Rural Belle & Three Heirs
Chapter 34 I'm Such a Mess

After saying that, Grant casually grabbed Chloe's hand and strolled towards the mall entrance, his nonchalance a stark contrast to the drama he left behind.

Sophia, her face a furious mask, watched them go, her chest heaving with indignation. One of her friends, blissfully unaware of the brewing storm, approached and chirped, "Sophia, looks like Mr. Martin isn't into you. Seems he prefers that plain Jane."

Sophia's face darkened like an impending storm. "Don't be ridiculous. Even if he's not interested in me, he'd never go for that revolting chick! Zip it. If you can't say anything sensible, don't bother hanging out with me," she snapped, leaving her friend in stunned silence.

After all, the friend had merely stated what seemed blatantly obvious.

Meanwhile, Chloe, delighting in the earlier confrontation, walked beside Grant into the mall. She turned to him, her face lighting up with a bright smile. "Grantie, thanks a bunch." Grant raised an eyebrow, genuinely puzzled. "Thank me? For what?"

"For what you did just now. You always stand up for me. I feel really grateful," Chloe said earnestly, the mole on her face moving with her expressions, adding an endearing touch. Grant, eyeing Chloe, noticed how the mole subtly accentuated her charm. "No need for thanks," he replied. "Sophia is insufferable. I just took the chance to put her in her place." Sophia, completely unaware of her own boundaries, would openly and secretly flirt with him at work, bragging that he cared for her and that she'd soon be the mistress of the Martin Family.

Caught up in her own delusions, Sophia often flirted with him at work, boasting that Grant was smitten with her and that she would soon become the mistress of the Martin Family. Grant, preferring to avoid unnecessary dramas, chose not to correct her. But her advances grew bolder, her pestering incessant, and her schemes against Chloe increasingly irritating. He saw through her thinly veiled attempts and decided it was time to use Chloe to check her. Arriving at the Louis Vuitton counter, Chloe confidently began selecting bags, her eyes gleaming with excitement. Her choices were impeccable-two were limited editions and the others top sellers of the season. Grant watched her, a mixture of amusement and nostalgia in his expression. He recalled the Chloe who first joined the Martin Family, awkwardly dressed in outdated clothes. Now, she had an eye for luxury and sophistication, particularly in fashion.

With no concern for the expense, Chloe instructed the salesperson, "Pack them up. Grantie's picking up the tab today. It'd be foolish not to take advantage."

Grant couldn't help but smile at her audacity. Chloe's brazen attitude of exploiting his generosity while maintaining an innocent façade was, if nothing else, thoroughly entertaining.

Seeing that Grant wasn't fazed by her profligate spending, Chloe sidled closer, deploying her self-deprecating artillery. "Grant, I'm a total mess. I push people around and never listen. Grandpa calls me a spoiled brat. I blow money on random stuff, like using these LV bags once before handing them off to the housekeeper. He's always on my case for being such a spendthrift. He says I'm ugly, have a bad temper, and am so wasteful I'll never land a husband."

Chloe was sure these confessions would tarnish her image in Grant's eyes. Instead, he remained unperturbed. With a hand casually in his pocket, he replied, "I think it's fine."

Chloe was on the verge of exasperation. What did he mean by "fine"? She was a walking disaster, and he still thought it was fine? Did Grant have a screw loose?

As the salesperson packed up the ten bags Chloe had extravagantly chosen, a group of her classmates, including Philip, appeared out of nowhere.

"Chloe, fancy seeing you here!" Philip exclaimed.

"Yeah, Chloe, what a coincidence!" another classmate chimed in. "Philip invited us to a basketball game. How about joining us?"

"Come on, Chloe, it'll be fun," encouraged another.

Chloe had met these boys and girls when she first started school, and the idea of playing basketball, given her recent lack of exercise, was tempting. Yet, with Grant by her side, she hesitated.

"I don't think I can today. The timing isn't great," Chloe said, throwing a glance at Grant.

Grant stood silent, his expression unreadable.

Rena Penrose, one of the classmates, approached Grant. "Are you Chloe's uncle? We're all classmates and we'd love for her to join us. Can you let her come?"

As Rena asked this, Chloe couldn't help but laugh. By age, he was only seven or eight years older than these students. How could he be her uncle?

Chloe stifled a laugh. Grant, just seven or eight years older than her, mistaken for her uncle? His serious demeanor did lend him an air of age beyond his years, but still. "Yeah, Chloe's uncle, we're just at the court next door," another classmate piped in. "We'll play for a couple of hours and then head home. Don't worry, we'll keep her safe." Chloe couldn't help but wonder if her classmates ever discovered that Grant was a potential suitor, their reactions would be pricelessly dramatic. Grant, concerned with propriety, turned to Chloe. "Do you want to go?"

Chloe nodded eagerly. "Yes, I do. I really want to hang out with my classmates."

Grant, finding her enthusiasm reasonable, conceded. "Alright, let's go. I'll come along."

Chloe was torn between relief and exasperation. Why did she feel like Grant was a clinging shadow? Why was he so determined to stick around? "Uncle..." Chloe mimicked, drawing out the word with irony as she called Grant "uncle."

Grant's eyebrow arched, and he snorted derisively. How unfitting was he as her potential husband that she had to elevate him to the last generation?