[18 - The Deceptive Apologies]

Chloe rushed downstairs, her heart pounding with a mix of excitement and anxiety. Her feelings a stark contrast from what she went through yesterday. Upon hearing about this "gift" Chloe almost forgot about about yesterday's event, about the harsh slap that she had received. All she cared about in that moment that there was someone from the Starling Fashions waiting for downstairs with a gift that Dahlia had sent for her perhaps as a means of an apology.

Smiling, in that minute that it took Chloe to reach the last stairstep, Chloe imagined about various items that Dahlia could have sent her. Excited, she went over to meet the representative from Starling Fashions who stood near the doorway, holding a large, elegantly wrapped box. As Chloe approached, he offered a polite smile and handed her the gift.

"Miss Grayson, this is a token of apology from Miss Dahlia." he said, bowing slightly. He handed her the giftbox along with a note that Dahlia had sent for her.

Chloe's eyes lit up as she carefully held the box, her fingers smoothing over the delicate ribbon that was used to wrap it. She took a seat on the couch, putting the box in her lap as she read the note first.

"I sincerely hope that this stunning piece from my Celestial Elegance collection will brighten up your day, and your mood. ~ Dahlia Starling" excitement was dripping from her tone like an ice-cream does under heat.

Marcus's brows were drawn together in a harsh frown as he heard Chloe read that note which was in no way a note of apology. In fact, it sounded as if this Dahlia Starling was trying to coax a little child with a piece of his favorite candy.

Marcus could see through the deception of this so called apology that could only fool a naive persona and apparently his daughter was one of those.

With an unladylike squeal of joy, Chloe opened the gift box. Inside, nestled in layers of tissue paper, was a stunning gown from Starling Fashions. The fabric shimmered in the morning light, and the intricate details took her breath away. The dress was a deep sapphire blue, adorned with delicate embroidery and tiny, sparkling beads that caught the light beautifully.

It was indeed an example of Celestial Elegance.

"Oh, it's beautiful!" Chloe exclaimed, her fingers brushing the delicate fabric. She turned to the representative, her smile radiant. "Thank you so much." she could not contain her excitement.

The representative nodded and bowed down once again, "I'm glad you like it. Miss Dahlia wanted to ensure you received it personally." he informed.

Marcus scoffed while taking a seat on the luxurious, high back chair that looked like a King's throne, "Why didn't your Miss Dahlia come to deliver it then. Is she not aware of how a genuine apology should be made?"

Chloe made a, "Tch" sound and pleaded with her father through facial gestures to let go of this matter but Marcus was in no mood.

Marcus glared at Chloe without any heat before, his eyes sharp but devoid of anger until he glanced at the dress. Then his expressions darkened, "An apology?" he sneered, "If that woman was truly sorry, she should have come herself or at least called you."

He leaned over and picked up the note from the table, "This," he jerked the piece of paper in his hand and continued, "this is not an apology, Chloe. Don't you see it? She is trying to manipulate you by offering such child like reinforcements. It's ridiculous." he threw the apology note away, seething in anger.

"Dad, she did apologize." Chloe insisted, setting the gown aside. "She sent this beautiful dress, this note and that's more than enough."

Chloe was indeed not as sharp minded as her father. She didn't care about an apology because getting a stunning piece of clothing that costs about 80,000 dollars, that was way more than enough for her. She didn't need to be explicitly apologized. This gown was worth everything!

Before Marcus could respond and try to instill some common sense in his daughter, Chloe's phone rang. She glanced at the screen and a bright smile curled upon her lips. She raised her cell phone and showed the screen to her father that showed Dahlia's name flashing across the screen. With a confident sigh, she answered, putting the call on speaker.

"Hello, Dahlia." she answered the call while Marcus listened intently. Both of them forgetting about the representative from the Starling fashions who was looking at the father and daughter duo with a subtle smirk playing on his lips.

"Chloe, darling, I hope you received the gift." Dahlia's voice came through the speaker, smooth and composed, almost like a delicate song, "I wanted to come meet you in person but something urgent came up and I had to leave for Paris, so I couldn't deliver it myself."

"It's absolutely fine, Dahlia." smiled Chloe, "Thank you so much for this lovely gift."

Marcus rolled his eyes in disbelief. Here, he was trying to get this bloody woman to apologize to his daughter and yet his daughter was thanking that woman for the damn gown.

He tsked hearing Dahlia giggle, "Oh, darling! I am glad that you liked the gown. I hope you didn't mind what happened yesterday."

Chloe's face softened but the sparkles in her eyes didn't fade, "Don't worry Dahlia, I understand. Also, it was my mistake, I wasn't paying attention and I got too nervous too quickly and hurt you. I am so sorry for yesterday."

Marcus could not believe what was happening in front of his eyes. He could not believe his ears, could not believe that his daughter was actually apologizing to someone and that too for no mistake of hers!

His belief that someone was playing with him and his family cemented when he heard Dahlia continue to speak in her unapologetic and nonchalant tone, "Good. Enjoy the dress, Chloe. I'll see you when I get back."

"Okay, Dahlia. Good bye!" said Chloe before ending the call. She looked at Marcus with such a confident 'see-I-told-you' look that Marcus could not help but wonder just how stupid was his daughter that she wasn't able to understand that she was being manipulated.

Marcus shook his head, his frustration evident, "Don't give me that look!" he looked at Chloe pointedly, "She didn't even apologize properly, instead she made you apologize to her."

Chloe looked as if she wanted to argue but Marcus interrupted her and added, "Sending a dress doesn't make up for what she did, Chloe. And if you think that it does then there is no bigger fool than you."

"Dad -" Chloe stared at her father with slightly misty eyes. Never had her father spoken to her like this before. His words weren't just harsh, he sounded as if he truly believed that she was a fool.

"Can't you see what she just did to you?" Marcus asked urging Chloe to make sense of the situation but Chloe did not know how to answer, so she settled on tilting her head downwards to avoid looking at her father.

"Ah, um." the representative that Dahlia had sent, mock coughed to gain the attention of the father and daughter, "Now that I have completed my task, I shall take your leave." he gave them a slight bow before leaving with a satisfied smile on his face.

Everything happened just as Miss Seraphina had thought it would. She must be extremely satisfied with the results.

Marcus remained adamant. He couldn't let go of this so easily but Chloe thought otherwise.

"Dad, it's fine. Really!" Chloe exclaimed, trying to soothe him, "Please, just let it go."

Marcus's anger simmered, but before he could argue further, Elijah entered the room causing Marcus to stop before he ended up saying something that he shouldn't.

Elijah had been listening from the hallway. He was there since the representative from Starling Fashions came to visit Chloe. He was watching and listening to everything that just transpired and like Marcus, he too believed that this was not the right way to apologize after hurting a person like Dahlia did to Chloe.

But unlike his father, he did not believe that Dahlia had a hidden agenda behind do all this.

"Dad, let Chloe handle this." Elijah said gently trying to reason with his father, "She's an adult and can make her own choices."

"But Elijah, don't you see -" Marcus tried to explain it to his son but Elijah need not to be told because he very well understood the situation.

"I know, Dad. And I agree with what you are saying but we should let Chloe handle this on her own. Till when are we going to keep making decisions for her. Let's not make her dependent on us, let her make her own mistakes and learn from them."

"Also, we will always be here for her when she will need us. Let her make her own way and walk on it, it will be a great learning experience. And in case if she falls, we will always be there to pick her up and help. Won't we?" asked Elijah, his tone polite as he tried to make his father understand a different point of view.

Marcus stared at both of his children for a few seconds before exclaiming loudly, "Fine!"