"Yeah, you've got a point." The store manager emerged from the inner office. She'd been on a call with the overseas headquarters all evening and had just finished. Hearing the two of them gossiping, she couldn't help but frown. "How many times have I told you? No gossiping about customers in the store! Can't you remember? Two-thousand-dollar fine each for violating the rules!" The two sales associates paled but didn't dare argue. It was, after all, a black-and-white rule in the employee handbook. Just then, a tall, striking figure of a man walked over from the store opposite. He carried a shopping bag from a well-known luxury brand. Combined with his exceptional bearing, he clearly had money.The short associate's eyes lit up. I'll make back the 2,000 dollars I just lost on you! "Good evening, sir. What are you looking for? For your girlfriend? These are all our new arrivals. Feel free to browse." Jethro ignored them. He walked straight to the display rack, his long, well-defined fingers picking up a blue dress. "Wrap this one up for me." The short associate was stunned, then smiled. This one? The broke girl couldn't afford it. Thought it wouldn't sell. Now this handsome guy wants it. The commission comes back to me after all. Talk about luck. She reached for the dress. "Of course, I'll pack it for you right away." Jethro stopped her with a finger on the dress, then pointed to the tall associate. "You do it." The short associate's smile froze. She didn't get what he meant."Sir, you might not know our policy. This is my sale, so—" Jethro glanced at her. "So what?" His voice wasn't loud, but it carried weight. The short associate, intimidated by his presence, let go reluctantly and handed the dress to the tall associate. The tall associate, getting a windfall for no reason, was secretly delighted. "Sir, it's packed. The register is this way." But when it came time to pay, Jethro tilted his chin at the store manager. "You ring me up." Both associates froze. Wait—what? If the manager handled the payment, did that mean the commission would go to her? Just as they were about to protest, his low, commanding voice rang out again. "These two associates rolled their eyes at a customer in person and gossiped behind her back. If I were you, I'd fire them immediately."The manager was taken aback, then bowed apologetically. "I'm sorry, sir. I failed to manage them properly. And thank you for the suggestion. I'll act on it immediately." The two associates' faces turned ashen. Their eyes reddened immediately. "Manager, we were wrong! We won't do it again!" Watching the tall, straight-backed figure retreating down the corridor, the manager said in exasperation, "It's too late for that now! Do you have any idea who that man was?" "Who?" "The Blackwood heir! Did you offend someone connected to Mr. Blackwood?" The Blackwood heir? How could they have offended someone connected to him? Anyone connected to him would be wealthy and distinguished, obviously different from ordinary people. They couldn't be that blind. Unless— The short associate's back stiffened as a figure came to mind. What's that broke girl's connection to Mr. Blackwood? ... Jethro drove straight home. His mother, Clara, was in the living room reading a book, wearing reading glasses. Handing his suit jacket to a servant, Jethro approached and handed the bag containing a purse to Clara. After work that evening, he'd gotten a call from Clara saying a purse she pre-ordered had arrived, asking him to pick it up on his way home. That's how he witnessed the short associate rolling her eyes at Darcy and mocking her. Clara opened the box. It was the purse she'd been yearning for, and a smile bloomed across her face. She closed the box, then noticed her son still holding another bag. Her eyes lit up. "You brat. You do have a heart—know to buy me clothes. But... isn't this brand a bit too young? Seems like the one your sister likes." Assuming it was for her, she reached for it, only barely touching the edge. Jethro's arm moved back slightly. He coughed lightly. "Mom, this isn't for you." Clara froze. Oh? I assumed too much. The delight vanished from Clara's eyes. She gave her son a sidelong glance. "Cindy's probably not asleep yet. She just got back." Actually, the dress wasn't for Cindy either. But he did need Cindy to pass it on. Jethro turned to head upstairs, then paused and came back to the couch. "Mom, I haven't seen Ms. Kross lately. Where is she?" Hearing her son suddenly mention Ivy, Clara immediately became alert. "Why ask about Ivy all of a sudden?" She took a slow sip of water, observing her son carefully. This son took after her, and even more so after her late husband—sharp-minded and hard to read.