"I''m not really feeling the clothes at this store; let''s check out some other brands," Kitty said to Rorie, her face as calm as ever, not giving away any signs of


    difort.


    Rorie, sensing something a bit off about Kitty, shrugged it off and stepped back from the store entrance, agreeing without much thought.


    Kitty felt a wave of relief wash over her. She looped her arm through Rorie''s, casting onest nce at Delh inside the store before heading into the next


    one.


    Even in the new shop, Kitty found herself distracted, her mind reying the scene with Delh over and over. The joy of shopping was almostpletely overshadowed.


    While Kitty was trying on outfits, Rorie took a phone call. After hanging up, he looked a bit troubled, pacing the store as he often did when deep in thought.


    Kitty emerged in a new ensemble, ready to ask for Rorie''s opinion, but when she noticed his worried expression, she held back and walked over to him. "What''s up?" she asked.


    Rorie paused, turning to face Kitty. "There''s a bit of an issue at the investment firm."


    Kitty''s brow furrowed. The firm was something she had brought into the ke family when they got married, and Rorie had been managing it ever since. "Is it serious?" she asked immediately.


    "A couple of investors pulled out suddenly, but it''s not too big of a deal for now," Rorie replied, trying to sound reassuring.


    Kitty rxed a bit at his words. "As long as it''s not major, we can look for other investors to cover the gap."


    "Yeah," Rorie nodded in agreement.


    Kitty adjusted her outfit, thinking aloud, "Maybe you should go back to the office and see what''s going on."


    Rorie had the same thought but still said, "I''ll hang out with you a bit longer."


    "No worries, businesses first. You should go," Kitty gently nudged him, urging him to leave.


    Normally, she''d insist he stay, but today was different.


    Seeing her determination, Rorie didn''t argue further. He handed Kitty a card and made his way out.


    Kitty watched him leave, her gaze following him until he stepped onto the esctor and disappeared downstairs. Then she turned back into the changing room.


    *


    As Rorie took the esctor down to the second floor, his assistant called again. He walked over to the railing of the atrium to take the call.


    The call was still about the investment firm, and the assistant sounded more urgent this time. Rorie''s brow furrowed even more as he assured them he''d head to the office right away and hung up.


    Pocketing his phone, he was about to move to the next esctor when he


    nced up and froze. His eyes caught sight of someone in a white coating down from the third floor.


    Was that Delh?


    Rorie stood still for a moment, but by the time he blinked, the figure had vanished from the esctor.


    He shook his head, dismissing the thought and continued on his way.


    ...


    Delh, finally satisfied with her shopping spree, turned to hold her daughter''s hand, only to find herself grabbing at the air.


    Seeing her daughter''s hands full of shopping bags, Delh was taken aback. "Did I really buy this much stuff?"


    Mirabe smiled serenely, "It''s alright, you''ve got plenty of cash."


    Delh, sensing a hint of teasing from her daughter, was momentarily speechless.


    Clearing her throat, she noticed something else and turned back to her daughter, eyes settling on her casually pinned-up hair.


    Even though Mirabe was beautiful in every way, Delh thought she could look even more stunning.