Chapter 548

Joanna shot Preston a sidelong glance.

"Of course I know!"

During that car accident, when he was knocked unconscious, she was the one who dragged him out of the car.

Without some strength, how could she have managed that?

She almost rolled her eyes.

Before she could speak, a voice interrupted.

"Preston, what are you two talking about?"

Joanna turned and saw Susan.

Preston immediately stepped forward.

"Susan, you're here?"

Susan nodded.

"Yes. Weren't we supposed to go try on wedding dresses today?"

After speaking, her gaze fell on Joanna.

Her eyes held a scrutinizing look, sweeping over Joanna from head to toe.

Then, she curled her lips into a cold smile.

She reached out and linked her arm with Preston's.

Her posture was intimate, as if declaring her sovereignty.

From a distance, she had seen Preston talking to Joanna.

When Preston faced Joanna, his expression was gentle, even somewhat proactive.

This was completely different from when he was with her.

With her, she always had to make requests, and Preston would passively fulfill them.

Alarm bells rang loudly in Susan's heart.

She stared at Joanna and spoke.

"Miss Sterling, when can you compensate me for my gown?"

A little maid like Joanna definitely couldn't afford it.

Just by mentioning compensation, she should back down, recognizing the gap between them.

Susan was thinking this when she heard Joanna say, "Oh, it's already bought. Just a moment."

After speaking, Joanna exchanged a glance with Preston.

She turned and ran towards the direction of the maid's quarters.

Susan looked at Preston in confusion.

"She bought it?"

"Yes, she bought it last night," Preston replied with a smile, but his eyes seemed evasive.

Susan pressed further.

"Where did she buy it? It better not be a knock-off."

"How could it be! She bought it from the second-floor boutique!" Preston blurted out.

Susan: "..."

She understood.

Preston was the one who bought it.

No wonder a little maid like Joanna could just say she'd compensate...

Susan immediately became vigilant.

When did Joanna and Preston get so close?

She frowned slightly but didn't say more, just smiled at Preston.

Soon, Joanna returned, holding the gown bag and handing it to Susan.

Susan, however, smiled and pushed it back.

"Actually, making you pay yesterday was me being too petty. This dress... I'll give it to you."

Joanna was taken aback and quickly waved her hands.

"No, it's too valuable, I can't accept it..."

After saying this, she firmly stuffed the bag back into Susan's hands.

This made Susan even more certain of her suspicion.

This little bitch must have used yesterday's incident as an opportunity to hook up with Preston!

Susan took a deep breath and suddenly spoke.

"Preston, Miss Sterling and I have gotten to know each other through our little conflict. Since we're going to try on wedding dresses today, and I happen to lack a female friend to accompany me, why don't we take her with us?"

Preston didn't think much of it and nodded.

"Sure."

Joanna, however, was stunned.

She glanced at Susan and seemed to understand something.

"Fifth Young Master, my duties don't include shopping. Besides, I have a lot of work to do."

Susan immediately chimed in.

"We can have the housekeeper rearrange things. Or... are you unwilling? Can a servant refuse a request from the family?"

Joanna was left speechless.

She forced a fake smile.

"Of course we can't refuse. In that case, let's go."

Susan casually handed the gown bag back to her.

Joanna followed behind her, carrying the bag like an attendant.

Seeing this, Preston paused.

He instinctively reached to take the bag.

"The clothes can be left at home first."

"But after we try on the wedding dresses, I might leave directly. If we leave the clothes at home, I'd have to make a special trip back to get them," Susan said, feigning innocence.

Preston: "?"

He was thinking of how to respond when Joanna spoke first.

"I'll carry it, Fifth Young Master. I'm plenty strong!"

Preston had no choice but to nod.

"Alright."

Joanna followed Preston and Susan out.

While the three of them were shopping at the mall, Susan walked arm-in-arm with Preston in front.

They said they were buying a wedding dress, but the mall was huge.

As they walked, Susan entered a store.

When she came out, Joanna was holding two more shopping bags.

After visiting over a dozen stores, Joanna's hands were completely full of things.

Moreover, Susan seemed to have a problem.

Among the things she bought were heavy items like cookware.

Joanna's arms were sore and numb.

She wanted to move them a bit, but her hands were occupied, making it impossible.

She could only barely lift the bags a little higher to relieve the strain on her upper arms...

She shifted her shoulders.

Preston immediately noticed.

"Let me help you carry some!"

Before he could finish, Susan tightened her grip on his arm.

"Preston, we're almost at the bridal shop. You'll need to try on clothes. How can you carry things then? Besides, these things shouldn't be that heavy... Let Joanna carry them."

Then, she looked at Joanna.

"Joanna, are these things heavy? As a maid, you shouldn't mind heavy lifting, right? After all, working for the family, you shouldn't find it tiring, correct?"

Joanna: "..."

The corner of her mouth twitched.

She almost rolled her eyes.

In the end, she stared at Susan and gritted her teeth, squeezing out two words.

"Not heavy."

Susan put on an apologetic expression.

"Since it's not heavy, then you carry them. I'm a bit of a germaphobe. If the shopping bags touch the ground, I'll feel very uncomfortable..."

Joanna: !!

So, she meant that even when they entered the bridal shop, Joanna would have to carry everything the whole time?

Trying on the wedding dress, getting makeup done, until they left—it would take at least two hours.

Her arms simply couldn't hold out.

Joanna had been working odd jobs and earning money since she was young.

How could she not see that Susan was deliberately making things difficult for her?

She clenched her fists and looked at Susan, her voice cold.

"Miss Langley, are you sure this germaphobia of yours can't be overcome?"

Susan crossed her arms and smiled at her.

"No, it can't. If you put the bags on the ground, I might not want them anymore. Things that have touched the ground... are too dirty. Oh, by the way, Joanna, did you wash your hands before you left?"

Joanna: "..."

Joanna was so angry her chest heaved.

Did she really think Joanna was a pushover, someone to be bullied at will?

Susan had picked the wrong person to mess with today!

Thinking this, Joanna let out a cold laugh.