MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

Hazel could not believe what she was hearing. As she stood there listening to their gossip, she forgot why she was even in the store, all she could think of was how Joshua suddenly become her older brother.

The group of women continued chatting amongst themselves, they were dividing the Denmark family property up between her and Joshua as if they were the ones who owned it.

"Even if she is Joshua Denmark's younger sister, most of Denmark's property should be given to him!"

"What? I think that all of it should be given to Mr. Denmark. If it weren't for him, Denmark Group wouldn't be as successful as it is!"

"Yeah, I think as long as he keeps that woman living a life of luxury, he shouldn't have to worry."

"But I heard that the woman and he are lovers..."

A timid voice cut in unexpectedly and silenced the crowd immediately.

"It's only a rumor," Katie suddenly said. "The other day, I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Denmark at the auction. He didn't appear to have anyone with him."

Hazel began to tremble with anger, she knew Katie was lying through her teeth. On the day of the auction, it was obvious that she was with Joshua and that they were a couple, but Katie insisted that Joshua was alone.

The girls' eyes lit up, and they began interrogating Katie. 

"You've seen Mr. Denmark?"

"What does he look like?"

"Is he as handsome as everyone says?"

"What did you talk about?"

With an incomprehensible smile, Katie said, "He is really tall and handsome, and also very kind. We were both interested in the same pink diamond necklace, so I was lucky enough to speak to him."

Hazel glared with hatred in her eyes. Katie was not only egotistical, but she was also a liar, she was obviously just trying to keep her friends interested, and the fact that they didn't have all the details kept them intrigued.

Katie's story was believable, and one woman said, "You are such a beautiful woman, even though Joshua Denmark won the necklace, he gave it to you, right? Show us!"

It was obvious that Katie was extremely proud, she had everyone's attention on her, and they believed every word she said. However, Hazel was curious as to how Katie was going to show them the necklace since she had it around her neck.

"No, you are misunderstanding what I am saying," Katie said, slightly smiling. She lowered her eyes and continued on, "He didn't know until after the auction that it was me bidding against him. He wanted to give it to me when he found it out, but I could not accept such an expensive gift. I spent a long time refusing it, but he finally understood why I could not accept it."

The women surrounding Katie were envious but continued to encourage her.

"Katie, you are so kind. I think that Mr. Denmark may have been watching you for a long time. Maybe he sent the invitation to your grandmother because he wants to see you."

"Yeah, I think that is why he sent the invitation."

"That doesn't make sense," Katie lowered her head with a hint of shyness. "I don't have anything to do with Mr. Denmark. Please, don't misunderstand."

Even though Hazel knew what had actually happened, she was still manipulated by Katie's lies. She had twisted the truth so well that anyone would have believed her, and the more she said that she had nothing to do with Joshua, the more her friends misunderstood.

Knowing that she could not cause a scene, Hazel decided to let Katie live in her fantasy world and went back to her shopping. She found a few different dresses for Rachel, but as the clerk put them into boxes for her, she noticed a beautiful blue dress. It was elegant and very different from the styles she had picked out for her mother. She immediately thought it would look perfect on Stacy Sloane, Joshua's possible biological mother.

Stacy was a beautiful woman who would stand out in a crowd, she would look absolutely stunning in the dress. Hazel thought for a moment and then, without hesitation, picked up the dress and handed it to the clerk to wrap up.

"You have exquisite taste, Miss," the clerk said happily. "This dress just came in for our new season. It is the only one in the store."

But before Hazel could reply, she heard Katie state, "I will take it!"

Hazel had reached her boiling point. She hadn't said anything to Katie, even when she was telling lies about Joshua, but now that Katie was trying to take a dress that was already in her hands, Hazel spun around and coldly said, "I saw it first!"

"But have you paid for it?" Katie looked at her innocently and said, "Madam, I want to buy this dress for a dinner party hosted by the Denmark family. You must have heard of them, right?"

Hazel looked at her with a half-smile. "Are you saying that if I don't let you have it, I will offend the Denmark family?"

"Of course! Katie is Mr. Denmark's girlfriend!" Katie's companion chimed in.

Hazel felt her eye begin to twitch, but she looked forward to Katie pretending to be Joshua's girlfriend.

"Don't say that," Katie said hypocritically. "Piper, the Shawn family doesn't use family and social status to bully people."

Glaring at Katie, Hazel bit her tongue. Katie didn't use the opportunity to deny her relationship with Joshua; instead, she tried to use Shawn's name to help her get the dress.

"So, the Denmark family and the Shawn family both try to steal from people?" Hazel asked innocently.

Katie sneered at Hazel; she was sure that if she had mentioned both family names that she would have been given the dress, but instead, she was being provoked.

"You have misunderstood…." Katie's eyes were getting misty, as if she was going to cry.

One of Katie's friends was furious and growled, "How can you be so unreasonable? How could you accuse Katie of stealing from you? You are going to make her cry?"

Everyone in the store looked over in the direction of Katie and Hazel, the sales clerk lowered her head in embarrassment. The other customers saw that Katie was trying not to cry and assumed that Hazel was bullying her.

Hazel turned to stare coldly at Katie's friend, who kept interrupting. The woman who thought so much of Katie might not have been stupid but trying to stand up to Hazel was not a good idea; there was no way she would be easily bullied.

With a faint smile on her face, she said sarcastically, "I thought she was going to cry because she felt guilty. I thought she knew that it was wrong for her to steal items from other people, so she was shedding tears of remorse!"

"You, you…" Katie's face stiffened as she stared at Hazel. She was furious at the fact that her teary act failed her a second time.