When Her Death Couldn't Break Him (Cecilia and Nathaniel) novel Chapter 2185

Inside the boutique's soft lighting, she held up her phone, displaying a photo of the ruined jacket. "Do you still have this piece in stock?" she asked the sales associate, voice low with urgency.

The associate studied the image, then nodded. "We do. But that garment can't be machine-washed. Why on earth did you wash it?"

Guilt pricked the back of Chelsea's neck, hot and sharp.

"I-I didn't know," she murmured.

The associate sighed. "It's on the care label plain as day. Why didn't you check it? And this jacket costs more than 100 thousand. What a terrible waste."

Chelsea's eyes widened. "Over 100 thousand?"

In the past, that figure wouldn't have been a problem. After all, her single day's allowance was easily more than that. But now, she had merely a few tens of thousands left in her account, and every coin felt suddenly precious.

Jason had pressed money into her hands, but she'd funneled most of it back into his business venture, unwilling to spend recklessly.

The associate bobbed her head again. "Exactly. A pity, really. Shall I set aside a new one for you?"

Chelsea wanted to say yes, but her bank balance whispered a hard no. Besides, any purchase she made would ultimately come out of Jason's pocket, and that felt wrong.

After all, even the meal had been paid for with his money. Now the ruined suit—his favorite—must have stung, and Chelsea was sure the loss hurt him more than he let on.

"Let me think about it," she said, turning as though the matter were settled.

After only a few steps, she pivoted back, anxiety tugging at her sleeve. "Could you please reserve the jacket for me first? I'll come back later to buy it."

Jason wasn't the type to splurge. If he had invested in that suit, it meant he needed it for something important. Now she'd ruined it, and the thought of his disappointment twisted inside her like a knot.

Standing on the sidewalk, Chelsea wrestled with indecision, then thumbed her phone and called Cecilia.

"Cecilia, could you lend me 100 thousand? Hmm, wait. Better make it 200 thousand, just to be safe," she asked. If she only borrowed 100 thousand, the little money she still had would all be gone anyway, so she might as well borrow a bit more.

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