Chapter 161: A little detour

June watched as Amie walked away.

Eliana turned to her. "Don’t mind her. This dress is going to look so perfect on you. And for the record, you are no pig. She’s just jealous."

June smiled. "Oh, I stopped caring about what Amie thinks. She’s irrelevant. She’s just my substitute."

Eliana nodded at June, a smirk on her lips.

Even though she didn’t say a word, June could understand exactly what that nod meant. Once upon a time, June had been Amie’s substitute. Who would have thought the tables would turn so soon?

"Come on, let’s forget about her. We came out to shop and have fun. Now, I want you to enter that fitting room and show me what a pregnant slay queen can do."

June shook her head at Eliana, but she went into the fitting room to change.

By the time she came out, Eliana’s eyes were fixed on her.

Even the attendant standing beside her couldn’t look away from June.

June shifted her weight from one foot to the other. "Is it okay?"

"Okay? June, you look so perfect! This is the dress. We are not dropping this."

June looked down at the dress, moving her hand over her stomach. It looked loose enough to accommodate her pregnancy, yet it still made her look sexy. The upper part was a little tighter, while the lower part flowed freely, allowing enough room for her stomach without making her feel uncomfortable.

"I think you’re right."

"I don’t think so. I know so, girl."

Eliana then asked June to go back inside and change so the attendants could pack the dress for them.

After getting June’s clothes, they moved around to find a suitable dress for Eliana too. It didn’t take them long to find exactly what Eliana wanted. It was also a sky-blue dress, similar to June’s, but it fitted her as if it had been made just for her.

June teased her about how Chris wouldn’t be able to look elsewhere once he saw her in it.

After the ladies were done shopping, they decided to have some fun before going back home. So, instead of heading straight home, they asked Henson to drive them to a restaurant.

On the way to the restaurant, Henson cleared his throat, looking at the ladies through the rear-view mirror.

"Ma’am, I think it would be safer for us to go home first."

But June shook her head. "No. I’ve been staying home all this while. I want to have fun."

"But it could be dangerous, ma’am."

Henson had received strict orders from Rauf to take the ladies shopping and then drive them straight back home.

"There’s nothing dangerous about it. The Monterrios have forgotten about me. They believe Amie is the heir to the Vassari Empire. It has nothing to do with me. I’m free to live the way I want. Even Amie has come to the mall without a guard, and no harm has come to her. She’s perfectly fine."

Henson blinked. He had no idea what to say.

"Maybe whatever plan the Monterrios have has nothing to do with harming the Vassari heir. Maybe we’re all just wasting our time playing this hide-and-seek game."

Henson blinked again. He was in no position to argue.

Eliana shook her head. "Come on, June. Don’t put the poor guy in a tight spot. You know what, Henson?"

She turned to look at him, blinking.

"We won’t tell Rauf that we went out to have some fun. This can be a secret between the three of us."

Henson’s face tightened in displeasure, as if he couldn’t believe he was about to keep a secret with June. However, there was nothing he could do about it, so he swallowed and nodded.

"Fine, as long as the boss doesn’t find out."

"He won’t."

After getting Henson’s consent, he drove them to the nearest restaurant.

It was one of the high-class restaurants he considered secure.

"You can stay in the car while we go in. I promise we’ll be back soon," June said.

Henson shook his head. "No. I’ve already compromised enough. I think I’ll follow you ladies to the table. I won’t act as a bodyguard. I’ll just pretend to be a friend."

June thought about it for a while. Looking at Henson, she could tell that his face clearly gave away the fact that he was a bodyguard. However, if that was the best he could do, she had no choice.

She shrugged. "Then fine. You can come with us."

Henson selected a table in a spot where they wouldn’t be easily seen by people coming in and out of the restaurant. After securing their seats, he offered to take their orders. He asked June and Eliana what they wanted before leaving the table.

Feeling finally at ease, June’s gaze moved around as she checked the environment. It had been a while since she had last gone out. It had been a while since she had felt this free.

"You like it here?" Eliana asked, her gaze moving around.

June nodded, her eyes still wandering around the restaurant. Then her gaze fell on a familiar face, and she froze.

Eliana seemed to notice her reaction and immediately followed her gaze.

"What’s wrong? Did you see something strange?" she asked.

But when she looked in the direction June was staring, all she could see was a man with an unfamiliar face staring back at them without looking away.

It was as if the man was daring June to look away.

However, he was not someone Eliana could recognize. And she knew almost everyone June knew.

Eliana turned to June. "Do you know him?"

June slowly turned her head away from the man and nodded.

"Yes. I’ve seen his picture several times, but he’s not supposed to know me. Judging by the way he’s staring at me, though, I think he knows who I am."

Eliana was confused. "What do you mean?"

Lowering her voice to a whisper, June answered, "That’s Dante."

Still, Eliana looked just as confused as before.

"Mr. Monterrio," June whispered.

Eliana’s expression changed.