naturally.” His tone during his last sentence grew much, much colder.
Sonia was taken aback but gave a snicker when she came back to her senses. “It must be hard for you to endure your displeasure for my sake.”
“It’s not hard.” Toby stroked her hair. “This is of my own volition. Although I dislike you wearing something too revealing that would stimulate other men, I’d much prefer for you to shine brightly.”
With a twitch of her red lips, Sonia was about to speak up before she was interrupted by Sophia’s clap of her hand. “Oh, this is truly a love that moves hearts,” Sophia said excitedly.
In an instant, Sonia’s face grew red and she became embarrassed to continue her conversation with Toby. She then cleared her throat before hurriedly changing the topic. “Alright, Ms. Sophia, do help me undress and pack the dress up.”
“Alright.” Sophia nodded with a smile.
Sonia then turned toward Toby. “I’m heading to the dressing room to change. Wait for me here. Oh right, it’d be better if you kept the necklace.” She handed the necklace over to him.
Toby did not refuse her, so he took the necklace and said, “Alright, I’ll put it on for you when it’s time.”
“Yeah.” Sonia flashed a smile before walking toward the dressing room with Sophia.
However, just as they arrived at the dressing room, Sophia’s assistant came over to her with a grave expression and said something to Sophia. Since Sonia did not understand what was going on, she stood there waiting for them without a sound, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
About two minutes later, her assistant nodded and left after Sophia had waved her hand at her. Taking a deep breath after her conversation with her assistant, Sophia softened her heavy expression and smiled at Sonia. “Miss Reed, I’m sorry, but I have some urgent matters to attend to right now. Do you mind waiting for me for a few minutes? Just a few minutes. I’ll be right back.”
Sonia nodded understandingly. “Of course, I don’t mind waiting. You go ahead and deal with your matters first.”
“You’re such a darling. You really are a kind girl.” Touched, Sophia hugged Sonia.
Shocked by how Sophia hugged her so enthusiastically, Sonia could only pat her on her back.
As Sophia remembered that she still had to settle her matters, she quickly let go of Sonia and jogged toward the direction where her assistant had gone.
Looking at Sophia leaving, Sonia smiled helplessly before she sat down on the bench near the dressing room while waiting for Sophia’s return. Since the back of the dress was designed with straps, she could only wait for Sophia, as it was easy to ruin the dress should she undress herself.
Meanwhile, Toby had waited for some time back in the seating area, yet Sonia had not finished changing out of her dress. As he couldn’t wait any longer, he stood up and went toward the dressing room.
