99 Times for Alpha’s Bestie novel Chapter 112

Your suits have always been tailored here. They know your measurements. Go in and change. This suit is roughly three years old. You’ve got plenty of new ones at home, so why-”

“You remembered,” Liam said, lifting his eyes to mine, “This one is different. You bought it for me-with the first money you earned after graduation. It’s special.”

He still remembered.

My thoughts were dragged unwillingly back to the past, back when I bent in every way possible, but insisted on giving him only the best.

After all, he was my true mate, the man I poured all my attention and patience into.

Compared to that wholehearted devotion, his changes now felt pitifully small.

And he was too late.

With that thought, I found my hesitation from earlier had quickly vanished. I turned briskly, my steps resolute as I walked away.

At that very moment…

“Ms. Reese! Ms. Reese, please wait!” A breathless voice called from behind. “We finally found you! We have tried contacting you multiple times with no success. The suit design you kindly drafted for us last time was submitted to the competition-and it won the gold prize!”

My steps froze in place.

I spun around sharply and found myself staring at Steven, the Manager of TopDresser.

The suit design sketch I had helped with?- just as I questioned what the Manager was talking about, the memory rushed back to me.

Half a year ago, I had come to order a suit for Liam. Dissatisfied with the store’s overly conventional designs from the past two years, I had drawn up my own sketch and asked them to follow it.

Back then, Steven had been struck by my unique style. He insisted on submitting it for competition under my name.

I hadn’t taken it seriously, casually agreed, and later completely forgot about it.

Who would have thought that the sketch-crafted entirely from my own ideas-would win the gold award?

I was stunned, By then, Steven had already approached me with infectious enthusiasm and pulled me into the store before I could protest.

“Ms. Reese, you’re finally here! We’ve called you so many time’s, but we couldn’t reach you. This award-winning honour belongs to you!”

He immediately handed her a golden invitation and a delicate business card.

“The award ceremony and designer’s gala will be held at Fairmount Hotel MacDonald the night after tomorrow. As the gold award winner, your attendance is a must! This card is from our president herself. She wants to meet you in person. Your design talent and vision align perfectly with the designers we’re looking for!”

Excitement poured from Steven like beans spilling from a basket.

I accepted the invitation and business card. When my eyes landed on the title printed there, I gasped.

Loran, the president of Top Dresser, was a legendary figure in the fashion industry.

I had never imagined my design could win such recognition.

“Thank you for letting me know, Steven. I really didn’t expect this,” I said with gratitude.

Liam stood frozen next to me.

Every word Steven spoke pierced his ears.

I designed furniture. I designed clothes. Recently, I heard that his family discovered my remarkable translation skills.

I wonder how he felt knowing that talent he never saw, because he was too busy chasing another woman.

I wonder if he ever thought of that small, inconspicuous workspace in our marital home. He had always assumed it was just a place for me to pass the time. He had never even opened the door to look inside.

Has he done that yet?

If so, he would see that it was a designed workspace. It was where I pursued all my ambitions while he was absent from our life together.

“Ms. Reese, there’s no need to be polite. To thank you for the increased business because of this nomination and victory, we’d like to custom-make a suit for your mate. Of course, we’ll need to confirm the gentleman’s measurements…”

Steven’s gaze naturally shifted toward Liam.

At once, Liar’s eyes flickered with hope.

He stepped forward quickly, plastering on a forced smile as he eagerly stretched out his hand.

“Thank you so much. My measurements, 1-”

But before he could finish, I cut in.

“Steven, thank you for the kind offer. I truly appreciate it,” I said firmly, my tone crisp. “But Alpha Sterling is no longer my mate. If you insist on giving me this gift, I’ll accept. But since the suit is for a man, as for whom it will go to-”

I paused, not sparing Liam-who had gone rigid beside me-even a glance.

“I haven’t decided yet. Once I do, I’ll come back and let you know. Is that acceptable?”

Liam’s smile shattered completely.

“If not me, then who?” Liam’s voice shot up. He whipped toward me, his eyes blazing like knives. “Who is it for? Lucien? Are you buying suits for him now, Claire?”

“Liam, this has nothing to do with you. My social circle and how I handle gifts others give me are my own choices. You have no right to interfere, just as I do not interfere with you and your friend.”

Emotion surged uncontrollably in Liam. He stepped closer, pressing down with his presence.

“Claire, how long will you be testing me? I know I was wrong, but I’ve been trying to make up for it! Look at me-l put everything aside to find you. You won the award, and I’m happy for you. But why treat me like this? Why use another man to provoke me? Do you enjoy watching me suffer, fall apart, lose myself? Isn’t this test enough already?”

The air turned heavy.

Steven stood awkwardly to the side, as if wishing the ground would swallow him whole.

I listened to Liam’s almost frantic accusations, saw his reddened eyes and twisted expression, and felt the last ripple of emotion drain from my face.

I drew in a slow breath.

“A test? Liam, even now, you think everything I’ve done was just a test for you? Were you running around with Breanne, considering a test? I think not, it was you spending time with someone else that you preferred. I, as a single female, unlike you at the time, am now able to have my own friends.”

“Just so we are clear, you’re wrong. Completely wrong, in fact. I left you not to test how far you’d go for me, but because-” my gaze sharpened with unshakable resolve. “I don’t need you anymore. It was you who tested us and lost. My life, my choices, my future-they no longer involve you. This isn’t a test, Liam.

This is the end.”

With that, I looked away as if he were nothing more than a pebble by the roadside.

Turning to the petrified Steven, I regained my composure.

“Steven, I’m sorry you had to see this. I’ll keep the invitation. As for the suit, I’ll contact you another time. Also, this gentleman does indeed need a suit urgently, but he’ll be paying for it himself. Please help him choose one.”

Liam stood frozen, as though struck by a binding spell.

I walked away and disappeared around the corner.