Eddie swallowed down the lump in her throat as she glanced around the shop. She felt like a peasant as she was an uneducated woman. Stuart came from a wealthy, upper-class family with the highest status in society. Eddie didnât know how to behave as she did not want to humiliate Stuart.
Stuart looked at her with a smile, as if he was pleased with her shock. It didnât matter what it was, and he wanted to give Eddie the best and make up for what she had lost in the past. Luckily, the attendants were very professional. Before Eddie had a chance to speak, they brought her a dress and smiled at her, "Mrs. Yates, this dress was just flown in from Italy. Itâs by the designer JK. Would you like to try it on?"
Eddie couldnât describe the dress in words because it was so beautiful. The dress was long, and the waist had a condole belt. It was covered with tiny diamonds that sparkled under the lights.
Eddie had always felt that women who loved diamonds were particularly shallow, but now she had come to understand this superficiality because the diamonds were so beautiful! It was as if she was in a dream.
How could Eddie refuse such a dress? It took her a long time to put it on in the dressing room carefully. Eddie was afraid to touch it because she thought she might break one of the diamonds. When she came out, Stuart had his back to her as he was talking on the phone.
The attendant came forward with flattery in her voice, "Mrs. Yates, you look so beautiful. This dress suits you."
"Yes, Mrs. Yates, you have the perfect complexion. Only such a beautiful complexion could match this dress."
"Mr. Yates is very good to you, madam. Not very many men come with their wives to help them choose their dress!"
Eddie was embarrassed by their compliments and looked forward to Stuart coming over to see how she looked. As soon as Stuart came over, the attendants immediately stepped back on each side of Eddie. Eddie stood there looking shyly at Stuart, waiting for his opinion.
Stuart looked at Eddieâs dress and opened his eyes slightly and then said, "What are you wearing? Thatâs ugly. Take it off."
"Ugly?"
Eddie looked up and down at herself in the mirror, "Whatâs ugly? I donât understand? Whatâs wrong with the dress?"
A deep frown furrowed Stuartâs brow as he stared at Eddie. His face was cold, showing no emotion, "This dress is too revealing, it has such a low neckline.
Eddie couldnât believe what Stuart said and thought, "I have a good figure, was it not just for show? Didnât Stuart grow up in Europe? When did he become so unreadable?"
Eddie looked towards Ivan as if asking for help. Ivan took a step back.
"Go get dressed."
There was an unmistakable toughness in Stuartâs voice. Eddie squirmed a little looking uncomfortable and saw that Stuart left no room for negotiation, he just walked into the other room. Eddie was very optimistic; there were so many different dresses here, "Well, if this one was nât good, I will just try on another."
The attendant quickly brought another dress, and Eddie changed into it and walked out.
"That one is too short. The dress is so short that you can see your knees. Who designed it?"
Then Eddie tried on another one.
"I donât like that one either, and it shows too much of your shoulders." Stuart had an annoyed look on his face. His voice was cold and filled with impatience and anger.
Eddie couldnât understand why Stuart was acting this way, "What did it matter if people were to see my shoulders? Was he afraid that others may think she was revealing too much skin?"
"Another one," he said.
"You canât show your back." He said with piercing sharp dark eyes. Stuartâs face was pale, and his hands were shaking. He was acting as if another man saw Eddie, he would gouge their eyes out.
Eddie changed into about a dozen different dresses, and every single one did not meet Stuartâs standards.
"Too much exposure of the skin," he would say.
Eddie was going crazy, "How did I not know Stuart was so critical? Come on, and itâs only a dress. Is it not a way to show off the beauty of a womanâs body?"
When Stuart was still not satisfied, Eddie couldnât take it anymore and said directly to the attendant, "Bring me the curtains from your shop, and Iâll just wrap them around me!"
"This..." The attendant looked awkwardly at Stuart and didnât know what to do.
"Is that all you have in your shop?" Stuart was angry with the attendant. The attendant was in a quandary and almost burst into tears.
"How dare they involve me in their quarrel!"
She smiles cautiously, "Mr. Yates, our store is full of limited-edition dresses of all major brands. This is whatâs popular this year..."
"The main brands of this summer are sexy and cool in style. Where could she find a dress that will please me?"
Stuartâs eyes narrowed as he said, "Albert just finished his new designer clothing in the city the day before yesterday?"
The attendant wasnât sure exactly what Stuart meant, but nodded vaguely, "Yes..."
"Let Albert come here and make one for her in person. I want a dress made that doesnât expose her chest, shoulders, or her back. The length must be over the knee, and he must not use the translucent material."
The attendant was so stunned by this order. She imagined the dress that Stuart wanted to be designed would be no different from wearing a curtain. The woman was speechless, and she immediately left to contact Albert.
But what the woman didnât dare say, Eddie did. She stared at Stuart, "You are crazy. Even if you are rich and powerful, you canât treat others like this. Designing a dress is difficult; it takes time. Not to mention how busy Albert probably is. How could he come? Is everyone supposed to drop everything when you call?"
Stuart obviously misunderstood her. He frowned and stared at her, "Those dresses are too revealing. Is that really what you want to wear?"
"Those dresses are beautiful. Why wouldnât I want to wear them?"
"Does it make you feel good when you show off your chest? "
Eddie snarled, "Do you only look at the exposed part? Canât you see how beautiful the dress is?"
She had thought Stuart was gay before, but now she knew he was definitely not gay, but a male chauvinist pig. Stuart glared at her. "I donât care about other women showing their skin, but I canât tolerate other men looking at your body."
In just a few words, Eddieâs angry little flame was extinguished. Eddie was upset, but now she felt warm inside.
"That...If the dress is designed according to your requirements, then the dress will only look plain. These dresses here are beautiful! Do you want me to embarrass you at the party? This is the first time Iâve been at an upper-class gathering as Mrs. Yates."
Said Eddie, pouting. She spoke much more softly this time, like a cute kid talking to Stuart.