Chapter 4

Agnes, Bella, and Clara strutted ahead, arms linked like they owned the place. Trailing behind were Justin and Jeremy, practically leaning on each other, weighed down by shopping bags and exhaustion.

Justin finally had enough and tapped one of the girls on the shoulder. "Ladies, I've never seen you hustle this hard for a marathon. How come you don't need a break when you're shopping?"

Clara snatched one of the bags from his hand, smirking. "With your stamina, that tall frame is wasted on you."

Agnes pointed ahead. "See that? Last store on the list."

Justin let out a dramatic sigh of relief, clasping his hands together. "Thank you, ladies."

Bella waved her new handbag like a trophy. "No problem, dinner's on me later!"

Justin perked up instantly. "You said it!"

The Alioth building was all about food, and the fifth floor was the crème de la crème—super fancy and high-end.

"Anywhere but the fifth floor of Alioth," Bella crushed Justin's dreams with a single sentence.

The fifth floor was VIP territory, with a minimum spend requirement. Personalized service, professional chefs, and if you were lucky, a Michelin three-star chef might whip up your meal.

However, in Lumina City, there were still very few who could afford such luxury meals.

Justin rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue, playing dead. "Fine, anything below the fifth floor, my treat."

Everyone laughed. Agnes patted his shoulder. "We're here. There's a sofa over there; you guys can chill."

The girls swarmed the counter, chatting away. The sales assistant noticed the lipstick set in Agnes's hand and smiled. "Hello, ma'am. This set is our best-seller, and it's the last one. If you like it, you should grab it."

Agnes eyed the price tag with a heavy heart: $26,000. Should she go for it?

Justin, lounging on the sofa, chimed in. "Agnes, I don't get why you who drive a million-dollar car every day is hesitating. It's just $26,000! I'll decide for you this time; if you like it, just buy it!"

Agnes sighed. "The car isn't mine; I'm just borrowing it!" The million-dollar ride was her husband's, not hers. Nothing to brag about.

Just then, a commotion broke out nearby.

Agnes looked up and was floored by what she saw.

A group of people strolled in from the main entrance, led by Leopold in a sharp, dark custom suit that screamed money. His dark brown crocodile leather shoes clicked on the polished marble floor.

Leopold's eyes were cold and emotionless, his aura so dominant and icy that people instinctively stepped back.

So, this imposing, cold, and noble Leopold was her husband? And he was with a drop-dead gorgeous woman!

It was rare to see a woman with Leopold. Was he publicly shopping with her because they were dating?

Seemingly sensing her gaze, Leopold, just ten feet away, suddenly looked over. Their eyes met, and Agnes's heart skipped a beat. She quickly looked down at the lipstick in panic.

She thought to herself, 'Don't see me, don't see me.'

Wait! Leopold didn't know her.

Thinking of this, Agnes tried to play it cool and asked Bella beside her, "Bella, do you think this color suits me?"

But Bella, all excited, tugged at her sleeve, "Agnes, Agnes, it's fate for you and Mr. Neville, you two meet again."

It seemed so.

Clara chimed in, "Agnes, who's the woman next to Mr. Neville?"

Agnes wanted to know, too.

Justin added, "Agnes, do you think Mr. Neville is here to find you?"

How could that be?

Agnes looked at Bella and Clara, who were more excited than she was. "Bella! You're drooling!"

Before Bella could react, a crisp and unfamiliar voice cut in, "I don't think it suits you. After all, you can't afford it."

Agnes looked up, confused. Wasn't the speaker the woman next to Leopold?

Did they know each other?

Ella Garcia, with her dark brown curls, walked up to them, holding Leopold's arm. She elegantly took the lipstick set from Agnes's hands with her coffee-colored manicured fingers and said, "I'll take this. Wrap it up for me!"

After speaking, Ella's eyes roamed over Agnes, scrutinizing her.

Finally, Ella sneered, clearly thinking Agnes was just a pretentious college student.

Ella couldn't understand why Leopold had looked at Agnes several times. Although Agnes was pretty, Agnes was obviously not as beautiful as her.

Agnes's temper flared up instantly, "What do you mean? How do you know I can't afford it? You may be well-dressed, but what else do you have?"

Agnes's words were a public humiliation to Ella, whose face contorted in anger, "Who do you think you are? Before coming to Sunrise International Shopping Mall, didn't you check if you were worthy of entering such a high-end place?"

Agnes sneered and looked Ella up and down, "We're not worthy, but you are? How dare you to act so superior? You can only pull off that dark green outfit because you're older. If you were as young as us, you wouldn't wear such outdated style!"

Her comment about the middle-aged woman's style not only offended Ella but also indirectly insulted Leopold. After all, Leopold chose the outfit Ella was wearing. Even though he had just pointed it out casually, it was still his choice, and he paid for it! So, she was indirectly saying Leopold had an old-fashioned taste.

To be honest, Ella was only 27, and the outfit was quite nice, but it didn't suit her.

Ella was too thin, and because of that, she couldn't bring out the best in the outfit.

Simply put, someone else might look better in it!

These words infuriated Ella. As the most pampered lady of the Garcia family, everyone praised and flattered her! No one had ever mocked her as Agnes did!

Thinking she had strong support today, Ella took a deep breath, turned to Leopold, and looked at him pitifully. "Mr. Neville, that woman said we're old and that you have old-fashioned taste."