From Broken to Beloved-Chapter 135- I really like it

From their last shopping trip together, Bert had already gained a general idea of Renata’s size. He had also noticed back then that Renata was clearly reluctant to spend money on clothes. With the weather recently turning colder, Bert felt that both the down jacket and the wool coat would be exactly what she needed.

The personally designed clothes, along with premium bird’s nest, snow frog, sea cucumber, and various other food and drink items, had all been carefully selected by him.

Renata looked at the two pieces of clothing in Bert’s hands with some surprise.

"These are for me?"

She knew that Bert was a fashion designer, but she had never imagined that he would design clothes specifically for her.

It wasn’t that Renata coveted the things Bert had brought—whether food, drink, or clothing, she had never been that kind of person. Rather, it was the thoughtfulness behind his gesture, the fact that he had taken her to heart, that moved her. A smile rose to her face almost unconsciously.

Bert smiled back.

"The weather’s been changing lately. You should need these two pieces right now."

Renata walked over and picked up the clothes to take a closer look, praising them without reservation.

"Thank you. They’re beautiful—stylish, yet elegant."

Like most women, she had a fondness for beautiful things. With new clothes in hand, Renata temporarily forgot about cooking and couldn’t help looking at her daughter and Bert as she asked,

"How about I try them on first?"

Catherine was also a little surprised that Bert had designed clothes for her mother. Coming back to herself, warmth spread through her heart. She gently nudged Renata toward the bedroom.

"Go try them on."

Smiling brightly, Renata carried the two pieces of clothing into her bedroom and closed the door behind her to try them on.

Catherine then walked over and leaned lightly into Bert’s arms, speaking softly,

"Thank you."

"Thank you for being so good to me—and to my mom."

Catherine was deeply moved.

Like Renata, her feelings weren’t stirred because of the many gifts he had brought, but because of the seriousness and formality with which he treated them—because he regarded them as important, because he kept them in his heart.

Moreover, for Catherine, having grown up relying solely on Renata, the two of them enduring many hardships together, their bond was especially deep. Bert’s kindness toward Renata, without a doubt, touched Catherine from another angle altogether.

As a result, Catherine’s feelings for Bert grew even deeper. And Catherine was the kind of person who was easily content and grateful—since Bert treated her mother with such devotion, she would naturally, wholeheartedly and sincerely, treat his parents the same way.

Bert wrapped an arm around Catherine and leaned down to kiss her. He had only just touched her lips when the door to Renata’s bedroom opened. Startled, Catherine immediately pushed him away.

Renata pretended not to notice the scene of the two of them embracing just moments before. She could understand their current, inseparable closeness.

Wearing the cashmere coat, she walked out as if nothing had happened and casually asked,

"How is it? Does it look good?"

The coat Bert had designed for Renata was a rich shade of purple—perfectly suited to her age. Renata herself had once been a teacher, and there was an innate elegance and intellectual grace about her. That color complemented her temperament beautifully, each enhancing the other. Combined with the inherent quality of a cashmere coat, it looked exceptionally stunning on her.

Out of respect for Bert as a designer, Renata hadn’t simply thrown the coat over the loungewear she had been wearing earlier. Had she done that, even the most beautiful coat would have looked far less refined.

So she deliberately changed out of her home clothes and carefully put on the cashmere sweater Catherine had bought for her a few days earlier, along with a pair of newly purchased trousers. Only then did she slip on the coat, finishing the look by thoughtfully pairing it with a scarf.

Renata had always maintained a good figure, and after a serious illness some time ago, she had lost quite a bit of weight. Now, dressed so carefully, she looked positively radiant.

Catherine couldn’t help but exclaim,

"Mom, you look amazing in that coat!"

"Do I?" Renata replied.

There was a large full-length mirror on the wall beside the living room. As she spoke, Renata walked over and stopped in front of it. Catherine hurried to fetch a pair of Renata’s ankle boots.

"Try it with these shoes."

Renata slipped them on, and the overall look became even more elegant and poised.

"It really does look wonderful."

Looking at her reflection in the mirror—almost like a different person—Renata couldn’t help but thank Bert again,

"Thank you. I really like it."

As the saying goes, fine clothes make the person—and it was certainly true.

Wearing a coat whose style and color suited her so perfectly, Renata felt as though the dullness that had clung to her since her serious illness had been swept away. She looked healthier, brighter, and far more spirited.

Her mood lifted along with her appearance. In response to Renata’s thanks, Bert merely smiled lightly. 𝕗𝚛𝚎𝚎𝐰𝗲𝗯𝗻𝚘𝚟𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝕞

"As long as you like it."

Bert was confident in his own taste. At the same time, he was quietly pleased that Renata had taken the trouble to dress properly before putting on the coat. That small detail proved she was someone who thought carefully of others—and Catherine was the same kind of person.

After that, Renata tried on the down jacket. It was a vivid red. Bert could tell that since falling ill, Renata’s spirits hadn’t been very high, so he had deliberately chosen a bright, lively color for her.

Red actually looks very good on older people, and with the New Year approaching, it would feel all the more festive.

Renata was equally satisfied with the down jacket.

"These two pieces make me look a good five years younger."

That one sentence was enough to show how much she liked them—and how much she approved of Bert.

After trying on the clothes, Renata went back to her room to change. When she came out, she said to the two of them,

"You two chat. I’ll go make dinner."

Catherine followed her toward the kitchen.

"I’ll help you."

Renata was clearly in a very good mood. She turned back and shot Catherine a look.

"You stay outside with Bert. Everything’s already prepared—I can handle it myself."

With that, she went into the kitchen alone.

Renata’s casual use of "Bert" left Catherine feeling a little embarrassed. The way she addressed him now felt far too intimate.

Before this, Renata had always called him "Bert," or "Mr. Washington," or sometimes even referred to him as "your boss" when speaking to Catherine. Now she was simply calling him Bert...

Wasn’t this supposed to be just a thank-you dinner, not a formal evaluation of a future son-in-law? She’d changed her stance far too quickly.

Bert was already seated on the sofa. Catherine walked over and sat down as well. Thinking about Renata’s sudden change in attitude toward him, Catherine couldn’t help but sigh inwardly—he really was incredibly good at winning people over.

She deliberately sat a little distance away from Bert. He was not pleased.

"Sit closer."

"No..."

Catherine was honestly a little afraid of him. When they were alone, he was always kissing her at the slightest provocation. But this was her home. Renata might be in the kitchen, but she could come out at any moment. If she saw them hugging and kissing again—like just now—it would be unbearably awkward.

So Catherine stayed where she was, refusing to move. Bert glanced at her, then got up and unhurriedly sat down beside her instead. He casually stretched an arm along the back of the sofa behind her, leaning in close.

"Fine. If you won’t come over, then I’ll come to you."

Catherine thought his skin was unbelievably thick.

"Can you at least behave a little in front of my mom? It wouldn’t look good if she saw."

She pushed his increasingly handsome face away as he leaned closer, but Bert caught her slender fingers and pressed a light kiss to them.

"I think I’ve already won over your mom."

Already flustered by his actions, Catherine flushed even more at his words and couldn’t help retorting,

"You’re awfully confident, aren’t you?"