Joanne was dragged to have makeup put on her the moment she had returned home in the afternoon.

It was the same makeup artist as last time. But this time, Iris was also in the makeup room.

Iris wore a low-key grey bespoke suit and wore black leather heels. Her hair had been artfully arranged and her makeup suitable for the occasion. She wore a set of expensive emeralds, looking elegant and grand. She had a sophistication that was the result of several years of experience which made her seem extremely warm and kind.

Joanne was stopped by Iris the moment she entered. Iris looked very excited as she said, "Joanne, I decided to pick an evening gown for you. Will you try it on? We can change it to another if you don't like it."

The makeup artist showed the evening gown to Joanne.

The long and strapless evening gown was tight on waist. The upper part of it was lace and was covered in diamonds carefully. It was exquisite and luxurious without being ostentatious. It was very elegant. There was a thin white belt at the waist and the skirt below flowed, making it seem especially elegant.

The craft on the dress was exquisite and the material was good. It was obvious that it was expensive.

Joanne could not find anything she was dissatisfied with. Furthermore, it had been a long time since she had worn anything a mother picked out for her.

Even though it was a light pink dress, she still said, "I can have a try."

Joanne changed and emerged. Even the makeup artist's eyes brightened. She said, "Mrs. Lambert, this evening gown suits you very well no matter in terms of style or disposition. Your skin color makes the nude pink very bright and the nude pink also makes your skin seem paler and brighter. Madam is really good at picking gowns."

Joanne turned around toward Iris uncertainly and asked, "Mom, is it really ok?"

She had rarely worn light pink clothing since her mother's death. She was not very confident wearing this color.

"Of course!" Iris walked up and helped Joanne to arrange her skirts. "It's too beautiful! I already said that my daughter-in-law would wear this better than those internationally renowned models! Joanne, just wear this, what do you think?"

Joanne smiled, nodded and said, "Alright."

"Then you do your makeup. I'll wait for you downstairs. Oh right, Brian's clothes are in the closet. Get him to change when he gets back later."

Iris left for downstairs after she left the instructions. Joanne sat before the large mirror and allowed the makeup artist to do her work.

About an hour later, they were finally done. Joanne heaved a sigh of relief. She heard the sound of the door opening just as she stood up. It was Brian.

"You're back." It was rare that she would smile the moment she sees him. She pointed at the closet, "Mom said that your clothes are in there. Take them and get changed. We're going to leave soon."

Brian did not move. He looked at Joanne up and down. Joanne walked up to him and twirled around, a smile that was as radiant as the afternoon smile on her face. "Mom picked this gown for me. What do you think?"

She had on light makeup and her exquisite face looked flawless. One could not see any flaws in her clear almond-shaped eyes. Her shoulders and beautiful collarbone were bare, showing off the beautiful lines of her upper body. It was very alluring.

It was only when they were up close when Brian discovered that while Joanne was thin, the areas that were not supposed to be thin, were not thin at all.

It seemed that his Little Monster had... hidden depths.

Joanne's already tiny confidence disappeared as Brian looked at her. "Do you think it doesn't look nice?"

How could it be described as just "nice"?

She was so beautiful he wanted to drag her back into the room and tear her gown into halves.

"Forget it." Joanne sniffed, "Anyway, I don't intend to change!"

Brian pulled her and said, "When did I say it's not nice? You're so happy because my mother picked this gown for you?" Was prancing around before him happily something that grown-up Joanne would do? It was evident that she was in a good mood.

"No one has ever bought me clothes since my mother passed away." Joanne was a little sad. "The clothes that my brother sent were all picked by his secretary."

Brian's raised his eyebrow and he suddenly noticed the red mark on Joanne's collarbone. A hint of unnaturalness flashed in the depth of his eyes as his gaze fixed on it.

Joanne thought he was looking somewhere else and wanted to scold him for being a gangster. However, the makeup artist was there, so she could only hold it back. She glared at Brian, flushing.

Brian's lips picked up and he whispered in Joanne's ears, "Even though you're not 'flat', there isn't much to see. I can't take too big of an advantage of you."

Joanne was speechless.

Brian called the makeup artist over and pointed at the mark on Joanne's collarbone. "Cover it for her."

Joanne had discovered the mark earlier this morning in the shower. But she had always had fragile skin, which marked even if she hit anything lightly. She thought that she had hit it accidentally or had been bitten by a mosquito, so she had not minded it.

But Brian had instructed the makeup artist, and the makeup artist who was experienced smiled... Her mind felt as if it was exploding and her face flushed blood red.

She glared at Brian angrily while Brian comforted her with familiarity, "Don't be angry. I'll be more careful next time."

He was doing it to mislead others!

Joanne stomped angrily, "What has this to do with you?"

"She's so stupid", Brian thought. This was his work, so how could it have nothing to do with him?

However, the Little Monster might bite him if he said that.

He did not say anything and went to get his clothes and got changed.

"We can cover this," the makeup artist comforted Joanne. "Mrs. Lambert, don't worry. Nobody can see anything once it's covered up! Don't be shy!"

Joanne felt like crying- things are not what you think they are.

Brian changed and came out in a short while. He was still wearing a suit but had changed the knot of his tie. He had added a white pocket square to his shirt pocket. He looked noble and elegant, and every movement he made was like that of a gentleman.

The man was an elegant elite at work and was like a noble at social events. He was mesmerizing no matter which angle you looked at. No wonder so many women were dazzled by him.

Devil's spawn! Trouble!

A certain devil came over and held Joanne's hand, leading her downstairs.

Joanne struggled at first, but Brian remained unmoved. Indeed, when she saw Iris, she did not struggle again and was as obedient as a kitten.

Iris was very pleased and smiled when she saw the two coming down hand in hand. "The car is waiting outside. Let's go."

There were two cars parked outside, belonging to Brian and Iris respectively. Joanne thought about it and slid her hand out of Brian's grasp and ran over. "Mom, I'll ride in your car."

"What's wrong?" Iris was afraid that the two were at loggerheads and her eyes were filled with worry.

"Mom, nothing's wrong." Brian walked over and looked at Joanne dotingly. "She wants to chat with you. We'll both ride in your car."

Iris smiled and held Joanne's hand. "Then we'll take the backseat. Brian, will you drive?"

"Alright."

Brian took the keys the driver handed and slid into the driver's seat. Joanne looked at him gloomily. Why can't she get rid of this guy?

The distance between the mansion and the hotel was rather large. Brian was focused on driving while Iris and Joanne chatted about things from 14 years ago in the backseat.

14 years ago, 10-year-old Joanne had a completely different character than she had now. Iris talked about how she used to follow Brian around calling him big brother. Joanne flushed.

If she knew what would happen today, she would have chosen the ice princess path 14 years ago. She would not bother Brian at all!

"You used to call him 'Bri' when you were little." Iris mimicked her child-like voice. "It made me feel all soft inside."

"I..." Joanne stuttered. "I've forgotten everything..."

How could she forget?

She used to call him "Bri" sweetly, the words sounding as if they had been soaked in honey. Everyone who heard it would all feel sweet and warm and only Brian could not be bothered with her and would often scare her.

Back then, she felt that Brian must hate her. Her tears would drip down and she would pout and turn to walk away. But then, he would make lollipops appear as if by magic and she would stop crying and smile and call him brother again.

She had everything back then, and it was enough that Brian gave her a lollipop.

Back then, she was so... spineless.

But it was not long before Iris brought Brian to America and she never saw him again. She never had such a tasty lollipop again either.

At first, she was still sad for some time. Chris thought that it was because she missed Brian. She looked up tearfully at Chris and said, "Chris, I want to eat lollipops. The kind that Bri gave me."

Chris teased her for being a glutton and got his friend to bring her a large box of lollipops back from abroad. It was the same kind of lollipops, made with the same ingredients and recipe and she received it in the same packaging. But she felt that it tasted different.

She ate many of them, but never found the same taste that Brian gave her.

Joanne sighed as she thought of it. Iris thought she was thinking of the past, and comforted her. "It's alright that you've forgotten the past. You both have a future."

Joanne only smiled.

Iris was wrong. She remembered everything that happened in the past. But she and Brian would not have a future.

Brian looked at Joanne's smile through the rear-view mirror. He did not need to think to know what she was thinking about.

Silly girl.

They arrived at the location where the auction was taking place at 7 sharp. Iris brought Joanne around the location. Many guests arrived at 7:15. Iris arranged for Brian to check on the items up for auction while she brought Joanne to the entrance to welcome the guests.

The people in the circle already knew Joanne, and after the incident on social media where her details were dug out, Joanne was even more famous in the social circle. Iris had long released news that Joanne would be present tonight, and several women who were close with her mother came especially to see her.

"Joanne, we haven't met for a few years. You have grown to become a beautiful young woman, you even married the man of the dreams of several socialites in the city. Your mother can rest in peace. We all missed your mother in these years."

Joanne had a good memory and could still smile and greet the ladies by their names accurately. The ladies all smiled happily and wanted to treat Joanne like their own daughters.

It might be true that they missed her mother, but Joanne chose to smile when they said they came especially to meet her.

If she had not married Brian and came dressed nicely to this event, but instead wore her white robe and dissected bodies in the autopsy room, who would come especially to meet her?

Iris saw that it was about time and did not want everyone to bring up Joanne's mother and make her sad. She called Brian over and asked him to take Joanne away.

Brian could see that his Little Monster was a little sad and asked softly, "What's the matter?"

Joanne shook her head and before she could say anything, she heard a familiar voice coming from behind.

"Brian!"