Claire's quick defense made it sound like she was over-explaining.
Sloane suddenly remembered the rumors that Claire had been raised as a fake heiress before being reunited with her true biological family.
So, the secret daughter theory was completely impossible.
She laughed awkwardly. "Just a random thought."
"If you're done shopping, should we head out?"
Seeing that Sloane had finally stopped trying to force clothes on her, Claire quickly suggested leaving.
Sloane could tell Claire genuinely didn't want to buy anything.
It made sense; with a walk-in closet like that, she'd probably develop decision paralysis.
"Sure, let's walk around somewhere else."
Eventually, bowing to Sloane's relentless insistence, Claire let her buy a single lipstick.
It wasn't expensive, so Claire accepted it without guilt.
Sloane was thrilled to have finally successfully gifted her something.
Even if she didn't know if Claire loved it, the shade definitely suited her radiant complexion perfectly.
After they finally finished their mall lap and stepped outside, Dane's car was waiting by the curb.
Seeing him, Claire turned to Sloane.
"Dane is here to pick me up. I'll see you later."
Sloane paused. The aloof Mr. Green actually picked up his girlfriend?
It felt entirely out of character for a man of his status.
In her previous encounters with him, he had always been icy and unreachable.
Now, it was like he had stepped off his pedestal.
"Alright, get home safe." Sloane wasn't the type to cling endlessly.
Having decided to be Claire's friend, she strictly banished any lingering thoughts about her friend's fiancé.
So this time, treating him as completely invisible, she thoroughly suppressed her former crush.
There were plenty of men in the world; she'd survive without this one.
Let her family set her up.
She hadn't even graduated yet; she had plenty of time to find a husband,
So she could take her time and
Claire noticed Sloane actively avoiding looking at Dane and found it highly amusing.
She used to think Sloane was a manipulative snob and intensely unlikable.
Now that the girl had dropped her act, she was actually quite tolerable. However, Claire still wasn't keen on being deeply involved with her.
Following her brutal reality check,
Sloane had become overwhelmingly enthusiastic, and it was a lot
handle.
Getting into the car, Claire immediately noticed Dane's fresh haircut.
Since she was staring, Dane obviously noticed.
"What is it?" he asked, keeping his
though his peripheral visionet
eyes supposedly fixed on the roavet
was
entirely locked on her content
Claire blinked. "Did you get a haircut?"
Dane hummed in agreement.
"It was getting a bit long," he replied casually.
Claire smiled. "It looks great. Very clean and sharp."
Paired with his predatory gaze, the new style made him look incredibly intimidating.
She really wanted to ask if the employees at Vertex International had been extra obedient today.
Though he didn't say anything, his tense posture visibly relaxed.
The fact that Claire didn't hate the cut was a huge win.
Honestly, there was nothing to hate.
When a man was that attractive, he could pull off a buzzcut and still look phenomenal.
"Which is better? The old one or this one?" he suddenly asked.
Claire nearly choked on her own saliva.
She never expected a man as unapproachable as Dane to ask something so needy.
She started coughing.
Seeing her struggle, Dane took advantage of a red light to pat her back.
She really didn't need to panic that much.
Claire realized she needed to explain quickly before he took her reaction the wrong way.