The fitting room door closed, and Iris Blue let out a contented sigh as she looked toward the store’s sales assistant, "Young lady, I want to buy a few more long dresses. Come over and give me some recommendations." The sales assistant walked over enthusiastically, "Ma’am, your daughter is naturally beautiful, as delicate as a flower, and can handle any style. All the clothes in our store suit her. But you have a great eye; the champagne-colored long dress just now was perfect for your daughter. These gentle warm colors, like light purple, daffodil yellow, and teal green, will make her look like a water nymph." Iris Blue felt very proud, almost snorting through her nose, "Then take all these dresses down. Later, I’ll have Serena try them on one by one. Tomorrow, many guests will come, especially those young gentlemen from renowned families. When they see my Serena, they’re sure to be astonished. They have a discerning eye, unlike some people, whose taste is terrible!" Iris Blue’s words were deliberately said for Hayden Crawford to hear, even to mock him. Iris nearly ran up to Hayden and pointed a finger at him, shouting confidently that he had poor taste! Anabelle Rathborne, of course, understood too; Iris Blue’s "terrible" was directed at her. Truth is, Anabelle quite feared interacting with Iris Blue because Iris could become a shrew yelling on the streets, whereas she could never be a shrew. Regarding tomorrow’s grand fiftieth birthday celebration, Anabelle Rathborne smirked, curling her red lips lightly and said, "Brother Hayden, let me show you something." Anabelle Rathborne handed the Sterling family’s invitation to Hayden Crawford. Hayden Crawford looked down at the invitation—a bright red hero card, with the Sterling family inviting heroes from all over to bring eligible young bachelors to the birthday banquet tomorrow. This invitation was full of a rustic aura, and most crucially, the phrase "eligible young bachelors" was emphasized with uppercase and bold letters, lest anyone misunderstand the Sterling family’s determination to choose a husband for their daughter. Hayden Crawford’s masculine brows tightened, his thin lips pressed into a cold, pale line. Anabelle Rathborne chuckled, "Brother Hayden, by now the Sterling family’s birthday banquet tomorrow is known throughout the city. Everyone knows the Sterling family wants to find a match for Serena Sterling, which is why Iris was in such a hurry to bring her here to buy clothes." Hayden Crawford hadn’t known about this matter until now, now understanding that she’s going to a matchmaking event, looking for a husband? Does she still feel like there aren’t enough men around her? Just then, the fitting room door opened, and a clear, soft voice sounded by his ear, "Mom, I’m done changing." Hayden Crawford raised his gaze and immediately saw Serena Sterling stepping out of the fitting room, his deep pupils contracting sharply. Serena Sterling had changed into the champagne-colored long dress, a color that was very particular about skin tone. Any darker skin would appear even more dull by comparison, but Serena’s skin was milky white, now glowing under the champagne color. The silk fabric perfectly showcased her delicate and alluring figure, her flat stomach without a hint of extra flesh, slender limbs, and the S-shaped curves that were alluringly captivating. Hayden Crawford looked at her, his pupils full of her reflection. Mom exclaimed in amazement, clutching Serena’s small hand, "Serena, you look so beautiful in this outfit. I’m completely captivated by you. Quickly, turn around and let me have a look." Serena was turned around by Mom, revealing her beautiful back. Hayden Crawford also saw her slender beautiful back; this was a backless long dress, revealing half of her lovely back. Her youthful back was a flawless white, delicate jade bones smooth and glistening, making someone catch their breath. Hayden Crawford had never seen her wear such a dress before, his gaze lingering on her beautiful back, then moved forward, his adam’s apple bobbing twice as he very much wanted to reach out and stroke her beautiful back, and then... Thɪs chapter is updated by Novᴇl_Fire(.)net Hayden Crawford’s throat felt like it had rolled over hot coals, his body temperature soaring instantly. "Oh my god Serena, your figure is simply flawless. When you appear in this dress at the banquet tomorrow, how many people will be enchanted by you? We’ll take this one!" Mom decided firmly. Serena looked at her reflection in the mirror; she actually didn’t long dress, always feeling it was too revealing. Although girls now would consider wearing such backless designs at events, she wasn’t quite ready to accept it yet. At this time, Serena caught Hayden Crawford’s gaze in the mirror; he was standing behind her, watching her. Perhaps realizing she had noticed, Hayden Crawford lifted his handsome eyelids, his gaze landing on her exquisitely small face. He had no sense of being awkwardly caught but instead openly looked at her, his gaze subtly moving across her body with the look a man gives a woman. Serena’s long eyelashes trembled. She and he were not strangers; she certainly knew who he was. He appeared proper on the outside, yet his heart... was quite lustful. Now his dark and deep gaze was fixed upon her, with two flickering red flames inside. She definitely understood what it meant. In the past, he loved seeing her in champagne-colored nightgowns. He loved beautiful women, the more the better, with that straightforward male aesthetic and a preference for the innocent types. His taste had never changed. She somewhat aligned with his aesthetic taste, no matter how she dressed seemed to be his preference, almost as if deliberately seducing him. No wonder he always misunderstood. Serena withdrew her gaze, choosing not to look at him. Anabelle Rathborne, observing Hayden Crawford since Serena emerged from the fitting room, noticed he hadn’t taken his eyes off her. Being another girl, Anabelle Rathborne had to admit Serena looked breathtakingly beautiful in this champagne-colored long dress, stunning enough to take one’s breath away. But Hayden Crawford had always been so restrained, his personal life exceptionally clean, with constant temptations around him that he seemed unmoved by, almost like a monk on a spiritual quest. On engagement night, in the car, she made a move boldly, but he showed no interest whatsoever. Anabelle Rathborne thought he truly abstained from indulgence, not passionate about women. However, at this moment Anabelle realized she was wrong because Hayden Crawford now looked at Serena Sterling as if... he wanted to strip her dress! Anabelle Rathborne tasted envy and jealousy for the first time. At this moment, the sales assistant also exclaimed with a smile, "Ma’am, your daughter looks stunning in this dress. I’ve never seen a person so beautiful before. I’ll help you wrap it up now." Iris Blue decided on the dress, and the sales assistant began to prepare the packaging. "Wait a moment!" Anabelle suddenly spoke up. Serena and Mom turned to look at Anabelle, only to see her curl her red lips into a smile, "Sorry, but I want this champagne-colored long dress!"