Charlotte held up the miniature outfit, her eyes sparkling. "This is absolutely adorable! I'm buying this one for sure. The baby will need it."

She glanced toward the stroller they had looked at earlier. "That thing is massive. We have more shopping to do. Carrying it around would be a nightmare. Let's schedule a delivery for the larger items another time. They can send everything directly to your place."

Evelyn smiled and nodded. "Good idea. Where to next?"

Charlotte gave her a playful, knowing look. "You tell me."

Moments later, Evelyn found herself being guided upstairs into an exclusive women's boutique.

Before she could say a word, Charlotte had already pulled her inside. Her gaze swept critically over the racks of clothing. "As the godmother, spoiling the baby is my job. But I can't forget about my best friend, the mother-to-be."

Evelyn's eyebrows rose in surprise, a gentle smile touching her lips. "You're buying a gift for me as well?"

"Of course," Charlotte replied, not looking up from a rack of dresses. "Think of it as a congratulations-on-your-pregnancy present."

A sudden surge of emotion tightened Evelyn's throat, making her eyes glisten.

She wasn't normally this emotional, but lately, her feelings were unpredictable. She blamed the pregnancy hormones.

"Thank you, Charlotte," Evelyn said, her voice soft.

Charlotte noticed the sheen in Evelyn's eyes and immediately adopted a stern expression.

"None of that," she chided gently, reaching out to wipe a stray tear from Evelyn's cheek. "It's just a dress. No crying allowed. Now, find something you love and go try it on."

Evelyn sniffled, a practical thought occurring to her. "But in a few months, I won't fit into any of this. My belly will be huge."

"Then we'll find something with an empire waist," Charlotte countered without hesitation.

Even as she spoke, the decisive Charlotte had already selected a chic ensemble from the rack. "You're the professional designer, and here I am, a complete amateur, choosing clothes for you. How ironic is that? Seriously, pick something you like."

Evelyn laughed softly, taking the clothes from her. "I'll wear whatever you choose."

Charlotte grinned. "Perfect. Then I'm choosing everything."

They continued to browse, carefully examining the displays.

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind them. "Evelyn? What a surprise to see you here."

Evelyn stiffened for a fraction of a second. She recognized that voice immediately.

She took a steadying breath and turned. As expected, it was Amelia Sterling, the woman she had encountered at Aethelgard Industries just the day before.

Amelia was dressed head-to-toe in luxury labels, her makeup flawless and dramatic. A group of tall, imposing bodyguards stood behind her, their presence drawing immediate attention.

Shoppers outside the store were already sneaking glances at the spectacle.

Amelia's lips curved into a slow, deliberate smile when her eyes landed on Evelyn.

She spoke with calculated ease. "Evelyn, our paths keep crossing, don't they? Out shopping, I see? You must have a lot of free time. I assume that means the design I commissioned is finished? I'll be expecting an update soon. Don't think you can avoid me."