Amelia POV

"Justin!..."

I called again, a bit louder this time.

It's been whole three minutes since I called up Justin to tell me how this dress looks on me.

And here he is simply standing like a statue, staring me head to toe.

Okay, now I'm convinced that I might be looking like those cartoon fairies of Disney; way too much for just a Christmas party.

"Simply divine."

I looked straight at his face. What did he say, just now? Simply divine? Is that really what I heard? Oh no, my ears are surely deceived.

He walked towards me. With slow, calculated steps. He exhaled a deep breath, as if he was holding it in, since those three minutes.

"You like this dress?"

He asked, with a subtle calmness in his voice. It was impossible to notice the faint little smile adoming his face.

"I do. But don't you think it's too—"

"Excuse me, madam. Please pack this dress and take me to the payment counter."

"Sure, sir. This way, please."

By the time I could register Justin's words, the same female staff who'd helped me trying on the dress, took Justin towards the payment counter.

Arghhh!! I didn't even check the price.! It was so fine and made up of pure silk. Hell! It would definitely cost a fortune!

I ran towards the counter where Justin was standing and he is...? Is he taking out something? Looks like a card... The card! God, he's about to make the payment!

"Justin!"

My voice rang out.

I don't know he heard me or not, but I kept running towards him.

"You alright?"

He asked with the same calmness in his voice; as if nothing had happened just before. He moved his head to look at me, his body still facing the cashier and his hands holding a bill. A bill? A BILL! That means he'd already paid for the dress!

I quickly snatched the bill from his hands. Gosh, he's so fast. I didn't even realize when did he pay—

$185!!??

The bill read $185!

$185 for just a DRESS?!

My mind repeated it twice, as if the first time was a mistake.

I almost laughed. Or cried. Maybe both.

Justin POV

I thanked the cashier, slid the card back into my wallet, and took the bag like it weighed nothing. Because it didn't - not to me.

I didn't need to look at Lia to know what she'd seen - the number. $185.

She'd never say it out loud in front of the cashier, but the silence in her breathing gave her away.

"Justin—" her voice followed me as I walked toward the exit. Here it comes.

"Are you serious? Do you even realize how much—"

"Yep," I said without slowing. "Fully realized."

She caught up, stepping in front of me like she was guarding the damn door. "That's not funny! This is... expensive, Justin. You can't just-"

"Lia, drop it."

"No, I won't drop it! This is way too much and I'm not-"

I took her hand before she could finish, steering her toward the quiet corner of the store. Away from the noise, away from the gawking strangers.

Her skin was warm in my palm, but her eyes were full of stubborn fire.

"Do you think I care about a number on a piece of paper?" I asked. My voice was steady, low–the kind of tone that cuts through without needing to be raised.

She blinked, like she didn't know whether to answer or keep arguing.

"This isn't about money, Lia. It's about the fact that you looked at that dress like it belonged to you... and then convinced yourself you couldn't have it."

Her lips parted, ready to argue again, but I kept going.

"I'm not letting you walk away from something you want just because of a price. You picked the dress. Let me pick the moment."

Her gaze wavered, and I felt the corner of my mouth curve into something halfway between a smirk and the truth.

"And for the record..." I leaned in, close enough that my words were just for her. "This? It's nothing compared to what you're worth to me."

I didn't wait for her reply. I just started walking, the bag swinging at my side, her hand still in mine.

Because she might fight me on this now - but someday, she'd understand exactly why I never let her pay for it.

Author POV

Nothing compared to what you're worth to me?

"Was that the same statement that Justin just said?", thought Amelia.

She still couldn't accept someone paying for her, absolutely not a dress which costs $185. This amount or even lower used to be her whole shopping amount—dresses, jewelry, perfume, skincare, study materials, household items, everything. But today, it's all spent on just a single silk dress.

Amelia and Justin were already walking towards the exit of the store. Justin kept a neutral face as if all these were not a big deal, but Amelia took a mental note to herself to repay the amount back to Justin as soon as she can.

And just then — BANG!

Amelia POV

We were arguing, yet laughing.
God, just seconds ago — we were actually laughing.

There was this lightness in the air, unspoken but felt. We weren't overthinking. We weren't guarding ourselves. For once, it was just... us.

And then — the world cracked open.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The sharp, deafening crack of gunshots tore through the air like a scream.

Shouts erupted. Hangers fell. Glass shattered somewhere in the distance.

And just like that, everything turned to chaos.

People ran — some screamed, others ducked, the sound of footsteps thundering across the marble floor like a herd fleeing fire. I froze, my heart slamming against my chest like it didn't know where to go.

"What the hell..." I whispered under my breath, unable to piece it together.

And before my brain could catch up — Justin grabbed my hand.

"Come on!" he said, not yelling, but firm, urgent. His grip wasn't painful — it was anchoring.

He pulled me, weaving through falling mannequins and scattered shoes, past rows of forgotten racks. The world blurred as panic echoed louder. And then the curtain closed behind us.

The trial room.

Spacious. Dim. Silent — like the eye of a storm.

My back hit the wall softly, his hands still wrapped tightly around mine. I could feel his chest against mine — the fast, frantic rhythm of his heartbeat like a second clock counting the same fear I was barely registering.

He held me there, not saying a word.

Just held me.

His arms locked around me like he was building a wall between me and whatever danger had exploded outside. My face was buried against his shoulder — I hadn't even realized I'd leaned in that close. And I wasn't sure if I was breathing. I wasn't sure if I could.

For a moment, it felt like the world had shrunk to this — to four walls, a velvet curtain, and Justin's chest rising and falling under my cheek.

I slowly lifted my head to look at him.

His eyes were scanning everything — the ceiling, the curtain, the shadows that shifted under the sliver of light peeking through. Then he carefully pulled out his phone from his pocket like it was made of glass. His hands weren't shaking, but his jaw was clenched.

Tight.

He looked at the screen. Then at the door again.
Took a long breath. His lips barely parted.

"Lia..." he finally spoke, voice low but composed — too calm for the chaos happening just outside. "I need you to stay here."

"What—" my voice cracked. "Justin, what's—"

"I don't know yet," he said quickly, quietly. "But I need to find out. Just stay here, okay? No matter what happens, don't step out. I'll come back. I will."

My hand shot forward to grab his arm on instinct. "Justin, wait—what even is this? What's going on?"

But he had already moved. His hand gave mine one last squeeze — firm, reassuring, filled with everything he didn't have the time to say.

And then, the curtain shifted again.
And he was gone.

Just like that — the silence returned.

But it wasn't peaceful anymore. It was the kind of silence that rang.

I was still standing exactly where he left me, barely moving, as if I might shatter if I did. My fingers trembled slightly as they hovered near the curtain, but I didn't pull it back. I didn't dare.

Because Justin said he'd be back.
And no matter how loud the panic outside grew —
I believed him.

I had to.

Sometimes love slips in quietly, wrapped in silk and sealed with unspoken promises. This chapter was one of my favorites to write — equal parts chaos and tenderness. I hope you felt the heartbeat between each line, the way Justin's did for Lia.

Please vote and leave a comment if you liked this chapter. The next chapter will be updated soon. Take care, cuties 💙

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