Chapter 147: Chapter 147
"Okay..." Bella sighed, taking one reluctant step away from the plushies — only to freeze again. Her eyes widened as they caught something shiny just across the walkway.
A brand-new gadget store had colorful lights, digital tablets lined up perfectly, the latest headphones and cameras on display. Bella swayed again, like a moth to a neon light. "Oh! That new tablet—"
"BELLA BELLATRIX!" Scarlett shrieked, nearly tipping her phone off the desk where she sat. "Gadgets?! Now?!"
Bella giggled, covering her mouth with her free hand. "I’m sorry, Queenie..."
Scarlett let out a tired sigh, flopping back in her chair on the other side of the call. "Listen to me, my sweet girl. You can hug plushies and drool over shiny gadgets after you get your Stella-proof, husband-heart-snatching dress, alright? This is a war mission, not a mall date!"
Bella straightened up, puffing out her cheeks. "Okay, okay! I’m focusing! Dress first..."
"Good girl!" Scarlett clapped sarcastically. "Now march yourself to the fanciest boutique you can see and turn your camera on the whole time. I’m picking that dress. I don’t trust your taste — you’ll come back in a potato sack if I let you choose alone!"
Bella giggled and skipped toward the nearest pretty shop, phone still pressed close to her flushed cheek. "Thank you, Queenie... You’re the best..."
Scarlett sighed again but couldn’t hide her grin. "Just don’t run away to the plushie shop when I blink, or I’m hacking your bank account to freeze your funds."
Bella stuck out her tongue at her through the screen. "Meanie!" she said, but her eyes were already twinkling — determined this time to find the perfect dress.
And two bodyguards following Bella were trying very hard not to awe at her cuteness as she walked around the mall, eyes shining with wonder like a child in a theme park. Her soft brown dress fluttered with each step, and her hair swayed as she peeked into shop windows.
Bella wandered a little farther until she spotted a boutique—expensive-looking and sparkling under the lights.
"Found one!" she said excitedly.
Scarlett sighed in relief. "Thank the fashion gods."
As Bella stepped inside the boutique, the elegant salesperson smiled at her. "Welcome, miss! Are you looking for something in particular today?"
Bella froze like a deer in headlights. "Uhh..."
She quickly looked at her phone and whispered into the mic, "Scar... help... I don’t know what I’m doing. Everything looks... fancy."
Scarlett chuckled. "Switch the shop camera on, sweet cheeks, and we’ll look around ourselves."
"I’ll look around myself," Bella said softly to the salesperson, who politely nodded and stepped back, not before giving a quick glance at the two bodyguards standing outside with sharp, no-nonsense expressions.
Inside the store, Bella was slowly walking between the racks of soft satin, velvet, and shimmering fabrics. Her hands gently brushed over the clothes, and her phone was raised in her other hand as Scarlett watched through the video call.
Scarlett’s voice came loud and fast. "Zoom in—zoom in on that cream dress, the one behind the golden rack! Wait no—left, left—YES, that one!"
Bella nodded and turned to get a closer look at the cream-colored dress Scarlett pointed out.
But in that moment... her shoes snagged on the soft carpet and—
"Ahh—ouch!" she gasped as she lost her balance, about to crash face-first into the floor.
Before she could hit the ground, a pair of arms wrapped around her waist tightly.
Bella had closed her eyes out of reflex, her phone’s front camera unknowingly aimed up at the man’s face.
When she opened her eyes, startled, her breath caught in her throat.
It was Alan.
He was wearing a black t-shirt that clung to his arms, a silver watch peeking from his wrist. His face was a little flushed from the surprise and his warm breath hit her cheek.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently, still holding her close.
"Yes..." Bella quickly stepped away from his hold, her tone polite but distant. "Thank you, Alan."
He looked down at her—his height towering above her, with Bella only reaching around his chest. His eyes lingered on her features—her glassy, wide brown eyes, flushed cheeks, her long wavy hair that fell over her shoulders like silk. The soft pink plumpness of her lips, the natural beauty that made her seem like someone from a painting.
But Bella didn’t stay long.
She turned away quickly, walking off to pretend like nothing happened.
Meanwhile, Scarlett, still on video call, had gotten a clear view of Alan’s face from the camera.
And she wasn’t happy.
"Yuck! Bella!! Why did you aim your camera straight at that dude’s face! Ughhh I feel like I need to scrub my eyes with soap," Scarlett exclaimed dramatically.
Bella blinked, confused. "Huh?"
"That dude has—has hickeys all over his neck!" Scarlett shrieked. "Why is your husband friends with such greasy men?? Ewww."
Bella’s eyes widened and she quickly glanced back once, startled. "I didn’t see that!"
"Thank goodness!" Scarlett said, clearly relieved. "Otherwise you’d have to bleach your innocent little eyes. Ugh... it’s always the good-looking ones who are covered in scandals."
Bella looked down and giggled softly, her cheeks still a little pink from the fall. "He was just helping..."
***
Finally, after what felt like forever, Scarlett clapped from the other side of the video call.
"That’s it! That one! Bella, you’re getting it! No more arguments!" she announced as if she were declaring a national holiday.
Bella blinked, still turning in front of the mirror with uncertainty.
"Are you sure?" she asked softly, eyes scanning her reflection. "It’s not too much, right?"
"It’s perfect," Scarlett insisted with a teasing smirk. "Trust me. It doesn’t scream ’look at me!’ but it also doesn’t say ’I’ll vanish into the wallpaper.’ It says: ’I’m the main character, and you’re welcome.’ Now go pay for it before someone else steals it!"
Bella let out a small laugh. "Alright, alright..."
She carefully hung up the call and held the dress close, then walked over to the counter with quiet determination. She reached into her small purse and pulled out her card—the one connected to her personal account.